(SDOT crew working at Olson/1st this week)

SDOT says the work at Olson/1st, on the east end of the Roxbury corridor, continues this weekend:

This weekend we are repaving the busy 1st Ave S and Olson Place SW intersection, at the east end of the SW Roxbury corridor. Our crews worked 12-hour shifts every weekend in August to complete installation of new wiring and bonding underground, across about 70 feet of travel lanes. The trench was covered in steel plates to await asphalt.

What you can expect:
Crews from SDOT Roadway Structures will move and reset steel plates during asphalt work, then remove the steel plates the following day and clear the area.

September 15 | 9 AM – 8 PM

September 16 | 9 AM – Noon

Closure | Expect lane closures on Olson Pl SW and 1st Ave S.

General | 2 Uniformed Police Officers will be on site to guide traffic.

The 1st/Olson location was prioritized for a Levy to Move Seattle major maintenance rebuild, to enhance reliability and function where underground wiring/materials had degraded. The failing existing conduit system had caused repeated maintenance issues. The new conduit connects to our Traffic Operations Center and Intelligent Transportation System, which helps enhance safety and mobility remotely.

The project includes new LED traffic signals and new signal support poles — better aligned with the current roadway configuration, for optimal visibility. These are scheduled to be installed in October.

More background on the project, including a history-related side note, is in this WSB report from three weeks ago. P.S. Thanks to Craig for sending the 1933 Seattle Municipal Railway map relating to that!