More West Seattle repaving: 16th SW work finally set

| Puget Ridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from fall 2008)>
What just might be the most teeth-rattling stretch of road in West Seattle, on 16th SW north of South Seattle Community College, is now back on the SDOT schedule for repaving. This was supposed to happen last year – then, as reported here in November, it was put on hold. But now it’s officially set for repaving and widening between Findlay and Brandon (map) this summer – this SDOT webpage has details, including:

Work includes:

* pavement removal and replacement
* drainage improvements
* curb ramp construction
* sidewalk repaving

Construction work is scheduled to begin in mid June and continue for approximately six weeks.

Note that the city’s page also says that while southbound traffic will continue during the project, northbound traffic will be detoured “via Dumar Way SW/SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW.”

sam April 30, 2009 (12:10 pm)

hurray! so- is the northbound traffic going to be re-routed for the entire 6 weeks ? and would that include the 125 bus ? it looks like the metro website doesn’t have any info yet. I worry about one the ladies in the neighborhood. she lives right near the 125 stop, and that seems to be the only way she gets around. and there’s no way in heck she can walk any long length to get to a re-routed stop.

(I tried to stop by during snowstorm, to see if she needed anything since the bus wasn’t coming, and understandably- she didn’t open the door to me, a stranger. I should try again to introduce myself)

robert April 30, 2009 (12:27 pm)

It’s about time! They’ve needed to do this for year. They wasted money putting in “speed humps” on this road. When these pot holes slowed people down more.

celeste17 April 30, 2009 (12:40 pm)

Sam keep trying to introduce yourself. Take over a small coffee cake or some banana bread. And tell her you would like to offer any assistance that you can while the street is under construction. Do you have kids? Can they come also and get to know her and maybe she can become an unofficial Grandmother. I know I look after an older couple of the street and went and checked on them during the snow storm.

Mike D. April 30, 2009 (1:21 pm)

robert – The speed cushions and the rebuilding of the decaying section of 16th were two separate projects requested by neighborhood citizens via the North Delridge Neighborhood Council and the Delridge District Council. Both projects were approved by SDOT but paid for out of two different funding mechanisms. The speed cushions were able to paid for and installed rather quickly. Unfortunately, the reconstruction of the crumbing street has taken a lot longer. While awaiting the repair of the actual street, it was determined by SDOT to install the speed cushions in the decent section of 16th so as to reduce the chronic roll-over accidents that were happening like clockwork in the 16th/Dawson/21st Le Mans like corridor.

If you live in the area please engage with your neighborhood group if you are interested in any additional traffic/pedestrian safety improvements.

JJ April 30, 2009 (1:32 pm)

I know they are separate projects, but putting in the speed bumps first was a classic local government “ass-backwards” fix. Will they have to tear up the bumps when they fix the street? I’m guessing yes…

WSB April 30, 2009 (1:42 pm)

Here’s what SDOT told us last year:
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=12584

DM April 30, 2009 (6:19 pm)

Hey Sam, I’m wondering if those special assistance Metro vans (I forget what they call them specifically) could help out your neighbor during the construction/inevitable bus reroute?

Rock Steele April 30, 2009 (6:58 pm)

Findlay to Brandon? That’s one block.

AndyR April 30, 2009 (7:39 pm)

@Rock Steele: It may be a block, but it’s honestly one of the worst stretches of road I’ve run into in Seattle (I live on 16th very near to it).

@JJ: Existing bumps are north of Brandon in a relatively well-paved portion of the road… At the rate of speed people take them, I’m glad they’ll be putting in a second set after the road is fixed. I’d much rather take the bumps than the destroyed road!

sam April 30, 2009 (9:04 pm)

Celeste and DM- thanks ! those are all good ideas that I will look into- got a good recipe ? ;) j.k.

I also still hope to find out if the 125 will be re-routed on the detour described that whole time. that seems so disruptive to a lot of people in the neighborhood who rely on the bus.

I do hate those potholes and am glad they’re getting fixed.
But I’m not a fan of those speed humps either. some cars seem to handle them ok, (maybe too ok, since they don’t slow down much). but we have to slow down to … 2 mph to keep our car from going crazy. we have to get our tie rods repaired once already. I like the speed humps on 21st better.

gavmit May 1, 2009 (7:26 am)

I live on this road too and am happy they are going to finally fix the potholes, I too think the speed humps are silly and most don’t even slow down, I like the ones on 21st better too. And I am concerned about the 125 being rerouted also as I take the bus in the morning…

BORN&RAISED WEST SEATTLEITE May 5, 2009 (9:07 pm)

It is about time they did something with this road and it has been in very bad shape for more than a couple years!! Most streets (21st, 17th, 18th etc) do not have sidewalks just speed bumps and I live on 18th and all the streets around here suck!!We seem to be out of the loop when it comes to any street repairs or water damage…it’s about time!!

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