West Seattle safety: ‘5-way intersection’ improvements under way

It’s #9 on the new West Seattle Bridge-Duwamish Waterway Corridor “action report,” but the 5-way intersection at West Marginal/Chelan/Delridge/etc. has been in line for improvements since long before the report came out. One of the people who’s been closely involved, West Seattle Bike Connections president Don Brubeck, shares the photo and an update on what’s happening at the intersection today:

Work is beginning on Chelan 5-way intersection short-term improvements. SDOT electricians were out this morning, working on installing rapid-flashing beacon lights at the blind corner at the bridge pier where the Delridge Way right turn lane to Spokane St Bridge crosses the West Seattle Bridge Trail. They will install sensors for bikes and pedestrians to trigger the beacon. Other safety improvements include pavement markings to increase bicycle predictability, and bicycle ramps to minimize conflicts at this complex intersection.

Rapid-flashing beacon lights are a relatively new arrival in West Seattle – they’ve gone up this year at California/Dakota, Holden/11th, and in the school zone in the 5900 block of Delridge Way. As for the 5-way intersection plan, you can find out more at the WSBC website, and remember, a discussion of the entire corridor’s future – all modes and a multitude of issues – hosted by City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, is planned for October 19th, 6:30 pm, at the Sisson Building in The Junction (California SW & SW Oregon).

themightyrabbit October 2, 2015 (12:29 pm)

Thumbs up! This is a rough intersection, anything we can get in the interests of safety is….a good thing….

JAT October 2, 2015 (12:46 pm)

Color me: Apprehensive.

SDOT is notoriously bad at understanding how to implement bicycle infrastructure that actually helps.

We shall see.

Fingers crossed.

Chad October 2, 2015 (12:52 pm)

Does anyone know if this includes the changes that were described here?

http://1p40p3gwj70rhpc423s8rzjaz.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/15-1-7-SBAB-WS5Way-shortterm.jpg

They were short term improvements that SDOT had come up with. Also described in greater detail here.

http://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2015/01/08/how-amazing-would-this-west-seattle-flyover-trail-be/

Northwest October 2, 2015 (12:54 pm)

I will continue signal or no signal while on my bicycle to approach and cross this on ramp to sw Spokane st bridge slowly may I suggest you do us all a favor out there wether running bicycling walking head down while glued into your phone or otherwise. Also lots of time we behind the wheel of our vehicles as the days become shorter with less daylight during commute hrs can not see you very well please make yourself conspicuous. I go so far as to carry a flash light while walking in the later pm hrs or early am cars can sure see me better because of it!

WSEA October 2, 2015 (1:13 pm)

The rapid-flashing beacon will also help slow cars for the yield sign before getting on the road to the bridge. I see many cars not adhering to the yield and cutting off other drives getting on the bridge from the 5-way direction.

Wendell October 2, 2015 (1:15 pm)

How about a roundabout?

Don Brubeck October 2, 2015 (2:45 pm)

Chad: Yes. That plan was at 30% design, so some things may be different, but I think that is the scope.

Tony S October 2, 2015 (3:00 pm)

How about starting with repaving the intersection? It’s in incredibly poor shape, and that’s saying something for pothole city. I can’t imagine it’s fun for bikers, either.

Neighbor October 2, 2015 (4:26 pm)

Hallelujah! I am so nervous crossing here and have wondered who to talk to about fixing this blind spot. Cars and bike can’t see each other approach so this is a major injury waiting to happen. Also, make a clear stop bar for motorized vehicles on the Delridge lane northbound where cars tend to block the ramp. Sensors should be automated though. What a I pain to have to stop to push yet another signal.

dawsonct October 2, 2015 (4:32 pm)

How about they figure out a way to keep the brain dead in the Spokane to Delridge left-hand turn lane
from sideswiping those in the two right hand lanes that are continuing down Spokane?
THAT would be a huge improvement!

SGG October 2, 2015 (4:58 pm)

They need to resignalize the 5 way intersection to permit left turns when the train blocks a portion of on of the 5 streets. So far SDOT refuses to even look at fixing this. These other improvements are a start, but aren’t the main problem. The main problem is that crossing the 5 way can take several complete cycles of the rest of traffic because they will not permit a walk crossing, or a left turn when a train triggers the system.

ktrapp October 2, 2015 (10:28 pm)

In addition to the re-signaling when a train goes by, the entire intersection could use a readjustment. I frequently sit on NB W Marginal in the evening for 5 minutes, through several cycles, because it gives roughly the same amount of time to the 10 cars turning from Delridge as the 40 cars backing up on Marginal. Also, unless someone actually uses the pedestrian signal to cross Spokane at Chelan next to the Chelan Cafe, there’s NO reason why the right turn light there going westbound on Spokane should EVER turn red. You have a separated merge with the traffic coming off the high bridge, and no other opposing cars. Yet it cycles red with the straight light. 90% of the drivers ignore it and make the right turn. Yet there’s always the one driver who stops and waits for it to turn green. Thus backing traffic up further along Chelan and Marginal.

Grinzold October 2, 2015 (10:31 pm)

Nice. Down there I always wondered what that signal at west bound chelan-spokane does that prevents cars from turning right onto Spokane st. It turns red even when no pedestrians are there and all it does is back up traffic at the 5-way intersection.

Alex October 2, 2015 (10:49 pm)

My pet peeve about this area is the broken light right outside the Chelan Cafe, as you curve into west Seattle heading west. It’s a no-turn-on-red arrow as the road curves right, designed to allow pedestrians to use the crosswalk. Problem is, it’s not hooked into the crosswalk button, it’s on a timer instead, which means it’s red fully half the time. And since 99% of the time it turns red there is nobody in the crosswalk, cars have learned to just ignore the light and drive through without looking –a true boy-who-cries-wolf situation, which is unsafe for those few times the crosswalk is actually used.

This light should be green at all times, except when a pedestrian pushes the button. That would reduce traffic, AND increase safety.

Ha, I just noticed Kitrapp had the same thought as me. Glad I’m not alone!

Alex October 2, 2015 (10:55 pm)

I’ll also note that a few years ago I did submit a report to the city about the broken westbound Chelan cafe signal. They replied, more or less, “we don’t care.” I wouldn’t get your hopes up for them to fix it now. Unless your idea is about somehow making car commuting worse and bicycling better, the city isn’t interested in it.

My guess for this current improvement is a reduction in car lanes in favor of bicycles.

Jon Wagner October 3, 2015 (1:15 am)

So this is the low bridge equivalent to the red bus lane markings? Anyone know the cost? At this point you can pretty easily assume that the intersection will not be revamped anytime soon, nor will the high or low bridge be repaved. What an epic waste of money!

WSEA October 3, 2015 (6:12 am)

@alex and @Grizold,

In washington state, you can turn on a red arrow (after stopping for traffic and people). In my previous state, you could not do this but you can here. I hope this speeds things up for people.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.055

http://www.komonews.com/traffic/jam/91049214.html

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