According to Marybeth Turner at the Seattle Department of Transportation, sidewalk construction along 3rd Ave W, between W Smith and W Raye streets, may take a little longer to complete than previously reported.
In response to our story posted Monday, Turner send out an update confirming that SDOT crews are indeed constructing and paving a sidewalk on the west side of 3rd Ave W, “filling the gaps in the existing sidewalk network.” According to the paving crew chief, the work is estimated to be completed by Monday, May 24 (rather than this Friday, May 7 as we originally wrote).
“The provision of a continuous sidewalk will increase safety and make it easier and more pleasant to walk in the area,” Turner wrote. “The top ranked sidewalk projects are ones that fill in gaps in existing sidewalks on busy streets and that are located in high priority areas for pedestrian improvements.”
This particular location is part of SDOT’s 2010 sidewalk improvement program, and was selected from Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan, which aims to help make Seattle “the most walkable city in the nation.”
In the meantime, remember that construction takes traffic on 3rd Ave W down to one lane from time to time, so allot yourself extra travel time.