Rainier Avenue S Phase 4
Announcement
Great news! S. 2nd St. and Nelson Place NW are now open. Upcoming closures for paving are noted below. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. For all traffic impacts for the week, visit rentonwa.gov/traffic.
Last updated: July 17, 2025
Nelson Place NW and S. 2nd St. reopened
Nelson Place NW reopened on Monday, July 14 and S. 2nd St. reopened on Tuesday, July 15. Crews completed the new traffic signal at S. 2nd St. and Rainier Ave. S. and paved new roadway and sidewalks.
Lane closures will increase significantly as embankment and phases of construction continue. We will do our best to notify the public of any closures within 24 hours.
Upcoming road impacts
- Wednesday July 16 through Thursday, July 17: NW 3rd Place daytime closure for paving
- Beginning Monday, July 21: SW Victoria St. intermittent closures for subgrade preparation and paving for two weeks
Please note: Paving work is subject to weather conditions. Local access will be maintained during these temporary closures, and temporary barricades will be set up for safe passage.
For all traffic impacts for the week, visit rentonwa.gov/traffic. As part of the I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening project, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has several closures this summer that may impact overall traffic flow, visit WSDOT’s webpage for upcoming closures on I-405.
We will make every effort to maintain driveway access. If any closures are necessary for upgrades, property owners will be notified in advance. We appreciate your patience as our team continues to make progress on this project.
Full schedule available here: Rainier Ave Schedule Update(PDF, 604KB) (updated 6/4/2024)
Project history & overview
Rainier Avenue South is a critical regional transit corridor. It manages high transit use and pedestrian and cyclist traffic volumes daily. The project improves overall functionality to support traffic demands, enhance walkability, and provide transit access without impacting traffic flow. A project at this scale requires a phased approach over several years, with the primary challenge being securing funding.
When grant funding was awarded to the projects, the city could take action on Phase 4 of Rainier, which focuses on safety, improving traffic flow, and access.
Safety for walkers and bicyclists with wider sidewalks and new bike lanes. Safety for drivers trying to get in and out of businesses. Access for transit, walkers, and bicyclists to make stops or access businesses without resulting in traffic delays or collisions.
After Phase 4, expect to see:
- Sidewalk widening with streetscaping
- Pedestrian-scale lighting
- Extension of the Lake Washington Loop Trail
- Pedestrian-activated traffic signals
- Upgrading existing traffic signals
- Transit improvements, including an extended Business Access and Transit lane (BAT lane)
- Planted buffer strips and landscaped medians
Project status
- Traffic signal was added and turned on at Airport Way (May 2025)
- HAWK signals added and turned at the below locations at Victoria and NW 3rd Pl. (May 2025)
- Traffic signal was added and turned on at S. 3rd St. (July 2025)
- Traffic signal was added and turned on at S. 2nd St. (July 2025)
- Paving along S. 2nd St. complete (July 2025)
Project look-ahead schedule
- July 12-18
- NW 3rd Place daytime closure for paving
- July 19-25
- SW Victoria St intermittent closures for subgrade preparation and paving
Full details available here: 07.14.25-5-week-Look-ahead.pdf(PDF, 83KB)
(updated 7/16/2025)
Project details
FAQs
What activity can be expected during the project?
Crews are actively working on sidewalk, curb, gutter, driveway, and street improvements, including pouring and curing concrete. During this work, you can expect:
- Noise and vibration. Crews will aim to complete as much noisy work during the daytime when possible. Occasional nighttime work will be needed to close multiple lanes during the street and sidewalk upgrades. Crews plan to complete their noisiest work as early as possible during early evening hours, though some of this noisy work may continue into the late night and early morning hours.
- Street, sidewalk and/or lane closures and detours. Driveways may need to be temporarily closed when we upgrade the sidewalks that cross driveways on Rainier Ave S. Access in and out of driveways will be maintained. If driveways need to be closed for upgrades, our team will notify individual properties in advance.
- Traffic impacts. Please plan ahead and give yourself extra time when traveling. The city will include weekly closures on this webpage and the weekly newsletter to help travelers plan ahead.
- Dust and debris
- Crosswalk and sidewalk closures and detours for people walking and biking
Who can I reach out to if I have questions or concerns?
Please call the outreach team (425) 224-2446 if you have any questions or concerns about noise during construction. The hotline is monitored 24/7. When contacting the outreach team, please be as specific as possible, even if you are only leaving a voicemail.
For general questions, please email info@rainierconstruction.org
When will the project be complete?
Rainier Ave. S. Phase 4 is scheduled for completion in November 2025.