A major repaving project could start as early as April and lengthen West Seattle residents' commute into and out of downtown.

Funded by the nine-year, $544 million Bridging the Gap transportation package voters approved in 2006, the project would repave along First Avenue South from South Dearborn Street to South Stacy Street and from South Spokane Street to East Marginal Way.

It's part of an accelerated paving plan that is awaiting City Council approval, said Krista Bunch, Bridging the Gap community outreach advisor.

Several major projects in the funding package need to be moved up to lessen the impact of escalating construction costs.

Bunch said the project would be somewhat "painful" but that the city is trying to mitigate the impact to commuters by doing some of the work at night.

"We are working to keep lanes open in the morning," she said. "The city does not anticipate any huge delays. There will be some challenges but it will make the ingress and egress into the city much easier."

If approved to start in April, the project should wrap up by October, said Bunch.

The city also hopes to start work by this summer on the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening project. The scope includes widening the north side of the structure by 41 feet between Sixth Avenue South and East Marginal Way to make space for a new westbound acceleration-deceleration lane, wider lanes, possible transit only lanes and a permanent median.

The existing westbound off-ramp at Fourth Avenue will be removed and new on/off ramps will be constructed at First Avenue South and strengthened seismically.

All of this work is being done in preparation for the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct to soften commuting times during the years the elevated highway is down.

"(Repaving) doesn't reduce the number of cars on the road but it will help make that flow hopefully smoother," said Bunch.

The First Avenue project is one of four major repaving endeavors the city plans to start this year with Bridging the Gap funds. Another major corridor into the core of the city set to be repaved is along 15th Avenue Northwest from First and Denny to the south end of the Ballard Bridge.

Twenty-seven lane miles were paved in 2007, and the city anticipates another 30 miles of repaving projects to get underway this year. A total of $22.2 million is designated for paving in 2008.

Last year Bridging the Gap repaved large portions of California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Admiral Way, as well as striped several miles of bike lanes and sharrows (shared lane pavement markings) on some major bicycle routes, including on Beach Drive.

About 21 miles of bike lanes and sharrows have been striped in Seattle and another 30 miles are in the work plan for this year as part of the city's bike master plan.

The levy dollars also fund the implementation of the Pedestrian Master Plan, which includes the creation of a series of neighborhood walking tours and the installation of a pedestrian countdown signal at 35th Avenue Southwest and 15 other intersections in 2008.

"Pedestrian safety is one of the highest priorities," said Bunch.

The 2008 work plan includes building 18 new blocks of sidewalks and adding 20,000 new transit service hours in conjunction with King County Metro's Rapid Ride program, another 2006 voter-approved initiative.

The West Seattle bus rapid transit route, scheduled for 2012, will go from the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal, north on Fauntleroy Way to Morgan Junction. It will continue north on California Avenue to the Junction, then to the West Seattle Bridge and downtown.

According to the mayor's office, Bridging the Gap met most of its first-year goals for repairing streets and improving pedestrian and bicycle safety.

"... Seattle is turning the corner on a generation of under investment in our transportation system due to dwindling federal and state support," said Mayor Greg Nickels in a statement. "We are building sidewalks, paving roads, replacing streets signs and helping people fight global warming by making it easier and safer to get around by bike, foot or bus. And this year, we will do even more."

View the Bridging the Gap 2007 Annual Report at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/BridgingtheGap.htm.

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at 783-1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com.