Fears that redevelopment construction also ripped away a recent but highly visible symbol of the gayborhood were painted over this week as crews restored the Capitol Hill rainbow crosswalks along 11th Ave just in time for Pride.

When the construction crews dig in on any Capitol Hill project, Seattle Department of Transportation requirements mandate the right of way and its resources be restored. It’s no different for the city’s “Community Crosswalks” program.

Inspired by the 2015 installation of the rainbows around Pike/Pine, Community Crosswalks can now be found across the city including the “Poem Dazzle” crossings on Melrose.

With the return of the rainbows, 11th Ave is nearly back to its new normal. Demolition work began in late 2017 in the preservation plus office space project to create the new Kelly Springfield Building. Late last year, CHS reported on the big tenant the project had landed — coworking giant WeWork. Along with the building’s construction, needed utility upgrades required plenty of pavement around 11th Ave and Pike/Pine to be torn up including a gas main replacement project started last fall by Puget Sound Energy. The end of the construction and the repaving off 11th has the Pike/Pine shops, bars, and restaurants along the street happy to be through the years of work.

The return of the rainbows will also surely help.

UPDATE 6/17/2019: PSE says the gas main project is wrapping up and notes that the rainbow crosswalk restoration work in the area is fully complete.

During the natural gas work, AA Asphalting crews closely followed the IFS crews to temporarily patch the road and sidewalks as needed. Full road and sidewalk restoration is 99% complete and the remaining work is being coordinated closely with SDOT personnel, Metro and other contractors working in the area to minimize impacts to the community as much as possible. Restoration crews are working diligently to complete the remaining work; however, unexpected obstacles were revealed along E Pine Street that delayed the completion of the concrete panels. The remaining restoration work along E Pine Street will be completed by June 21, with one final section along 11th Avenue south of Union Street scheduled for early July (please refer to map above for timing details). This work is heavily weather dependent and the schedule may adjust accordingly. Please note that PSE personnel are working closely with SDOT, Metro and other partners to complete the majority of the remaining restoration work prior to Pride. Restoration crews will be completely cleared out of the work area by June 21 in preparation of the upcoming event.

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