Ballard Natural Drainage project update

A large-scale roadside rain garden project for the Loyal Heights neighborhood is in its final design phase, with construction expected to start later this year. The project is part of the city’s Ballard Natural Drainage System, which will work to prevent an average of 1 million gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater per year from entering the Ship Canal and Salmon Bay.

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Street map of Ballard natural drainage system projects

According to the project team, they’ve finished designs for several blocks of roadside rain gardens,  addressing technical and cost constraints, working with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to finalize tree placements, and responding to feedback from residents in Loyal Heights.

Following the design finalization, the contract will be going out to bid for contractors this summer, and residents can expect pre-construction gas line relocation work to begin in late 2015, with major construction to begin in spring 2016.

There is a Ballard greenway route in the same area of the drainage project (on 17th Ave NW between NW 77th St and NW 83rd St), so SPU will work with SDOT to coordinate sharing the road.

Click here for a full map of the proposed rain garden locations in Loyal Heights, and here to learn more about the scope and history of the project.

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