North Segment

North Segment

(Page 4 of 7)

East Marginal Way South between S Atlantic and S Spokane streets is part of the Heavy Haul Network (HHN) established in 2015 to allow heavier cargo containers to be transported on designated streets between the Port of Seattle terminal gates and the regional railroad and highway systems.



Click map to enlarge.

It is also a primary north-south route for people riding bikes between the West Seattle Bridge Trail and Downtown and SODO.

Currently, East Marginal Way is truncated at the north end at Atlantic due to SR99 construction, but in the future, it will connect to the Alaskan Way waterfront.

Key Elements of North Segment Corridor Click for more
  • Is a major non-motorized corridor, providing connections between the West Seattle Bridge Trail and SODO and Downtown neighborhoods (via the Port Side Trail) for people walking and biking
  • Regularly carries over 100 people riding bikes per hour during weekday peak hours, with numbers sometimes as high as 200 to 400
  • Carries over 5,000 trucks daily (varies due to Port of Seattle maritime activity levels) with an average daily traffic volume of 14,200 vehicles

North segment street options

The Project is considering three street design options for the north segment of East Marginal Way to enhance safety by better separating trucks and bikes and ensuring adequate facilities for pedestrians.


Option 1: Enhanced existing Click for more
  • Operates much as the existing bike lanes do today.
  • Adds new and wider buffers between people biking and vehicles
  • Northbound and right turning vehicles at Hanford still need to cross each other
  • Adds new and wider buffers between people biking and vehicles
  • Doesn’t solve the unpredictable ways people biking northbound cross East Marginal Way between S Spokane St and S Hanford

Looking south on E Marginal Way S at S Hanford St


Option 2: 2-way protected bike lane on the east side Click for more
  • Includes improvements at S Spokane St to facilitate better crossing of East Marginal Way from the West Seattle Bridge Trail
  • Eliminates all driveway crossings at Port terminals
  • No driveway crossings
  • Dedicated bicycle facility without sharing space with pedestrians
  • Access to southbound facility at Atlantic is less intuitive

Looking south on E Marginal Way S at S Hanford St


Option 3: Multi-use path on the west side Click for more
  • Intuitive connections at S Spokane St and S Atlantic St
  • Provides the greatest amount of separation between on-street truck traffic and people biking
  • Crosses multiple driveways to the Port
  • Shared with pedestrians

Looking south on E Marginal Way S at S Hanford St


North Corridor survey

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