Last Saturday night there was an accident at the top of the’ Charlestown Car Launch Hill’ (Charlestown and 46th—during the winter, it’s the ’Awesome Sled Hill). One of the vehicles at the stop sign, heading south on 46th; did not see the ‘right turn only sign’, were from out of town and crossed Charlestown. The car coming up the hill hit the crossing car, which ended up in our neighbors’ parking strip/sidewalk. Luckily no one was seriously injured and being the neighborhood we are folks came out to help.
There is a history of accidents and near misses at this intersection, and they aren’t all out of towners. Years ago, we asked the city to make a couple of safety improvements, but to know avail. Now we are asking again, hoping the City reads our famous West Seattle Blog,…before someone is seriously injured [again].
1. Install a low median on Charlestown that extends all the way through the intersection so drivers cannot cross over Charlestown or take a left from 46th Ave SW. This would eliminate the number one reason for near misses and Saturday’s car accident.
2. Install a stop sign at the northeast corner of Charlestown so that drivers have to stop before going down the hill. This would slow unsuspecting folks down and maybe give potential ‘launchers’ reason to pause.
It is our understanding that the Charlestown Hill is actually an illegal grade, however, it is the only direct route to Alki Beach in our neighborhood for our Fire Department, therefore, needs to remain an arterial. That makes sense and we believe the above steps would make it a safer intersection, without compromising the Fire Departments’ ability to access our neighbors’ homes when an emergency arises. Plus, the Fire Trucks have to come to almost a complete stop before they go down the hill because it is so steep, so we’re thinking a new stop sign and the low, narrow median wouldn’t be a huge issue for them.
westseattleblog
West Seattle Blog
West Seattle Blog
