UPDATE: East Madison/McGilvra intersection improvements to start

Update 2: SDOT will begin work on the east side of East Madison Street starting Monday, April 2, which will require the closure of McGilvra Boulevard East, which is scheduled to last until Thursday, April 5. 

As McGilvra closes, SDOT will reopen East Garfield Street, which had been closed for road panel replacements. Local access will be provided at East Galer Street south of the closure site. 

Update 1: Crews began work on improving the intersection of East Madison Street and McGilvra Boulevard East on March 20, and work is expected to continue through the end of April. Drivers should expect some delays as portions of the road are closed off for construction.

Original story:

Construction of long-awaited improvements at the intersection of East Madison Street and McGilvra Boulevard East is expected to start later this month.

Michael Morrow, manager of the Wells Fargo branch adjacent to the intersection, having witnessed several accidents there, started working with the Madison Park Community Council and neighborhood business association years ago to lobby the City of Seattle for the improvements.

Washington Park resident Dan Miller suffered a traumatic brain injury and broken bones from an August 2013 bicycle collision while crossing the street.

Advocates were able to secure $480,000 in safety improvement funding from the city by 2016, with planning taking place in 2017. The Department of Neighborhoods also set aside $90,000 in funding for any cost overages.

SDOT will construct curb bulbs on the north and south side of East Madison Street, extending from East Garfield Street on the west to McGilvra Boulevard East on the east. East Garfield Street would be realigned at East Madison, and ADA and bike ramps will be added along these two streets.

SDOT reports work is expected to start in mid-March, and last about a month.

SDOT spokesperson Karen Westing tells the Madison Park Times construction will require intermittent closures of East Garfield Street on both sides of East Madison, and McGilvra Boulevard East on the north side of Madison.

A bus stop between Garfield and McGilvra on East Madison will be closed during construction. King County Metro met with the construction crew and SDOT, and determined that the bus stop will close from March 20 to approximately May 1, and riders are being referred to another stop one block east.

Work is slated to take place 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, with some weekend work possible.

Existing trees around the intersection will remain in place, and the city is adding a new conifer tree at the northwest corner of East Madison and McGilvra Boulevard East.

Five on-street parking spaces will be lost as a result of the intersection improvements.