RapidRide J Line Construction Passes the Halfway Point in Seattle
Seattle’s RapidRide J Line project, which upgrades the current Route 70 corridor to RapidRide-level bus service connecting Downtown, Belltown, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District, has moved beyond the halfway point of construction. This week, crews are working on the southwest section of the Eastlake Avenue East and East Lynn Street intersection, and in South Lake Union, installing new traffic signals and closing a southbound lane on Virginia Street between 8th and 9th avenues.
The project includes 8,900 feet of watermain replacement in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, which has already been completed, along with upgraded streets, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, streetlights, and traffic signals. The work will remove 92 trees in areas being widened for sidewalks and new bus shelters, with a planned net gain of 98 trees once the project is finished.
Why this matters for contractors: With the project past the halfway mark, closeout-phase trades, landscaping, signal systems, and streetscape finishing, should be positioning for the work remaining in the Eastlake and South Lake Union segments.
