It is difficult to miss the construction currently under way on top of Queen Anne Hill.
At both ends of the business district pedestrians and cars have experienced barricades and large, noisy machinery, with busy workers removing old concrete and pouring new.
When the dust settles in approximately four weeks there will be two new gateways to upper Queen Anne. At West Galer Street the sidewalk on the eastern side of Queen Anne Avenue North will be broadened to increase the pedestrian space and reduce crosswalk distances. The three-way stop will be reconfigured to reduce confusion over vehicle right-of-way. New trees will be added, as will pedestrian lighting.
At the other end of Queen Anne Avenue, at West McGraw Street, there will be stamped concrete crosswalks, its aim to enhance pedestrian safety.
This project, Queen Anne Pedestrian Improvements, was requested by Picture Perfect Queen Anne (PPQA) to implement the Queen Anne Avenue Streetscape Master Plan.
The funding came through the Neighborhood Street Fund (NSF). NSF is a community-based program that is administered by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) with additional funds from the Bridging the Gap transportation levy approved by Seattle voters in November 2006. The MasterPlan (downloadable at PPQA.com) was developed by the design firm ZGF after a series of public meetings held August 2005 through March 2006. In those meetings a recurring request from the community was to address pedestrian comfort and safety.
Greening up the Avenue was also seen as a way to enhance and reinvigorate the neighborhood.
There will be curb bulbs and expanded planting areas at both intersections. These new planting beds will be filled with a palette of drought-tolerant shrubs, perennials, grasses and bulbs.
PPQA will raise funds for the purchase of plants and maintenance of those beds. More information on that will be released soon.
With this change comes inconvenience. For construction updates, visit the Queen Anne Pedestrian Improvements project website at www.seattle.gov/transportation/btg_nsf.htm.
At McGraw there will be another closure Saturday, May 2, when the east side of the intersection will be constructed. Turns from Queen Anne Avenue North to eastbound West McGraw Street will not be permitted.
On Sunday, May 3, turns will also not be allowed as the concrete cures. The driveway for Eat Local and Barg French Cleaners will remain open.
While construction is underway, local businesses will be open. The PPQA asks that customers continue to support local merchants during the disruption.
Two business owners doing their own planting are enthusiastic about the project. Greg Conner, owner of Eat Local, is excited about the new curb bulbs. They may look like an extension of his new raised vegetable gardens, "...maybe there will even be some edibles out there," he said.
At the Galer end of the street, Angelo Pappas, owner of Olympia Pizza and Spaghetti House since 1991, called Queen Anne one of the most beautiful areas in the city, but acknowledged the area's need "for a face-lift." He added. "It's not only for the area to look good, it's easier for people to walk and cross the street."[[In-content Ad]]
