City invests in a safer Missing Link

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The Seattle Department of Transportation today announced that part of the Missing Link, on NW 45th Street, will have a two-way bikeway starting next week. 

NW 45th Street between NW 46th Street and 11th Avenue NW will be transformed into a one-way eastbound street for motor vehicles, with a separate two-way bicycle lane to the north.

SDOT is implementing these changes after longstanding safety concerns surrounding the Burke-Gilman Missing Link. The one-way eastbound solution comes after collaboration with area businesses. Access to all businesses will be maintained, although some routings will change due to the one-way modification. New signage will direct motorized traffic heading westbound on Northwest 45th Street, east of 11th Avenue Northwest, to head north to Northwest 46th Street instead.

The identified segment of NW 45th Street is one of the highest bicycle collision locations in the city and also a heavy industrial area. As part of this new plan, crews will also install all-way stops on 14th Avenue Northwest at Northwest 45th Street and Northwest 46th Street.

Other safety improvements made recently include: 

  • Curb islands at bridge abutments at Northwest 45th Street and 15th Avenue Northwest under the Ballard Bridge 
  • New intersection signage at Ballard Avenue Northwest and Northwest 48th Street, and at Ballard Avenue Northwest and 17th Avenue Northwest 
  • New speed limit sign on Shilshole Avenue Northwest and Northwest 45th Street between Northwest 46th Street and 11th Avenue Northwest 

The original South Ballard Corridor Safety Project called for installing advisory bike lanes and speed humps along Northwest 45th Street. Advisory bike lanes clarify with dotted lines where drivers can expect to see bicyclists within a driving lane. Because this roadway segment is so narrow, one-way motor vehicle travel with a separate bike lane was determined to be a better option.

Crews will install striping along the NW 45th Street segment and place new signage this weekend, Dec. 20-22. Westbound motor vehicle traffic will be detoured onto Northwest 46th Street at 11th Avenue Northwest. Eastbound traffic may experience intermittent slowdowns. 

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