Route 40’s final to-do list in Fremont

The Seattle Department of Transportation sent out a project update last week with the remaining Route 40 work in Fremont. 

Here’s what’s happening:

• On Fremont Avenue North between North 35th and North 36th streets, SDOT will remove the dedicated northbound left-turn lane at North 36th Street. Drivers will still be able to turn left from the general-purpose lane. The changes will create more room for on-street parking and space for southbound bike travel. 
• A new westbound bus stop is coming to North 36th Street between Greenwood Avenue North and Phinney Avenue North. The work includes sidewalk and driveway upgrades in front of the 7-Eleven. Crews have already started construction, and the sidewalk will be closed and the parking lane restricted for approximately two weeks.
• A pedestrian light near the eastbound Fremont Avenue North and North 35th Street bus stop will be moved to support future Seattle City Light maintenance access. Crews will remove and replace a small section of sidewalk behind the bus stop to reroute underground wiring, working around nearby tree roots. This work is slated to begin in late September.

SDOT said these updates are partly based on feedback from local businesses and people who bike through the area. 

Crews are also working through their “punch list,” which is a final checklist of smaller items that need to be completed before the project wraps up. This includes pavement markings and signage, sidewalk and curb ramp touch-ups, landscaping restoration, and drainage and utility adjustments.

SDOT will continue to monitor traffic in Fremont and adjust signal timing to help traffic move more smoothly. It typically takes a couple of months for traffic patterns to settle after lane marking changes, SDOT said.

But some effects are already visible from earlier work. 

As Fremont Neighbor reported recently, residents along an alley near Fremont Avenue said drivers have been cutting through at dangerous speeds to avoid the reconfigured streets.

Residents with questions can contact SDOT at Route40@seattle.gov or 206-775-8731. Detailed design plans are available on the SDOT project page.