Map of Waterfront Seattle improvements, which highlights the projects outlined on this page. The highlighted areas show that future Union Street improvements will take place on Union Street between Alaskan Way and Western Avenue

Bell Street

Project Status

Timeline showing that the Union Street project is currently in design development.

The goal of the Bell St project is to improve connections between Belltown and the waterfront. This project is focused on Bell St, between 1st Ave and Elliott Ave.

The circulation map shows protected bike lanes on Bell Street, between Elliott Avenue and First Avenue, and on Elliott Avenue and Elliott Way south of Bell Street. There are also bike lanes on Elliott Avenue and Western Avenue north of Bell Street. There is an icon for a new bike signal placed at the intersection of Bell Street and Western Avenue.   The map also shows the direction of travel for vehicles. Vehicles can go one-way southbound on Elliott Avenue and one-way northbound on Elliott Way and Western Avenue. Vehicles will be allowed to go one-way eastbound on Bell Street, between Elliott Avenue and Western Avenue, and one-way westbound on Bell Street, between Western Avenue and First Avenue, and on Battery Street, between Elliott Avenue and Western Avenue.

The project spans two blocks of Bell St, between Elliott and 1st Ave. Bell St will remain one way eastbound between Elliott Ave and Western Ave, and one way westbound between Western Ave and 1st Ave. New bike signals will be added on Bell St at the Western Ave intersection.

A cross-section showing the planned reconfiguration of Bell Street between Elliott and Western avenues. From left to right this image has eleven-and-a-half-feet of sidewalk space, a five-and-a-half-foot planted buffer, a ten-foot-wide protected bike lane, a planted median ranging from one to almost nine feet wide, a twelve-foot-wide driving lane, a nine-foot-wide planting strip, a five-foot-wide tree pit, and a seven-and-a-half-feet wide sidewalk.

Final design for Bell St between Elliott and Western Avenues. Improvements include a two-way protected bike lane, planted buffer, and widened pedestrian walkways.

Rendering showing the Alaskan Way sign bridge spanning over Bell St.

Nighttime rendering of the Alaskan Way sign bridge spanning over Bell St. The bridge will have incorporated lighting to help illuminate it at night.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

One of Waterfront Seattle's goals is to create more accessible and comfortable east-west connections for all modes along the Alaskan Way/Elliott Way corridor, including to Belltown, the downtown core and Pioneer Square. As part of the Bell Street Improvements project, we have an opportunity to expand public space and add new landscaping and other amenities.

The goal of the Bell Street Improvements project is to improve connections from Belltown to the waterfront specifically from 1st Ave to Elliott Ave. Elliott Way provides a brand-new connection between Belltown and the waterfront and ties into Bell St at Elliott and Western avenues, including new protected bike lanes and sidewalks.

The final design, based on community feedback (see below for full feedback summaries), includes the removal of a travel lane on Bell St, the creation of a two-way protected bike lane, widened sidewalks and pedestrian amenities. The reduction of a travel lane and existing curb bulbs at intersections will help calm traffic flow on Bell St. A bicycle traffic light will be added to the Bell St and Western Ave intersection.

In addition to the improvements listed above, we will be incorporating the salvaged historic sign bridge that formerly stood on the Alaskan Way viaduct. It will span over Bell St, east of the Bell St and Western Ave intersection. We heard from members of the community that the sign bridge could serve as a gateway to Belltown; the sign bridge is planned to have lighting to welcome people into the neighborhood.

Bell St, between 1st Ave and Elliott Ave, will become a one-way single lane road, eastbound between Elliott and Western avenues, and westbound between Western and 1st avenues (see map in slider above). This is due to a reconfiguration of the street grid to accommodate the new Elliott Way, which is a two-way road that connects into the one-way Western Ave and one-way Elliott Ave. An important note is that there is a new signalized intersection at Western Ave and Bell St for northbound traffic coming from the new Elliott Way. There are also stop signs located at the Western Ave intersection for vehicles traveling on Bell St.

We anticipate finalizing the design for this project by the end of the year and to begin construction mid to late 2024.

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Explore Seattle’s New Waterfront

Bell Street

Project Status

ABOUT THE PROJECT

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