Joel Connelly can hop into his jalopy for a pleasant drive — a long kinked-off segment of 23rd Ave reopens to “two-way traffic” with its newly reconfigured lanes today:

Two-Way Traffic Resumes on 23rd Avenue Today from East Cherry Street to East Union Street

SEATTLE – The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers that beginning today, July 27, two-way traffic on 23rd Avenue will reopen from East Cherry Street to East Union Street, allowing better access to businesses, homes, and community organizations in the area. This work is part of the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project.

Travel in both directions on 23^rd Avenue between East Cherry Street and East Union Street will be maintained for the remainder of the work in this zone, however, neighbors should still expect intermittent construction through project completion in early 2017. Northbound 23rd Avenue will remain closed between East Union Street and East Madison Street with a detour on Martin Luther King Jr Way. This detour will stay in place until early 2017.

By 4 p.m. today, July 27, travelers can expect the following:

• 23rd Avenue will reopen to two-way traffic from East Cherry Street to East Union Street.
• 23rd Avenue will remain closed to northbound traffic in the active construction zone from East Union Street to East Madison Street, with a detour to Martin Luther King Jr Way starting at East Union Street and reconnecting with 23rd Avenue at East John Street.
  • o  Businesses located in the project area are open and accessible. Neighbors are encouraged to continue supporting their local businesses during construction.

• Southbound travel on 23rd Avenue will be maintained, though reduced to one lane (except at key intersections). Drivers should expect delays.

Pedestrian crossings will be clearly marked and maintained. For more information on this project go to:http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_Ave.htm.

While it’s nice that the core stretch of 23rd from E Union to Cherry will be back to normal, construction to complete the 23rd corridor project still has months to go. Phase 1 covering Jackson to John, began in June 2015 and was expected to take 20 months. The entire corridor overhaul from I-90 to Montlake has targeted a late 2017 completion. CHS wrote here about the road construction projects spanning Montlake, Capitol Hill, and the Central District that will transform the street into a new configuration with a center left-turn lane and improve the pedestrian and sidewalk experience. The new layout will also allow buses to pull completely out of the traffic lane at stops. Meanwhile, work has also been underway to complete the adjacent Central Area Neighborhood Greenway with bicycling and pedestrian improvements hoped to create a safer overall transit corridor. Other infrastructure along the route is also being upgraded and installed including electrification for Metro trolleys.

In addition to cutting checks to small businesses hurt by the construction, SDOT responded to intense criticism of the project by asking contractors to phase the project to be friendlier to the surrounding neighborhood businesses and residents. SDOT also arranged for areas for contractor parking and storage of construction equipment to try to keep the area from looking like a 24-hour construction site.

For more on the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project visit seattle.gov.