Seattle transportation officials will gather feedback this month on a large-scale construction project on Fauntleroy Way that will create two lanes of traffic in each direction, bike lanes and sidewalks and is expected to begin late this year.

From noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, and 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 18, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will hold public “Walk and Talk” tours to discuss the proposed improvements for the stretch of road between 35th Avenue and SW Alaska Street. Both tours will be identical, starting outside of LA Fitness, at 3900 SW Alaska St., and ending at West Seattle Brewing Co., at 4415 Fauntleroy Way. For those unable to attend the Walk and Talk events in person, SDOT will also post the tour materials on the project’s website. Public feedback will be accepted online following the events.

SDOT officials say the goal of the project is to “increase mobility and comfort” for walkers, bikers and drivers. The work will represent the culmination of multiple discussions with West Seattle residents that began with a neighborhood plan in 1999, the project’s website indicates. The project, along part of the stretch of road between the Fauntleroy ferry dock and West Seattle Bridge, is expected to last roughly one year beginning in late 2017 and ending in late 2018 or early 2019 and will impact traffic in the area between Alaska Street and the West Seattle Bridge, especially during peak commute hours. According to the FAQ section of the project’s website, the sequencing of the construction process will not be finalized until this summer and, therefore, traffic rerouting will not be known until then.

“During construction, Fauntleroy will likely remain open to traffic with temporary vehicle lane restrictions, sidewalk closures, and side street restrictions in place as needed,” the website indicates.

According to an October 2016 KING 5 story, SDOT says parts of Fauntleroy Way could see a partial shutdown during construction.

“With limited entrance and exits out of West Seattle, commuters will likely feel the impact even if they do not use Fauntleroy Way to access the West Seattle Bridge,” the article states.

Rachel McCaffrey, outreach lead for the Fauntleroy Way SW Boulevard Project, said this month’s walking tours “will be an opportunity for us to share the latest design, discuss early construction planning, introduce the project team to the public, and gather feedback.”

The project is being funded by the nine-year, $930 million Move Seattle levy that was approved by voters in 2015.

For more information about the project and to comment after the March Walk and Talk events, see seattle.gov/transportation/FauntleroyWySWBlvd.htm. Those interested can also sign-up for the project’s email newsletter and receive regular project updates by scrolling down to the Public Outreach section and clicking on “You can sign up for our e-mail list here.”