Note: This article has been updated to remove all mentions of the Ballard Fremont Greenways (BFG) group and the annual block party due to incomplete information. We will post a follow-up story to include the concerns of the BFG group and Save 8th.
The Seattle Department of Transportation has a series of upgrades coming to 8th Ave NW to slow down drivers and make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street.
SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson told My Ballard in an email on Aug. 13* that the project is currently in its final design phase, with installation planned for later this year. “This is, and will remain, a priority project for us,” Bergerson said in his email. He added that they’ll be reengaging with community members to answer questions and share design work closer to the installation.
Here’s the list of work planned between NW 48th St and NW 70th St on 8th Ave NW:
- New speed cushions
- New marked crosswalks with islands for people to pause while crossing the street
- New radar speed signs
- New traffic diverter
- New walk/bike signal flashing beacons
Bergerson said the new features will complement the work SDOT completed in 2025, which inluded pedestrian visibility improvements at intersections through daylighting. Daylighting uses signs, paint and other materials to reinforce existing parking restrictions near intersections and crosswalks, improving visibility, and helping reduce crashes without removing legal parking spaces.
Funding for the project comes from the voter-approved 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy and supports the city’s Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
*The article has been updated to include the date of the email correspondence with SDOT.
Photo: One of the marked crosswalks across 8th Ave NW in Ballard / SDOT