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RapidRide G Line digs in: Here’s where work will start on three years of Madison ‘bus rapid transit’ construction

The groundbreaking ceremony is complete. The phased construction effort to create new “bus rapid transit” on Madison between downtown and Madison Valley is beginning.

The Seattle Department of Transportation, heading up construction of the new King County Metro RapidRide G line, has announced which stretches of the Madison corridor will get torn up and begin rebuilding first, and where equipment staging areas will be located along the 2.4-mile route. New signs and signals are going up and the pavement tearing-up is set to begin.

Around Capitol Hill, the stretch of E Madison between 15th and 18th will be first on the schedule with crews setting up work zones and installing temporary signals and electrical conduits:

Madison St between 15th and 18th avenues

  • Temporary signal installation at 16th, 17th, and 18th avenues
  • Street demolition and replacement between 15th and 16th avenues begins as early as October 25
    • The construction team will demolish and repave the street in sections
    • Demolition and paving will each last approximately one week
    • We will notify businesses and residents in advance of any access impacts
  • Weekend work where crews will excavate and install conduits at Madison St and 16th Ave
    • The work will be approximately two weekends, depending on weather and we’ll share specific dates as we have them

Simultaneously, SDOT says crews will begin working in sections of downtown from 1st to 6th Ave.

Contractors are also setting up locations to store equipment and materials near the project area called staging areas. SDOT says the sites were “selected to reduce the construction footprint on Madison St and to enable the contractor to build the project more efficiently. All locations are in the City’s right-of-way and access to businesses and residences near the staging sites will be maintained.”

You can view the planned staging areas here.

During the ongoing construction, expect noise, dust, and vibration, plus “nighttime and weekend work, as needed,” along with pedestrian detours, utility shut-offs, traffic detours and “temporary driveway, road, and lane closures.”

Bus stops along Madison will be temporarily closed or relocated as needed. This first burst of construction will affect stops westbound Madison at 2nd Ave, eastbound Madison at 20th Ave, eastbound Madison at 15th Ave, and westbound E Madison at 17th Ave. Check King County Metro’s Transit Alerts page for updates.

The new RapidRide G line is currently planned to open in 2024 when it will provide service every six minutes during most hours of the day between 1st Ave downtown and MLK in Madison Valley with stops across First Hill and Capitol Hill along the way.

You can keep track of construction updates here.

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Happy Steve in the CD
Happy Steve in the CD
2 years ago

So happy to see this finally starting!

Pat
Pat
2 years ago

Apparently a vital civic issue with incredible societal patience.