Bellevue, Sound Transit and King County are working together to determine the feasibility of a project that to realign 120th Avenue Northeast, from Northeast 16th Street (currently planned for but not yet built) to Northup Way. It 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 earlier work, the fourth phase would support growth and redevelopment in the Bel-Red and Wilburton areas. Improvements have been done in coordination with Sound Transit’s East Link light rail project.
Details
Design work is happening through a Three Party Agreement approved in 2015. An 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 with turn pockets or a center turn lane) to improve vehicle circulation
- New pedestrian and bicycle facilities on both sides of the street, providing safe access to the future light rail station and nearby trail
- Removal and replacement of the existing West Tributary culvert under the roadway to allow improved passage for fish and other wildlife and associated stream restoration.
- Utility upgrades, stormwater management, street lighting, landscaping, retaining walls, traffic signal system, signing, channelization (roadway striping) and other improvements
Schedule
- 2020-2021: Work on project design to achieve 60% level of completion
- 2022: Complete design work
- 2023-2024: Project construction (right-of-way acquisition and construction are not currently funded)
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 60% level of completion) and coordination of work is funded by the City’s Capital Investment Program and estimated at approximately $3 million. The project will complete final design with Puget Sound Regional Council- Surface Transportation Program funding at approximately $1.46 million. Right-of-way acquisition and construction are not currently funded.
Background material
- Project map (June 2020)
- Aerial footage (May 2020)
- Access Bellevue mailer (May 2020)
