On Monday, June 29, the City of Shoreline celebrated the completion of the 145th Street Corridor and I-5 Interchange project with elected officials and agency partners. This event marks the end of more than ten years of planning, funding, coordination, and construction.
Over a decade ago, Shoreline recognized the N 145th Street corridor needed significant improvement to support projected growth and increased traffic from the future light rail station and new development. N 145th Street is a state highway with shared jurisdiction between WSDOT, King County, and the City of Seattle. Shoreline’s jurisdictional boundary falls north of the right of way. It is an important route used by freight, transit, and thousands of Shoreline residents every day. Because of this, the City made it a priority and led the effort to bring all the partners together.
“Over a decade ago, Shoreline had a vision for creating a more accessible, safer, and more efficient corridor,” said Shoreline Mayor Betsy Robertson. “Before construction, N 145th Street’s narrow sidewalks were not safe for people using wheelchairs, mobility devices, or strollers; intersections lacked accessible curb ramps and marked crosswalks; and traffic backups were common. What we have built will be transformational for the corridor.”
“The I-5/145th St. Interchange Project’s completion is a testament to what we can achieve when federal, state, local, and community partners work together,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. “These upgrades will greatly ease the commutes of Shoreline residents and visitors, and are crucial to making our communities safer and more accessible. In Congress, I’ll continue working to support projects like these to make our community even more thriving.”
The City worked with WSDOT, the City of Seattle, King County Metro, and Sound Transit to design changes that would improve transit access and traffic flow while providing a safe space for people to walk and bike. Improvements include:
- Two double-lane roundabouts at the 145th and I-5 Interchanges
- Widened corridor with left-turn pockets at major intersections
- Signal timing adjustments
- New 13-foot sidewalk between 6th Avenue NE and 1st Avenue NE.
- New 8-foot sidewalk from 1st Avenue NE to Corliss Avenue N
- ADA accessible curb ramps at all intersections
- New pedestrian signal at Corliss Avenue N
- Pedestrian activated signals at all I-5 interchange crossings
- Separated bicycle lane on I-5 overpass
- Landscaped amenity zones that buffer pedestrians from traffic
- Relocations and improvements for major utilities owned by Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, Comcast, and Lumen
The City combined work on the I-5 Interchange Project with Phase 1 of the 145th Corridor Project. Doing both projects at the same time helped save money and shorten the construction schedule. Construction began in April 2024 and included a nine-month full closure of 145th to lower the road and complete complex utility work. Johansen Construction Company completed the project construction.
Thank you to everyone who lives, works, or travels through the neighborhood! These improvements are vitally important as our city and the surrounding areas continue to grow. We appreciate your patience during construction, and your attentiveness behind the wheel, ensuring our crewmembers make it home safely at the end of each shift.
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