As the city of Seattle pushes forward with its Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries, substantial upgrades to the Ballard neighborhood's transportation infrastructure are now in motion, with construction already beginning to reshape 15th Ave NW and make improvements to the Ballard Bridge. According to a recent post on the SDOT Blog, the series of enhancements include the creation of a new landscaped median on 15th Ave NW to calm traffic and bolster safety for those traveling on foot, on bike, or by other means, aiming to offer a more protected and peaceful journey for all.
It’s a comprehensive effort addressing multiple elements. For instance, there are plans for new crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and rebuilt sidewalks for better accessibility as it ties into the Vision Zero initiative by the city, addressing startling statistics that highlight the urgency of such improvements, "We’re building a new landscaped median to calm traffic and provide safer, more comfortable travel for people walking, rolling, and biking," as they noted on the SDOT blog.
A key feature in this upgrade is set to be the new landscaped median between NW 50th St and NW 54th St which is anticipated to not just beautify the avenue but play a crucial role in calming traffic by narrowing the carriageway, reducing the number of southbound lanes from three to two between NW 54th and NW 51st, and aligning it with the existing configurations north of 57th to Crown Hill as well as on the Ballard Bridge, as stated on SDOT Blog.
Other improvements are not far behind, with the Ballard Bridge having seen some major repairs in the previous year, including the replacement of bridge expansion joints and repaving; moreover, work is being done to enhance the seismic stability of the Leary Way Bridge north of the Ballard Bridge, with further developments to come in the succeeding months, for those interested in keeping up-to-date with these projects, the SDOT encourages residents to sign up for email updates for the freshest information from their team.
