Last month we shared that early utility work began on the Seattle Center City Connector, the streetcar project that aims to ease north-south travel through downtown. The new 1.2 mile route, mainly along 1st Avenue, will connect the existing South Lake Union and First Hill streetcar lines. In the meantime, the $177 million project might cause a headache for many up until its completion in 2020.
What to Expect in January…
Next month crews will begin installing a temporary water main to serve buildings on 1st Avenue between Jackson and Yesler Way. The work will cause temporary water shutdowns for numerous buildings in the Pioneer Square and West Edge neighborhoods. Seattle Public Utilities expects most buildings to face two water shutdowns of up to four hours and an additional two more that could be upwards of 10 hours. The new water main is expected to be ready for service by December 2018.
The installation will also require the closing of the northbound lanes of 1st Avenue between Jackson and Yesler for several months in addition to the westbound lane on Jackson between Occidental Avenue South and 1st Avenue. Intersecting streets will remain open, however, some intersections may be closed during nights and weekends.
In the end…
The Seattle Center City Connector will connect to the First Hill streetcar line at Jackson Street in Pioneer Square, continue along 1st Avenue where it will then turn onto Stewart Street and connect with the South Lake Union streetcar at Westlake. The new stations will be in the middle of streets to keep sidewalks open for pedestrians.
Once complete, the streetcar system will have five miles of track and 23 stations. Cars will run every five minutes during peak hours with a trip from Westlake to Pioneer Square taking about 10 minutes. It is expected to carry up to 25,000 people a day in its inaugural year.