The ambitious Elliott Bay Connections project, aiming to transform Seattle's waterfront with a new multi-use greenway trail, has officially started its construction phase. This trail, intended to run on the east side of Alaskan Way, will connect Waterfront Park to the Olympic Sculpture Park, providing residents and visitors with a scenic and sustainable path for travel by bike or foot. Those interested in the project's progress can stay updated by subscribing to email updates, a recommended step as the city gears up for the FIFA World Cup™ games Seattle is set to host in 2026.
According to a recent announcement on the SDOT Blog, the trail will be surrounded by native landscaping and equipped with new visual aids and improved lighting. It complements the Alaskan Way Safety Project, which concurrently develops a protected two-way bike lane nearby. With the grand FIFA World Cup™ just over a year away, this trail will be a green vein through the heart of the city, the design of the Elliott Bay Connections project has evolved through community input, and the final design was presented in October 2024, and the entire construction project is expected to wrap up before the international event begins.
Construction, beginning on the segment between Virginia St and Blanchard St, will involve extensive work including the removal of old trolley tracks, sidewalk reconstruction, and underground utility installation major updates on this project are scheduled to be shared before additional work on Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks begins in March. Special care is being taken to minimize the impact on local businesses and cruise operations, something that is critical given the central location of the work. With construction typically occurring from 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on weekdays, and the potential for weekend and night work, disruption is being kept to a minimum.
Traffic on Alaskan Way should continue to flow with at least one lane open in each direction, albeit with certain temporary parking and loading restrictions nonetheless, access to buildings and businesses will be continuously maintained. As the city's waterfront undergoes this transformation, anyone looking for information on closures or detours is encouraged to sign up for monthly construction update emails, an initiative aimed at keeping the community informed and prepared for the changes.
