Cyclists entering or leaving Georgetown have long been familiar with the dilemma of finding a bike route that is both direct and safe. Pedaling to the bike lane on the 1st Ave South bridge means avoiding high speed drivers on E. Marginal Way or staying visible in the sea of vehicles on S. Michigan. Following the green bicycle route signs west on S. Homer from the Georgetown Playfield takes you across slippery abandoned rails. Biking north on Airport Way means saying a little prayer every time a car or commercial truck whizzes past you.
Some relief for Georgetown's brave urban cyclists is in sight! The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is breaking ground this week on the first phase of the Georgetown to Downtown Safety Project, which will add, improve and connect cycling infrastructure to create safer road conditions between Georgetown, SODO and Downtown. This connection will be the northernmost portion in a system of north-south bike trails between Seattle and South King County that includes the Georgetown to South Park Connection (still in pre-construction), all of which aim to increase cyclist safety while connecting the Georgetown and South Park communities to each other and to the area's public transportation network.
Beginning at S. Lucile and Airport Way S, the Georgetown to Downtown project will create a new two-way protected bike lane that proceeds north up Airport before jogging west on S. Alaska, where one-way protected lanes will hug both sides of 6th Ave S until it connects with the existing SODO trail at S. Lander. Improvements along the route vary, and will include one- and two-way protected bike lanes, updated traffic signals, ADA curb ramps, refreshed crosswalk striping, storm drain improvements, signage and more.
Construction will begin on the southern end of the transportation corridor (at S. Lucile), and will continue north in segments into spring of 2025. Drivers in vehicles should expect lane closures and traffic control on Airport Way S.
SDOT is hosting a public kick-off celebration in Georgetown to commemorate this milestone. Details below:
Date: Wednesday, October 30
Time: 3 - 4pm
Location: 6001 12th Ave S (across from All City Coffee)