Delridge repaving project, day 1: A change in the plan already, and what’s ahead

It’s the first day of SDOT’s year-long Delridge repaving project. We’ve been out to the Phase 1 site and talked with project-team members – and already have word of one change:

SDOT found that traffic at Trenton and Delridge was backing up so they installed a No Left Turn sign for southbound traffic on Delridge and Trenton.

That’s from project spokesperson Bob Derry, at left in the next photo:

He and SDOT’s project manager Susan Byers and on-site engineering lead Victor Cruz met with us at Delridge/Henderson this morning to talk about project specifics. Like the warning signs that are up:

Remember, since Phase 1 is under way, southbound Delridge is closed between Trenton and Henderson, around the clock, for about two months. Northbound traffic will remain open, but mostly diverted to the sides of the road, which is why tree trimming is part of the early work, to clear obstructions in the outside lanes:

We also got information on what’s ahead in phase 1. First: Starting early next week, they’ll be doing some road-grinding work, which will be noisy for neighbors. Second: In a week or so, they’ll have a project schedule that will offer an idea of the full-intersection closures that will be part of the project – though Cruz said they’ve had a bit of a peek and there are NO intersection closures expected in at least the first three weeks.

If you see traffic avoiding the recommended detours – and it’s breaking the law, such as going over the speed limit – the project team can ask SPD about enforcement, but they can’t force people ONLY to take the recommended detours. Third: This stretch of the project will include some drainage work, so later this month, some big pipes will be on their way to the site. It’s going to be a major improvement in storm drainage.

Overall, “it’s more than a paving job,” Byers summarized it – there will be some “sewer spot repairs in other phases,” plus some Pedestrian Master Plan work like a curb bulb south of the triangular mini-park on the east side of Delridge at Cambridge. But for starters,it’s just one big road project, so if you are heading south tonight on Delridge, through the Trenton-to-Henderson zone,, be mindful of the detours, and know

7 Replies to "Delridge repaving project, day 1: A change in the plan already, and what's ahead"

  • chas redmond January 10, 2013 (4:40 pm)

    Is SDOT going to put “Turn Left Here” signs at Cloverdale then? They can’t just ban a legitimate access to neighborhood homes so they have to provide signage for directing people correctly. Somehow why am I completely leery about SDOT’s capabilities to carry out this project without one or more days worth of what could be called nicely “goofy” issues – which I would call due diligence and proper engineering issues.

  • chas redmond January 10, 2013 (4:42 pm)

    And speaking of SDOT goofy issues – where are we with Transit Signal Prioritization? I have been led to believe that all the intersections with that system have been returned to the previous – non-signal priority – condition so they work correctly. Has SDOT indicated whether the vendor or the software are correctly working and are we going to be the live guinea pigs for their attempts to implement this again?

  • JRR January 10, 2013 (8:28 pm)

    I saw four cars in a row this afternoon (and three more just now while walking home from Westwood Village) blow through the new temporary stop sign at
    Barton and 25th. All who didn’t stop were eastbound. I have to say, it’s not all that visible. But with so many intersections around Westwood already terrible for pedestrians, I’m wondering how long it’ll be before something terrible happens here.

  • Marianne January 10, 2013 (10:16 pm)

    I noticed the new temporary stop sign on eastbound Barton at 25th at the last moment tonight. It was a total surprise to see it there. Glad I did as there was a police car right there on 25th at Barton. Now where are the police that should be monitoring all of the drivers on Alaska that drive in the bus lanes and don’t even follow the right turn only lanes, instead blast through when others are trying to merge to the right to turn?

  • Amym January 10, 2013 (10:31 pm)

    I live a block from Delridge off Barton. If that stop sign isn’t *really* well lit I would have blown through it too. When you drive a route for months and years you kind of get on auto-pilot and I could see how people could miss a new stop sign.

    Actually, I hope that intersection becomes a permanent all-way stop because taking a left (onto eastbound Barton from 25th) was a nightmare even before all the extra diverted traffic.

  • sophista-tikki January 11, 2013 (5:47 am)

    yea! One more extended traffic nighmare trying to get in and out of my neighborhood. Improvements are nice when the are done, but SDOT sure does screw things up while in process. Who ever makes decisions about rerouting traffic during these projects appears to be clueless. Its not like there are a bunch of different ways to go once you get down in this area. Driving Delridge is already pretty restrictive. Once you get stuck behind an access bus its all over. Might as well resign yourself to spending an extra hour trying to go 5 blocks.

  • Nancy F. January 11, 2013 (8:54 am)

    This is awfully inconvenient for local businesses and residents, but, it’s badly needed! The chronic potholes and bad drainage will never be corrected unless the road is reconstructed. It’s long overdue. Thanks to all who helped push the project forward, and thanks to the locals for your patience through this work.

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