3rd Ave Improvements
April 2025
What's Happening Now?
3rd Ave is undergoing so many changes! As of January 2025 we have started the following construction projects:
- 3rd Ave & Main Bus Stop Improvements [completion expected Summer 2025]
- 3rd Ave & Yesler Safety Improvements [completion expected Summer 2025]
With the above projects well under way, we expect to also start repaving 3rd Ave between Virginia St and Pine St in summer 2025. Our paving will happen after Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) replaces the water main under the street. We expect construction to last approximately nine months.
Stay tuned for more updates on this website and via our email updates If you have questions about the projects or would like a briefing, please contact the project outreach lead.
King County Metro bus drivers navigate 3rd Ave’s bus only lanes through downtown Seattle
Overview
3rd Ave is Seattle’s busiest bus corridor and one of the busiest transit corridors in the state. Prior to the pandemic, it was traveled by more than 2,500 buses carrying 100,000 riders each day. This important bus corridor connects thousands of people walking, biking, and taking transit to jobs, housing, events, businesses and shopping centers, restaurants, cultural centers, service providers, and other transit connections to local and regional destinations. Over the next 2 years, we will be:
Building street, sidewalk, and bus stop upgrades in Pioneer Square
This includes upgrades to the southbound bus stop at 3rd Ave S and S Main St, and safety improvements for people walking, biking, and rolling at the intersection of 3rd Ave and Yesler Way. Click on the links to visit these project webpages to learn more.
Paving 3rd Ave between Virginia St and Pine St, and between Yesler Way and S Main St.
Starting as soon as Summer 2025, we’ll begin repaving 3rd Ave between Virginia St and Pine St. While we rebuild the street, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will also replace an aging cast iron lead joint watermain between Virginia St and Pine St originally built in 1910.
We began repaving 3rd Ave S between Yesler Way and S Main St in December 2024. Another crucial part of this work will involve SPU making repairs to their storm sewer system at the intersections of S Washington St and 3rd Ave S, and at S Main St and 2nd Ave Extension S.
Repaving these sections of 3rd Ave will help buses travel more efficiently on smoother, stronger pavement. We are conducting ongoing outreach to impacted properties in advance of the paving and waterline work to help them prepare for construction.
Working with King County Metro to upgrade real-time information kiosks at bus stops
Many of the existing real-time information kiosks don’t work anymore, and King County Metro will be replacing these kiosks. To get ready, SDOT will remove the existing kiosks and their foundations and build new foundations so Metro can install the new kiosks. The new kiosks will have real-time bus arrival information and ORCA cards readers to help people board the bus more quickly. King County Metro expects to start installing the new kiosks soon, and we will let the public know when once a timeframe is chosen.
| Stop ID | Direction | On Street | Cross Street |
| 431 | S | Third Ave | Pike |
| 468 | S | Third Ave | Seneca |
| 481 | S | Third Ave | Columbia |
| 490 | S | Third Ave | Cherry |
| 538 | N | Third Ave | Columbia |
| 558 | N | Third Ave | Seneca |
| 578 | N | Third Ave | Pike |
| 590 | N | Third Ave | Pine |
| 1610 | N | Prefontaine Place S | Yesler Way |
| 10328 | W | Valley Street | Fairview Ave N |
| 26641 | S | Westlake | Mercer |
| 26645 | S | Westlake | Harrison |
| 26665 | S | Westlake | 9th |
| 26690 | N | Westlake | 9th |
| 26715 | N | Westlake | Harrison |
These improvements are just one part of the City of Seattle’s bigger plan to make downtown safer, easier to get around, and more welcoming. Extending dedicated bus only hours on 3rd Ave also supports the Mayor's Executive Order on climate justice in transportation by investing in bus lanes. See our 3rd Ave Improvements factsheet for more information.
Funding
These 3rd Ave improvements are funded with various funding sources, including the voter-approved Move Seattle Levy and Seattle Transit Measure. Funding is also provided by Sound Transit grants, King County Metro grants, and the Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program.
Schedule
The schedule below shows planned milestones and may change:
End of 2023:
- Design complete for 3rd and Yesler safety improvements and 3rd and Main bus stop improvements projects
Summer 2024:
- 3rd and Yesler safety improvements construction begins
Fall 2024:
- 3rd and Yesler safety improvements construction begins
Winter 2024:
- 3rd and Main bus stop improvement construction begins
Summer 2025:
- 3rd Ave Virginia to Pine construction begins (*tentative)
Materials
3rd Ave Improvements: Paving and Water Main Replacement Fact Sheet
3rd Ave Improvements - Paving & Water Main Replacement Frequently Asked Questions
3rd Ave Projects
Learn more about the 3rd Ave projects at these project webpages:
- 3rd Ave S and S Main St Bus Stop and Safety Improvements
- 3rd Ave and Yesler Way Safety Improvements
- Transit Spot Improvements
To learn more about projects happening throughout the entire City, view our Capital Projects Dashboard.