15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project
Updated November 21, 2024
What's Happening Now?
Ballard Bridge is open
The Ballard Bridge closure scheduled for November 22 through November 25 was postponed. The bridge will be open until further notice while we coordinate the remaining maintenance work on the Ballard Bridge. Thank you for your patience as we look for new times to complete our work and navigate changing weather forecasts.
Construction on 15th Ave
NW Crews continue to work along 15th Ave NW at NW Market St, NW 52nd St, NW 51st St, NW 50th St, NW 49th St, and Leary Way NW. Through this construction we will upgrade ADA accessible ramps, rebuild sidewalk corners, install upgraded traffic signals and cameras, improve storm drainage, and repair the sidewalk and roadway in select areas.
At NW 51st St, crews continue electrical and signal lighting work for the new pedestrian and bicycle crossing. Crews also continue electrical work at Leary Way NW and they will soon begin work to strengthen and improve earthquake safety on the Leary Way Bridge.
What to Expect
- Construction is typically scheduled Mondays – Fridays from 7 AM – 5 PM.
- We will close driving lanes on 15th Ave NW near work areas and on Leary Way NW beneath and near the bridge. There will always be at least one lane open in each direction.
- We will close the sidewalk in work areas. There will be detour signs in place to direct you around construction.
- We will close streets to thru traffic as needed between 17th Ave NW and 14th Ave NW. You will still be able to walk, roll, bike, or drive to businesses and homes on these streets.
- We will temporarily move bus stops for the D Line at 15th Ave NW and NW Market St. Bus stops for the D Line, Route 17, and Route 40 at 15th Ave NW and Leary Way NW may also be temporarily moved. Please see signs at bus stops for new locations and/or sign up for transit alerts.
- We will temporarily change parking in some areas for construction staging and traffic control near work sites.
Project Design
This project aims to keep people and goods moving and includes enhancements to make the RapidRide D bus line more reliable and to make travel safer for everyone. (Click map to enlarge.)
Project Elements
Below we have outlined the different aspects of this project. You can also review the full project designs here.
Paving, Bridge Maintenance, & Seismic Retrofit
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Pave 15th Ave W/NW from W Emerson St to NW 57th St including the fixed portions of the Ballard Bridge.
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Improve earthquake safety by strengthening the north end of the Ballard Bridge (also called the Leary Way Bridge).This includes strengthening the bridge's cap beams, columns, footings, and abutments (parts of the bridge structure), installing ground anchors, repairing cracks and damaged concrete, and replacing worn out bridge expansion joints.
RapidRide D Bus Line Reliability
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Add red “bus only” lane markings to the existing northbound bus lane on 15th Ave NW between NW 51st St and NW Market St
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Add a new southbound transit lane with red “bus only” markings on 15th Ave NW between NW 54th St and NW Market St.
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Add a new southbound transit lane with red “bus only” markings on 15th Ave NW between Leary Way NW and NW Ballard Way.
Safety & Accessibility Enhancements
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Install a new bike and pedestrian signal and crosswalk at NW 51st St, making it easier to walk, roll, or bike around the neighborhood and connecting people to Ballard businesses, attractions, and transit.
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Replace a southbound lane on 15th Ave NW with a new landscaped median between NW 50th St and NW 54th St to calm driver speeds and reduce the likelihood of serious crashes.
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Upgrade curb ramps to meet current ADA standards along 15th Ave NW.
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Build missing curb ramps at all east-west crossings along 15th Ave NW.
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Update pedestrian crosswalk signs and refresh striping for better visibility.
General Improvements
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Repair sidewalks, driveways, and stormwater drainage areas.
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Plant new trees and replace old trees in select areas.
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Install new or expand existing tree pits to keep trees healthy.
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Improve and add new lighting under the bridge along Leary Way NW and on the pedestrian path near the intersection of 15th Ave NW and W Nickerson St.
Safety Enhancements North of the Ballard Bridge
This diagram illustrates the enhancements along 15th Ave NW from NW Market St to NW 50th St (click map to enlarge). For additional details, scroll down to see the project renderings.
Project Renderings
NW 51st St and 15th Ave NW: New crosswalks with protective median and signal, improving access to buses and connecting the neighborhood (click image to enlarge).
NW 53rd St and 15th Ave NW: Maintain signalized crossing and add landscaped median from NW 54 to NW 51st St (click image to enlarge).
15th Ave NW: New southbound bus-only lane between NW 54th St and NW Market St (click image to enlarge).
Project Background
15th Ave W/NW is a major roadway serving northwest Seattle. The corridor connects Ballard, Interbay, North Queen Anne, and Magnolia and is a major transit street, serving King County Metro routes 15,17, 18, 40, 44, and the D-line. This section of 15th Ave W/NW includes the Ballard Bridge and provides access to commercial businesses, grocery stores, and residences.
As part of the Levy to Move Seattle AAC (Arterial and Asphalt and Concrete) Paving Program, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is paving 15th Ave W/NW and the Ballard Bridge Deck between W Emerson St to NW 57th St. The project will restore the road condition of a critical piece of Seattle’s transportation network and contribute to SDOT’s Levy commitment to pave up to 180 lane-miles of arterial streets by 2024.
It will extend the useful life of one of Seattle's busiest streets and bridges and contribute to a safer and more comfortable travel experience for all road users. As part of Seattle’s freight route, this will also be a major investment in the freight network and serve large trucks, the maritime industrial business, port facilities, and key business needs on this side of town.
Aerial Diagram of the project area which covers NW 15th from NW 57th to W Emerson. Photo Credit: Google
Community Outreach
There were multiple opportunities for community members to learn about and provide input on the project design. Our team gave presentations and answered questions at local community events, tabled at neighborhood grocery stores, sent emails, made phone calls, visited businesses and other key stakeholders in the project area, collected responses in a community survey, and sent general email updates to the project listserv.
In total, we received 900+ responses to our community survey and additional feedback from 40 community members who emailed our project inbox. Most of the people (28) who emailed us requested safety improvements for community members who walk and bike. This input informed the final project design.
Schedule
Planning (Summer 2021 - Spring 2022): We collected traffic data, reviewed plans, and gathered community experiences to define options.
Design (Summer 2022 - Summer 2023): We conducted community outreach, collected feedback, worked to secure regulatory approval (e.g., Environmental Assessment), and developed increasingly detailed designs that reflected what we heard and learned.
Construction (Summer 2024 - 2025): We will construct the project and keep the community informed on the latest construction updates, schedule, and expected impacts.
Please note that schedules are always subject to change due to supply availability and inclement weather.
Nearby Projects
We will be coordinating with nearby capital projects in the neighborhood. To learn more about them, please visit their webpage:
- Rt 40 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor
- Rt 44 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor
- Bridge Seismic Retrofitting - 15th Ave NW/Leary Way Bridge
- Ballard Multimodal Corridor- Missing Link
- Ship Canal Water Quality Project
Additional Planning Efforts in the area:
Funding
This work is funded by the voter-approved Levy to Move Seattle. It is an important investment to maintain and modernize this busy area that connects vibrant neighborhoods and business districts on both sides of the Ship Canal.
The Leary Way Bridge seismic retrofit project also includes funding from a federal grant. We thank our federal partners for their support, including the Biden Administration, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
Thank you for your time and interest in this project as we move forward with construction.
Contact Us
If you would like to contact our project team or schedule a meeting for you or your organization please email us at 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov or give us a call at: (206) 512-3950.
Q&A
Construction started July 8, 2024 and will continue through 2025. Please sign up for our project email updates to receive updates on the construction timeline.
If you travel through the project area or live nearby, you will be affected during construction. We will work to minimize impacts, such as working during specific times of the day and night, so it’s less impactful to commuters and surrounding neighbors. In general, please prepare for the following activities along 15th Ave W/NW:
- We will close the Ballard Bridge over several weekends for maintenance and preservation work on this 107-year-old bridge.
- We will close the Ballard Bridge for southbound traffic on select weeknights for paving and other work.
- We will close some lanes and streets temporarily for drivers, so crews have space to work safely.
- We will have temporary detours for vehicles and buses.
- We will close and detour some sidewalks and crossings temporarily for people walking and rolling.
- We will relocate some bus stops temporarily.
- We will change on-street parking temporarily.
- You will hear noise, see dust, and feel vibrations during work hours.
Please sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information.
If there are any emergency situations that arise in our project area, please call 911. For all other inquiries that are non-emergency please contact 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov or (206) 651-3950.
To pave and do maintenance and preservation work on this 107-year old bridge, we will need to close it to traffic over several weekends. We will also close southbound lanes on select weeknights.
We aim to keep the bridge open for people who bike, walk, and roll during construction, though access points may shift and at times it will be only open on the west or east side. Please follow instructions and detour signs in the area and sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information.
Please note: All dates can change based on factors such as weather, crew and materials availability, and other possible circumstances. We will communicate any schedule changes with the public.
The work we’re doing on the bridge needs to be done during warm, dry weather, so we aim to get most of the work done in the early fall, though we may need to close the bridge at other times as well. We know closing the Ballard Bridge is a huge disruption, so we did our best to select dates that did NOT:
- Overlap with any big events near the project area (e.g., Seafood Fest, the Fremont Solstice Fair, Syttende Mai Parade and Festival)
- Overlap with any other major construction near detour routes (e.g., the Fremont Bridge, the Aurora Bridge)
- Disrupt weekday school and work commutes – all of our closures are scheduled for weekends or weeknights
We expect to keep one side of the Ballard Bridge’s path open to people biking, walking, and rolling though access locations may shift as work takes place. Please follow instructions and detour signs in the area and sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information.
There may be temporary bus stop relocations during construction. We will do our best to provide notice about any upcoming bus service changes, but we also recommend you sign up for King County Metro’s Rider Alerts to stay up to date on the latest information.
If you are driving when the Ballard Bridge is closed, please use the Aurora Bridge (SR 99). If possible, please walk, bike, or take the bus to reduce traffic.
Partial Overnight Bridge Closures: Yes, emergency vehicles will be able to cross the Ballard Bridge if needed during partial closures.
Full Weekend Bridge Closures: No, emergency vehicles will not be able to cross the Ballard Bridge during full closures. We are coordinating with Seattle Fire Department and local hospitals on alternative routes for emergency vehicles during full closures.
If there are any emergency situations that arise in our project area, please call 911. For all other inquiries that are non-emergency please contact 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov or (206) 651-3950.
Yes, boats will still be able to pass under the Ballard Bridge during the closures.
We are coordinating with other construction projects in the area (e.g., the Route 40 Project) to minimize impacts and doing our best to avoid major lane or bridge closures during big community events. We’ll also be observing traffic patterns and exploring ways to optimize traffic signals.
We are also encouraging community members to consider exploring different ways to get around. Using alternative modes of transportation will help minimize traffic and congestion around construction areas. Next time you’re planning on driving through a construction zone, think about giving one of these options a try if it works for your travel needs:
- Flip your trip: Visit Flip Your Trip - Shared Rides - Seattle Traffic to learn about different ways to get around the city.
- Bus: Visit the King County Metro Trip Planner website to plan your next trip.
- Bicycle: Check out our Seattle Bike Map to help plan your ride or read our Seatle By Bike guidebook.
- Bike and scooter share: Visit our How to Use Scooter and Bike Share web page.
- Walking/Rolling: These are great options for shorter trips, depending on your destination.
- RideshareOnline: If you need to drive, consider carpooling! Check out RideshareOnline serving Washington and Oregon to find carpool and vanpool options.
In general, while we’re making improvements to our streets and construction continues, we encourage you to consider exploring different ways to get around. Using alternative modes of transportation will help minimize traffic and congestion around construction areas.
Next time you’re planning to drive through a construction zone, think about giving one of these options a try if it works for your travel needs:
- Flip your trip: Visit Flip Your Trip - Shared Rides - Seattle Traffic to learn about different ways to get around the city.
- Bus: Visit the King County Metro Trip Planner website to plan your next trip.
- Bicycle: Check out our Seattle Bike Map to help plan your ride or read our Seatle By Bike guidebook.
- Bike and Scooter Share: Visit our How to Use Scooter and Bike Share web page.
- Walking/Rolling: These are great options for shorter trips, depending on your destination.
- RideshareOnline: If you need to drive, consider carpooling! Check out RideshareOnline serving Washington and Oregon to find carpool and vanpool options.
Please Note: We aim to keep the bridge open for people who bike, walk, and roll during bridge closures, though access points may shift. Please follow instructions and detour signs in the area and sign up for our project email updates to get the latest information.
The Ballard Bridge carries more than 50,000 vehicles each weekday and more than 45,000 each weekend day. And during the busiest times, approximately 4,500 vehicles per hour travel across this bridge. On weekdays, the Ballard Bridge is busiest from 7 – 9 AM southbound and from 2 – 7 PM in both directions. Weekend days are consistently busy from 11 AM – 6 PM in both directions.
Businesses in and around the surrounding project area will be able to remain open and entrances will still be accessible. We encourage neighbors to continue shopping and using their services. We are committed to work with business owners and staff to address their concerns and potential construction impacts.
15th Ave W/NW is a major roadway serving northwest Seattle. The corridor connects Ballard, Interbay, North Queen Anne, and Magnolia and is a major transit street, serving King County Metro routes 15,17, 18, 40, 44, and the D-line. This section of 15th Ave W/NW includes the Ballard Bridge and provides access to commercial businesses, grocery stores, and residences.
As part of the Levy to Move Seattle AAC (Arterial and Asphalt and Concrete) Paving Program, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is paving 15th Ave W/NW and the Ballard Bridge Deck between W Emerson St to NW 57th St. The project will restore the road condition of a critical piece of Seattle’s transportation network and contribute to SDOT’s Levy commitment to pave up to 180 lane-miles of arterial streets by 2024.
It will extend the useful life of one of Seattle's busiest streets and bridges and contribute to a safer and more comfortable travel experience for all road users. As part of Seattle’s freight route, this will also be a major investment in the freight network and serve large trucks, the maritime industrial business, port facilities, and key business needs on this side of town.
There were multiple opportunities for community members to learn about and provide input on the project design. Our team gave presentations and answered questions at local community events, tabled at neighborhood grocery stores, sent emails, made phone calls, visited businesses and other key stakeholders in the project area, collected responses in a community survey, and sent general email updates to the project listserv.
In total, we received 900+ responses to our community survey and additional feedback from 40 community members who emailed our project inbox. Most of the people (28) who emailed us requested safety improvements for community members who walk and bike. This includes a collective effort organized by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways.
We will continue to communicate with neighbors throughout the 15th Ave W/NW & Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project area. Outreach activities include calling key stakeholders, delivering project information to nearby businesses and residents, and meeting with neighborhood groups to learn how we can best accommodate travel needs and minimize construction impacts. We also share regular project updates through our project webpage and email updates.
Sign up for project email updates here and continue to visit our project webpage for the most updated information on the project. Our outreach team is also available to address any questions or feedback from the community. You can contact the project team at 15thAveW_NWpaving@Seattle.gov or (206) 512-3950.
We are building safety improvements throughout Seattle in support of our Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets. The changes to our design are closely aligned with findings from our Vision Zero Top-to-Bottom Review, which showed that reducing lanes on multi-lane arterial roads slows people speeding and makes it safer for people walking and rolling.
The additional improvements also reflect what we heard from neighbors in the area during our project outreach, including requests for a crossing at NW 51st St. 15th Ave W/NW will continue to support freight movement and the changing traffic patterns resulting from waterfront activities.
In response to the community feedback and to support our Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets, we have added the following safety enhancements to the project:
- Install a new bike and pedestrian signal and crosswalk at NW 51st St, making it easier to walk, roll, or bike around the neighborhood and connecting people to Ballard businesses, attractions, and transit.
- Replace a southbound lane on 15th Ave NW with a new landscaped median between NW 50th St and NW 54th St to calm driver speeds and reduce the likelihood of serious crashes.
- Improve lighting for people traveling under the bridge along Leary Way
- Install new lighting under the bridge on the pedestrian pathway near the intersection of 15th Ave NW and W Nickerson St
While Seattle’s streets are some of the safest in the United States, we still see more than 10,000 crashes a year, resulting in an average of 28 people losing their lives and 180 people seriously injured. These deaths and injuries are avoidable with the right safety improvements.
Our Vision Zero Top-to-Bottom Review outlines some of the data that is informing the safety improvements we’re building in Ballard and throughout the city. For instance, 93% percent of pedestrian deaths occur on arterials, and 80% percent are on arterials with more than one lane in each direction – such as 15th Ave W/NW. The top contributing factors to pedestrian-involved crashes are high speeds and failure to yield to pedestrians.
Thus, we are making improvements in the project area to reduce driving speeds, increase pedestrian visibility, and make it safer for people to walk, roll, and bike across and along this busy street.
Additionally, the Sound Transit Board announced the preferred alternative for the Ballard Light station is on 15th Ave NW and NW Market St with light rail service scheduled to begin in 2039. These additional improvements will help accommodate the increased number of people who will be walking, rolling, and biking to the new Ballard station. Sound Transit’s Environmental Impact Study estimates that they expect 17,300 daily ridership for the Ballard Station.
We have been in internal conversations on which improvements could be built in coordination with the 15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project and which could be built at a later time. The additional improvements do not change the project’s goal of repaving the road and installing infrastructure that aligns with Seattle’s Vision Zero commitment.
Leary Way NW is the next signaled crossing south of NW 53rd, which is a fair distance when you are on foot. This often leads to people attempting to cross without a signal or crosswalk, which is not as safe. Ninety-three percent of pedestrian deaths occur on arterials, and 80% percent are on arterials with more than one lane in each direction – such as 15th Ave W/NW. The top factors in pedestrian-involved crashes are high speeds and failure to yield to pedestrians.
Adding another east-west crossing on 15th Ave NW will increase pedestrian visibility and make it safer for people to walk, roll, and bike across this busy street and get to Ballard businesses and attractions. The crossing at NW 51st St also reflects what we heard from community members in the area.
During construction, people driving and moving freight will be affected. We will work to mitigate traffic impacts, such as working during specific times of the day and night, so it’s less impactful to commuters and surrounding neighbors. There will be lane closures for paving and lane restrictions around locations where we are making improvements, so crews have adequate space to complete the work safely.
Once the project is complete, we anticipate that the new pedestrian and bike improvements will have a minimal impact on people driving and moving freight.
The landscaped median will calm traffic by physically narrowing the street, which lowers overall speeds, cuts down on aggressive passing, and reduces the likelihood of drivers to crossing into oncoming traffic. It also creates a landing refuge in the middle of the multilane street for people walking and rolling and reduces the time they spend in traffic lanes.
We are aware that traffic sometimes backs up in the morning near the Starbucks on 15th Ave NW when people are waiting in the drive-thru line. In 2024, Starbucks added a second container to their property so they could expand their production space. They don’t want people waiting in long lines either, and this expansion will enable their team to fill orders quicker, move people through at a more rapid pace, and alleviate the back-up. We are continuing to coordinate with Starbucks to reduce construction impacts as much as possible.
In terms of the overall traffic flow, our traffic analysis shows that adding the median will have a minimal impact on travel times. There will still be two southbound general purpose vehicle travel lanes. The new two-lane southbound configuration between NW 54th and NW 51st will be consistent with the same number of southbound general purpose vehicles lanes north of 57th to Crown Hill, and the same number of southbound lanes on the Ballard Bridge.
Adding the median also has safety benefits as it will calm traffic by physically narrowing the street, which lowers overall speeds, cuts down on aggressive passing, and reduces the likelihood of drivers to crossing into oncoming traffic. It also creates a landing refuge in the middle of the multilane street for people walking and rolling and reduces the time they spend in traffic lanes.
These safety improvements support of our Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets. The changes to our design are closely aligned with findings from our Vision Zero Top-to-Bottom Review, which showed that reducing lanes on multi-lane arterial roads slows people speeding and makes it safer for people walking and rolling.
During active construction, there may be increased traffic on side streets. We will mitigate this as much as possible during construction, such as by scheduling construction during off-peak travel times when possible.
We do not anticipate the new pedestrian improvements to impact the original project timeline. We work to phase the project in a way that minimizes construction impacts. Please note that schedules are always subject to change due to supply availability and inclement weather.
To improve bike facilities, we would either need to widen the Ballard Bridge or remove driving lanes to widen the bike and walking path. Widening the bridge is a different project that is not a Citywide priority for our current Levy. Removing a travel lane would degrade Rapid Ride and other bus service as traffic backups would greatly increase.
To learn more about our plans for long-term pedestrian and bicycle improvements on the Ballard Bridge, please visit the Ballard Bridge Planning Study and the 2020 Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation System (BIRT).
This project will not replace the bridge. We will be repaving asphalt along 15th Ave W and NW (between NW 57th and W Emerson St) up to the metal grates (bascule) of the bridge. While we complete the repaving of the bridge, we will also include maintenance and repairs to the bridge deck. This will preserve the life of this critical piece of infrastructure and support the safety and mobility for the traveling public.
We are coordinating closely with the following projects to identify detour routes and minimize impacts:
In March 2023, the Sound Transit Board announced the preferred alternative for the Ballard Light Rail station is on 15th Ave NW and NW Market St with light rail service scheduled to begin in 2039. Even when we’re attending Sound Transit led events, we are listening to our community, and we heard the need for better pedestrian crossings on 15th Ave NW.
Sound Transit’s Environmental Impact Study estimates that there will 17,300 daily boardings at the Ballard Station. With the new enhancements included in the 15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project, we will help to accommodate the increased number of people who will be walking, rolling, and biking to the new Ballard station.
In terms of construction, we don’t anticipate any conflicts with the Ballard Link Extension. Our project is expected to be completed in 2025. To learn more about light rail in Ballard, please visit the Ballard Link Extension website.
Project Materials
To view a PDF of project-related materials, please click on the links provided below
- 100% Final Design Fact Sheet (August 2023)
- 100% Final Design Mailer (August 2023)
- 15th Ave NW Paving 100% Design (July 2023)
- 15th Ave NW Paving 90% Design (March 2023)
- 15th Ave NW Paving 60% Design (March 2023)
- 15th Ave NW Paving 30% Design (June 2022)
- FAQ (November 2022)
- Repaving & bridge safety upgrades in Ballard start in 2023 (SDOT Blog, November 2022)
- Fact sheet (June 2022)
- 简体中文 Fact Sheet (June 2022)
- Español Fact Sheet (June 2022)
- We’ll pave 15th Ave W/NW and complete important maintenance & preservation work on the Ballard Bridge (SDOT Blog, May 2022)
- Fact sheet (May 2022)
- Talaan ng kaalaman (Nobyembre 2022)
- 概况介绍 (2022 年 11 月)
- TỜ THÔNG TIN (THÁNG 11 NĂM 2022)
- Hoja informativa (Noviembre de 2022)
- 자료 보고서 (2022년 11월)
- 概況介紹 (2022 年 11 月)
- Xaashida xaqiiqada (Noofambar 2022)
- የዕውነታ ወረቀት (ህዳር 2022)
- Project Map (December 2021)
Need a translation?
The City of Seattle is paving 15th Ave W/NW from W Emerson St to NW 57th St. To request translation of these materials, call (206) 512-3950.
Como parte del programa de pavimentación del impuesto Levy to Move Seattle, el Departamento de Transporte de Seattle (SDOT) está pavimentando 15th Ave W/NW entre W Emerson St y NW 57th St a partir del verano de 2023. Para solicitar la traducción de este material, llame al (206) 512-3950.
作為「移動西雅圖交通徵稅鋪路計畫」的一部分,西雅圖交通部 (SDOT) 最早將於 2023 年夏季鋪設 15th Ave W/NW 從 W Emerson St 到 NW 57th St 的路面。如 需这些资料的译文,或是在会议时需要口译服务,请致电 (206) 512-3950。