West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle road work: Avalon/Genesee signal milestone

December 28, 2012 at 3:07 pm | In Transportation, West Seattle news | 14 Comments

Milestone for those awaiting the new traffic signal at Avalon and Genesee: We’ve seen crews working at the intersection almost daily, and this afternoon, the actual stoplight fixtures are installed. No activation date announced yet (we’re checking); the installation is running a few months behind what SDOT had announced earlier this year – installation work finally began in October.

14 Comments

1. Nice!!! That has always been a challenging intersection.

   Comment by West Seattle Hipster — 4:44 pm December 28, 2012 #

2. Booo! We don’t need any new stoplights to slow us down. Those who live on Genessee should just drive a few blocks away to a crossing that does have a traffic light. These things are a plague and should only be installed when absolutely critical and there’s no alternate path.

   Comment by david — 5:41 pm December 28, 2012 #

3. David, I think one of the reasons they’re doing this is for the #50 bus from Delridge to and from the Junction–I think it’s supposed to travel on Genesee and turn left on Avalon Way, and the light will facilitate that. Plus I believe some of the people who live there and cross the street on foot have wanted this for quite some time.

   Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.

   Comment by West Seattle since 1979 — 6:13 pm December 28, 2012 #

4. I don’t believe Route 50 is a reason behind the stoplight – it’s been a community request for some time, predating the creation of the new route – BUT the new route won’t be fully implemented on its intended route until the light is up and running, as noted in this story:
   .
   http://westseattleblog.com/2012/09/metro-changes-new-route-50-has-a-reroute-from-the-get-go
   .
   TR

   Comment by WSB — 6:36 pm December 28, 2012 #

5. David: If you were traveling west on Genesee you might have a different viewpoint (pun intended rofl) on that light. Just put a photo of Kristen Stewart on your dashboard. Every time you hit a red light you can just look and dream…ohhh.

   Comment by Flickertail — 7:38 pm December 28, 2012 #

6. Ditto David

   Comment by DBM — 7:52 pm December 28, 2012 #

7. Ditto David

   Comment by DBM — 7:52 pm December 28, 2012 #

8. Thats what I heard also. It was the new bus route that facilitated the new light. It will definitely slow traffic down big time. But will be much safer for all the new people crossing the street with the build up of that area.

   Comment by wetone — 8:12 pm December 28, 2012 #

9. As someone who has to go west through this intersection at least a few times a day, I am happy to see this go in. My only concerns are people getting stuck trying to get up Genessee because the hill can get slippery when you try to start from a stop and people whipping around the corner heading downhill on Avalon running the light. Those are big concerns, but I also think this intersection is very unsafe and will hopefully improve with the light. Certainly, it will be better for pedestrians who need to cross Avalon, especially in the dark.

   Comment by kayo — 8:29 am December 29, 2012 #

10. I wonder if they a going to post a sign letting drivers know of change at this intersection. I know up at 35th and roxbury they came in painted some lines and made the left lane a left turn only. No warning to drivers who have been driving this way for years. Already I have seen some pretty close calls. Not even a over head sign to let drivers know. I hope nobody gets hurt over this.

    Comment by boy — 3:27 pm December 29, 2012 #

11. As someone that lives off of SW Avalon, this light is a blessing. Generally you have to wait a long time to pull into traffic when you are parked on the street. Also drivers just speed down the hill soooo fast, it makes my head spin at times. To David, a light is a welcome addition. I will be one of the drivers who will sit at it more than others due to living there and I don’t mind at all. It will be safer for everyone. Just waiting for it to finally be done!

    Comment by Michah — 6:19 pm December 29, 2012 #

12. david says; “Those who live on Genessee should just drive a few blocks away to a crossing that does have a traffic light. These things are a plague and should only be installed when absolutely critical and there’s no alternate path.”
    -
    David, there is no other alternate signaled route within a few blocks. None. Zero. Zip. At Yancy there is no signal. And until now, the same has been the case at Genesee.http://goo.gl/maps/GN7GT
    There is that big area called the West Seattle Golf Course that stretches from Genesee all the way south to Brandon and it blocks everything but golfers and their balls from getting through. For those who live east of 35th, the only means of accessing areas west of 35th and the West Seattle Junction is via Yancy or Genesee. Or going all the way south to Brandon, then up Snake Hill through High Point and then onto 35th at Juneau. One can also get to 35th clear down near the cemetery at Orchard/Sylvan Way/Morgan.
    -
    I am thankful that most sane people understand that the intersection in question has been incredibly hazardous for drivers, and more importantly, pedestrians. There are Metro stops on either side of Avalon at this location. The school bus also serves the same stops. Many disabled people live in the multi-unit housing in the immediate area near Genesee and Avalon. Imagine having to walk with the aid of a cane and trying to cross the insane traffic that comes up and down Avalon Way. Thankfully some sort of order will be brought to the chaos with the installation of this traffic signal. Peds will be able to cross safely and traffic will actually flow better for EVERYONE going EVERY direction. Not just those that want to haul a_s up or down Avalon to only find themselves stopped at signals at 35th or at Spokane Street.
    -
    With the line of reasoning from David and a couple others posting, it seems that we ought to remove the signals at Avalon and 35th, Alaska and 35th, Alaska and Fauntleroy Way, Fauntleroy and 35th, etc., etc. After all, we wouldn’t want to impede YOUR needs of getting to YOUR destination. After all, it is all about YOU, ALL the time. Or is it?

    Comment by Down In Delridge — 7:16 pm December 29, 2012 #

13. We bacicly enter the road at your own risk. They,er will always be someone to run the red light or a stop sign. People will always speed and drive like idiots. So between the sdot creating hazards or trying to fix one we all enter the road at our own risk

    Comment by boy — 9:36 pm December 29, 2012 #

14. now all we need is for the cops to start nailing the phone stones on the road, it would get the city out of the red very quickly..as for the painted lines on the corner of rox and 35 PUT YOUR DARN PHONE DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION. MOST OF THE WORLD USES LINE STRIPES ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL…

    Comment by Robert — 3:40 pm December 31, 2012 #

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