The City of Bellevue Transportation Department has heard from residents in Northeast Bellevue about speeding concerns and sidewalk gaps on 173rd Avenue NE between Northup Way and the Bellevue-Redmond city limits.
To respond to these concerns, this portion of 173rd Avenue NE was evaluated against all other requests for traffic calming in the city—a list of over 100 locations—and was rated highly for action given traffic volumes, vehicle speeds and proximity to parks and schools. Filling in sidewalk gaps was selected by residents in Northeast Bellevue through the Neighborhood Enhancement Program process in 2024. This project will construct approximately 1,100 feet of missing sidewalk segments on the east side of 173rd Avenue NE from Northup Way to NE 15th Place, completing the section of sidewalk from Northup Way to Tam O’Shanter Park.
At the start of 2025, the project team gathered feedback from people who live nearby on various traffic calming treatment options. The two most popular options were raised crosswalks and speed cushions. In March 2025, design work began on the project. The number and locations of the raised crosswalks and speed cushions will be determined during the design process. More information will be available here once the design progresses.
Timeline
- Summer or Fall 2025: Finalize design
- Spring 2025: Start of project design
- Winter 2025: Community engagement
- 2024: Sidewalks on 173rd Avenue selected through NEP process in Northeast Bellevue
Construction is anticipated to occur between 2026-2028 as funding becomes available.
Funding
Funding for this project comes from various city programs, including the Neighborhood Safety, Connectivity and Congestion Levy, the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program, the Neighborhood Sidewalk Program, and the Neighborhood Enhancement Program. The estimated cost of construction will depend on what treatments are chosen.