Updated November 18, 2025
We’re excited to announce the completion of the 15th Ave W/NW and Ballard Bridge Paving and Safety Project. The new pedestrian signal at NW 51st and 15th Ave NW was the final milestone in the is now up and running. With this installation, all major construction is finished, marking a significant phase in preserving and upgrading this important street and Seattle’s historic bridges.
Learn more about the completed work on the SDOT Blog.
Refreshed lane and pedestrian crossing markings, new landscaped median island to provide traffic calming, pedestrian refuge island, and additional trees on NW 53rd. Photo: SDOT and Google
Key Project Upgrades:
- 22 Expansion joints replaced on the Ballard Bridge and Leary Way Bridge
- 1.1 Miles of asphalt paved
- 3,050 feet of upgraded sidewalks
- 59 Upgraded ADA-accessible curb ramps
- 1 New or upgraded crosswalks
- 18 Trees planted in the new landscaped medium.
- 8 Columns seismically reenforced with 250 cubic yards and 30 tons of rebar
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
-
Pave 15th Ave W/NW from W Emerson St to NW 57th St including the fixed portions of the Ballard Bridge.
-
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
-
Add red “bus only” lane markings to the existing northbound bus lane on 15th Ave NW between NW 51st St and NW Market St
-
Add a new southbound transit lane with red “bus only” markings on 15th Ave NW between NW 54th St and NW Market St.
-
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
-
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.
-
Upgrade curb ramps to meet current ADA standards along 15th Ave NW.
-
Build missing curb ramps at all east-west crossings along 15th Ave NW.
-
Update pedestrian crosswalk signs and refresh striping for better visibility.
General Improvements
-
Repair sidewalks, driveways, and stormwater drainage areas.
-
Plant new trees and replace old trees in select areas.
-
Install new or expand existing tree pits to keep trees healthy.
-
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:
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
Project Materials
To view a PDF of project-related materials, please click on the links provided below
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。
