Riders of Metro’s Route 8 may notice something different as they travel between Uptown and Capitol Hill.
Work is expected to be complete by the end of this week on several improvements along what the Seattle Department of Transportation calls that “most congested parts of the route,” that cause delays, especially during rush hour or when there are major events at Seattle Center.
Between Fairview Avenue and Stewart Street, an 24/7 eastbound bus-only lane will be installed on Denny Way, in the middle of the three lanes on that stretch. The right lane will direct traffic going to Yale Avenue and southbound Interstate 5, while the left lane is for vehicles heading toward Capitol Hill.
This additional lane will come from the removal of one westbound lane, which SDOT says may cause “minor and brief,” delays heading in that direction during the morning rush hour. Meanwhile, the new eastbound bus lane is expected to save drivers an average one to two minutes during the afternoon peak while also adding reliability.
The lane is part of the Route 8 Corridor Improvements Project, with more upgrades planned for traffic and bus stops in Uptown, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill. The project, funded by federal grants, has a total budget of $1.4 million. All of the improvements should be finished in 2018.
Each day, the route serves an estimated 10,000 riders.
For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/depts/transportations/metro/programs-projects/route-8.aspx.