Mayor and SDOT boss: Fauntleroy paving WILL happen

(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)

(the Fauntleroy stretch targeted for paving, “dashcam” view as we drove northbound to the briefing)
We’re just east of downtown, at the McGilvra Place pocket park, where Mayor Nickels, SDOT director Grace Crunican (also a West Seattleite), and others have just wrapped up a media briefing to talk about citywide paving plans for 2009. We came to seek clarification on the status of the Fauntleroy Way (Alaska to California) paving proposal, which lost some of its funding in late budget moves by the City Council (as we reported two days ago) and was said to be in jeopardy. Here’s what we’ve learned: The mayor and SDOT say there WILL be repaving next year on Fauntleroy – the city just has to figure out how much it can afford. Crunican told us just before the briefing that they are looking for other sources to make up the $1.5 million (almost a third of the estimated cost) that the council moved to a long-overdue project elsewhere in the city (Linden) — and some of that may come from other bids that are out right now, potentially coming in for less than was originally budgeted (given the current construction/economic climate). So they’re moving forward with plans for the project, including the proposed restriping we’ve been reporting on – the open house for information and comments on that remains set for December 1st, High Point Community Center, 5:30-8:30 pm. ADDED 1:36 PM: Adding a couple video clips – this one is the mayor giving a shoutout to communications assistance, with regards to road work, from sites like WSB (we got a shoutout by name since we were standing 10 feet away with our video camera, next to one TV station and the Seattle Channel):

(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)

Other interesting tidbits from today’s briefing included the fact that more than 800 intersection signs citywide have been replaced so far this year. Here’s the official news release from the briefing.

5 Replies to "Mayor and SDOT boss: Fauntleroy paving WILL happen"

  • hammerhead November 20, 2008 (7:16 am)

    Fauntleroy does NOT need to paved as bad as Delridge in certain areas. The worst would be 16 th Ave SW. That road in front of South Seattle C.C. is horrible. Repave that road.

  • Mike Dady November 20, 2008 (4:48 pm)

    The section of 16th Ave SW just north of SSCC that you reference was funded for a complete rebuild that was supposed to take place this past summer. Rattle SDOT’s cage and ask them why it has not been taken care of: 684-7623 Let the WSB know what you find out.

  • WSB November 20, 2008 (4:56 pm)

    Thank you for the reminder, after last night’s Delridge Council meeting that was on my checklist for today but I have literally been downtown covering things all day. Will shoot a note to my SDOT contacts but probably won’t get an answer till tomorrow … TR

  • WSB November 20, 2008 (5:43 pm)

    Checking into the archives, I reported getting word from an SDOT person in August that it would be happening “within two months.” That window ended a month ago.
    https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=9863

  • Sparrow November 24, 2008 (3:27 pm)

    Fauntleroy absolutely needs to be repaved as a very high priority. As a motorcycle rider I can testify that sections of that road are actually terrifying to ride on. Look at the ruts in the southbound,left-most lane near Juneau as it goes around the bend. You will notice most of the regular motorcyclists on Fauntleroy will switch to the right lane prior to that section of the road. I am actually quite surprised motorcyclists unfamiliar with the road haven’t been killed there as they lose control into oncoming traffic. Fauntleroy is the access route to the Vashon/Southworth Ferry terminal, and as such has an exceptional amount of motorcycle traffic (Due to the location of the terminal and other options, The Fauntleroy terminal sees more motorcycle traffic than other ferry runs). Any further delay of the repaving would be a significant liability to the city in the event of an accident caused by poorly maintained roads. Unless of course they put a “Motorcycles Use Extreme Caution” sign every 100 yards or so.

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