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Electrical Upgrade for UW Requires Detour of Next Section of Burke-Gilman Trail

Map of the construction zone and detours.

Map of the construction zone and detours.

Seattle City Light is continuing its electrical reliability and capacity upgrade of the system feeding the University of Washington. The project has required intermittent detours of the Burke-Gilman Trail while underground conduit is installed between City Light’s substation near I-5 and the UW’s substation near 15th Ave NE.

This last phase of conduit installation will require detour of the trail between Latona Avenue NE in Wallingford and Adams Lane near the University Bridge. The work has a planned start date of this Saturday, Jan. 17 and will last until approximately mid-February.

Pedestrians will be detoured onto sidewalks while cyclists will be detoured onto pre-existing designated bike lanes and lanes to be set apart in current traffic lanes. In the latter case, cones bolted to the asphalt will separate cyclists from traffic. See graphic above for roadway adjustments to protect bicyclists. Signage will direct cyclists and pedestrians at waypoints along the detour route.

Photo of Burke-Gilman Trail detour signs.

An example of Burke-Gilman Trail detour signs.

Westbound motorists on NE 40th Street will not be permitted to turn left onto NE Pacific Street at 5th Avenue NE to accommodate the new temporary lanes for cyclists. Traffic will be detoured there and can rejoin westbound NE Pacific Street at Latona Avenue NE.

The conduit installation has been coordinated with the UW’s own trail improvements to east of 15th Avenue NE: http://www.washington.edu/facilities/transportation/tip/detours/bgt. More information can be obtained on City Light’s project at: http://www.seattle.gov/light/aboutus/construction/. Customers can also contact Patty Breidenbach, Electrical Service Representative, (206) 684-4795 and patty.breidenbach@seattle.gov.