Bellevue, Sound Transit and King County are working together to determine the feasibility of a project that would realign 120th Avenue Northeast, from Northeast 16th Street (a possible future street) to Northup Way. The project would be a continuation of previous corridor upgrades – between Northeast Fourth and Northeast 16th streets -- that were completed in three phases from 2013 to 2018.
Like the earlier work, the fourth phase of improvements would support growth and redevelopment in the Bel-Red and Wilburton areas. The improvements have been done in coordination with Sound Transit’s East Link light rail project.
Details
Design work on the project is happening through a Three Party Agreement approved in 2015. The design evaluation is being coordinated with a planned Transit-Oriented Development near Sound Transit’s Operations and Maintenance Facility-East, located on the west side of 120th Avenue Northeast. Design elements that will be considered in the feasibility study include:
- Realignment and widening of the road to five lanes (two lanes in each direction plus center turn lanes) to improve traffic circulation for cars, buses and freight
- New pedestrian and bicycle facilities on both sides of the roadway, providing safe access to the future light rail station and nearby regional trail
- Removal and replacement of the existing West Tributary culvert beneath the roadway to allow improved passage for fish and other wildlife
- Intersection upgrades, street lighting, landscaping and other improvements
Schedule
- Fall 2020: Preliminary design work is anticipated to begin
Public involvement
As part of the design evaluation, the city will engage property owners and businesses along the corridor. Questions and comments can be sent to the project manager, Jun Suk An, at jan@bellevuewa.gov. To receive updates about this and other projects in BelRed, subscribe here.
Funding
Engineering design (to achieve 60% completion) and coordination of work is funded by the City’s Capital Investment Program and estimated at approximately $3 million. Construction is not currently funded.
Background material
- Project map (June 2020)
- Aerial footage (May 2020)
- Access Bellevue mailer (May 2020)
