35th/Raymond signal upgrade now set for next month

| High Point | Transportation | West Seattle news

While exchanging e-mail with SDOT to follow up on last week’s 35th/Morgan signal upgrade and other things, department spokesperson Peg Nielsen told us that another signal change is about to happen, ahead of schedule because the equipment came in sooner: 35th/Raymond (photo above) will be upgraded next month to a full signal. The city reiterated two months ago that this was a priority (WSB coverage here); if you want to see what that spot can be like, check this video from our report last November, when neighborhood activists and visiting City Councilmember Nick Licata stopped a young bicyclist from jumping the current pedestrian light:

News of the impending signal work has just been delivered to area residents via doorhangers like the one at left (thanks to LyndaB for getting us that picture); Nielsen told us they were delivered on Friday, and that work on the signal will start “next month, probably the week after the holiday … The work will take about a month. There is also a possibility that we may need to remove some of the parking spaces on 35th and Raymond to improve visibility for drivers turning at the corners of the intersection.” Nielsen said 35th/Raymond was originally set for September, but the equipment is available now, so up it goes. One other signal note: North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s Mike Dady confirms something else we were checking on – there’s a new turn signal at Delridge/Orchard (by Home Depot/Arco).

carrot4 June 29, 2008 (1:34 pm)

This is great news. I have struggled at this intersection both as a pedestrian (broken/long wait for a crosswalk light) and in my car. I’ve also wondered why parking is allowed right up to 35th on Raymond. This should help! Thanks for posting.

Bikefor1 June 29, 2008 (4:12 pm)

Hallelujah! I second Carrot4. Making a left turn south onto 35th was horrible. I was often tempted to jump out of my car and press the CROSS button.

GreenSpaces June 29, 2008 (5:36 pm)

Yep got my door hanger on Friday! I also noticed left turn signals at 35th and Morgan and Delridge/Orchard. I used to live at 18th and Orchard before moving to High Point and these left turn signals will make this intersection hopefully safer. As long as people stop at the light. A woman was killed about 2 years ago by a truck who ran the red and hit her car.

Ken June 29, 2008 (9:16 pm)

Well now. That’s nice.

When their was nothing but poor people and regular working people in the neighborhood, I was told in 2004 in no uncertain terms, By SDOT staff, that hell would freeze over before another light would be added on 35th that close to the one at Morgan.

No one died at the intersection so I can only assume the advent of hundreds of SUV’s with Cell phones glued to their face was recognized for the traffic hazard it truly is.

When the “commercial” area is built, will another be added at 35th and Graham? Another 220 “Luxury apartments will certainly demand their own traffic light, And SDOT will be accomodating no doubt.

Meanwhile those of us in the area before the prefab cracker boxes have been trapped in the warren of narrow streets for coming up on 6 freakin years.

Koni June 29, 2008 (9:48 pm)

I am thrilled they are finally putting in a real light at 35th and Raymond! Years ago we asked and asked for one, but nothing ever happened. Now I will not have to drive blocks out of my way to find a safe way to turn left out onto 35th! Now, if only they would open the streets north to Morgan (Lanham etc.) so Raymond could be less of an interstate for all of Highpoint ;)

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