ROAD-WORK UPDATE: 35th SW paving this week to prep for rechannelization; SW Roxbury prep continues too

Last Friday, we showed you the start of preparation work for SW Roxbury rechannelization and other changes. SDOT had said it would be staging for and working on the 35th SW changes – as announced in July (presentation above) – concurrently, and has just sent this update:

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) crews will begin re-paving 35th Avenue SW between SW Cambridge and SW Barton streets Thursday, September 10. This work will occur from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is expected to take one week.

In addition, SDOT crews will begin re-channeling SW Roxbury Street and 35th Avenue SW after the repaving work has begun. Work will occur from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. for about two to three weeks, weather permitting. Crews will also modify traffic signals and signal detection systems.

What to expect:

• Re-paving on 35th Avenue SW between SW Cambridge and SW Barton streets

• Re-channelization on:
• SW Roxbury Street between 17th Avenue SW and 35th Avenue SW
• 35th Avenue SW between SW Roxbury Street and SW Morgan Street
• SW Barton Street between 34th Avenue SW and 36th Avenue SW

Paving and signal work will occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and channelization work between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Expect periodic lane closures in construction areas and temporary parking restrictions. Moderate construction noise is expected when the existing pavement markings are removed.

This work is part of the 35th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street Road Safety Corridor Project, which aims to make streets safer and more accessible for everyone. The projects are expected to be completed by mid-October. SDOT appreciates the public’s patience while this work is being completed.

We note that the SDOT announcement today mentions “Roxbury to Morgan” for 35th, while it was “Roxbury to Willow” when announced in mid-July, so we’re following up on that.

Meantime, you can see the Roxbury plan in our coverage of the announcement last April.

3:24 PM NOTE: Project manager Jim Curtin confirms the rechannelization remains Roxbury to **Willow,** not Morgan.

wsn00b September 8, 2015 (1:26 pm)

New lane markings going through potholes and ruts with water pooling in the ruts left by the paint removal are going to make for some hilarious photos of this half-baked road improvement.

Can you swerve around and drive in the center lane or parking lane if the main lane is in bad shape?

Monsoon September 8, 2015 (2:48 pm)

Just like putting a bandage on a broken bone, this will be ineffective.

West Seattle Hipster September 8, 2015 (4:16 pm)

I am sure that the highly competent and efficient team at SDOT has everything well under control. I anticipate a smooth and seamless transition to a much safer and improved roadway.

Scott September 8, 2015 (4:20 pm)

I don’t see how you can morally (legally?) be ticketed for avoiding pot holes. Driving down the northern part of Delridge if you follow the lines you will destroy your suspension in short order. The same is true along this section of Roxbury. Could we please stop with the meaningless coloring of crosswalks Mr. Mayor and put the money back into fixing roads?

wsn00b September 8, 2015 (4:31 pm)

If SDOT were a homeowner, they would remodel their kitchen first while their house’s foundation was cracking.

Mr Matt September 8, 2015 (4:31 pm)

@wsn00b: Of course you can’t. You’re doomed to be trapped behind that slow bus or ahole bmw driver not paying attention or using turn signals ever.

And I *love* how they’re just slapping fresh paint over the top of that chewed up mess of asphalt on Roxbury instead of paving it.

SDOT: you are the worst.

WSB September 8, 2015 (4:36 pm)

Mr Matt, there is repaving in the works. It was mentioned in this update: https://westseattleblog.com/2015/08/sw-roxbury-and-35th-sw-updates-timeline-moved-back-comment-time-for-environmental-document-covering-both-projects/

wsn00b September 8, 2015 (4:50 pm)

@WSB: That document mentions only Roxbury.

IIRC, 35th gets repaved only if the magical $930MM levy goes through in November. Right? As far as I can tell except from the cambridge-barton repaving, 35th continues to remain a light-offroading practice area.

WSB September 8, 2015 (5:15 pm)

That’s what Mr Matt was referring to – “… on Roxbury instead of paving it.” And that’s what’s referred to in my link. – TR

wsn00b September 8, 2015 (5:38 pm)

Right. So for 35th Ave SW (my favorite road):
1) Keep broken surface.
2) Don’t do free enforcement that effectively solves the primary safety problem.
3) Spend money and repaint surface.
4) Wait for billion dollar levy to pass.
5) Redo surface.
6) Spend money to paint road again.

If the levy fails,
5) Continue with broken surface
6) Spend money to keep repainting ruts and holes.

Seems “logical”. Brilliant plan.

Jason September 8, 2015 (5:45 pm)

I’m really looking forward to these changes. As far as road condition, I’m in favor of leaving the potholes if they help slow people down.

Rick September 9, 2015 (7:43 am)

Keep both lanes,place tall orange pylons in potholes and bad spots effectively creating a slalom course. Saves money,slows traffic and improves safety. And hey,it’s fun. We need more of that.

Donn September 9, 2015 (9:51 am)

SDOT expects us to live and sleep through 80 decibels of noise in the middle of the night while they do this for a potential of 3 weeks.

Here is a comparison – Garbage disposal, dishwasher, average factory, freight train (at 15 meters). Car wash at 20 ft (89 dB); propeller plane flyover at 1000 ft (88 dB); diesel truck 40 mph at 50 ft (84 dB); diesel train at 45 mph at 100 ft (83 dB). Food blender (88 dB); milling machine (85 dB); garbage disposal (80 dB).

dcn September 9, 2015 (10:56 am)

I’m with Rick. Cost-effective AND creative.

Mat September 9, 2015 (12:17 pm)

Lots of pothole chatter… You all know there is a form online to get them filled, right? And that they have a threshold where if a pothole keeps coming back, they get more intense with repairs (i.e. larger patching and eventually repaving).

Not even trying to be an SDOT apologist here either.

Sunny.206 September 9, 2015 (9:41 pm)

Do you really think the cars,trucks and buses will be moving fast enough with all the congestion the one lane will cause that the pot holes will make any difference?

S September 10, 2015 (4:29 am)

So much complaining.

I am thrilled that they are repaving my block, it’ll be much quieter.

brizone September 10, 2015 (11:57 am)

Looks like SDOT can’t quite figure out where they want to start and end this thing.

If Jim Curtin has any idea what he’s doing, why did the crews just finish marking a re-channelization all the way to HOLLY right now? (and why does SDOT always seem to be operating under such utter CONFUSION?) So, neither Morgan nor Willow, apparently.

Twenty Fourth September 14, 2015 (1:38 pm)

When I left for work this morning the new lines on Roxbury were there. I pull out onto Roxbury from my street and it seemed that cars were driving faster than normal. But I was sure that the intent of going to the one lane was to slow drivers down. Maybe SDOT could post more speed limit signs??

Sorry, comment time is over.