Delridge-Highland Park Greenway and Natural Drainage Systems: What’s under construction now, and what’s next

City crews continue working on West Seattle’s second neighborhood greenway, Delridge-Highland Park, and concurrently, on roadside raingardens and other “natural drainage” elements in part of the area. Some of this work will involve temporary water shutoffs, according to this update just sent by project managers:

Seattle Public Utilities began constructing the natural drainage system along 17th Ave SW from SW Cloverdale Street to SW Thistle Street.

Construction crews are installing curb ramps that are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards in this area, and pedestrian detours are in effect. To perform water-service relocations, SPU water crews will shut down the water main two blocks at a time. If your water is going to be shut off, you will receive a door-hanger notification 48 hours in advance. Curbs and sidewalks that were removed for the water service relocations will then be re-installed.

The project webpage says some of that water work was expected to happen today and tomorrow, and includes a reminder that once the water’s back on, you might see discoloration for a while.

Meantime, the city’s update continues with information on the next round of road and sidewalk work:

Construction to build a pedestrian pathway connecting areas north and south of the cul-de-sac on 17th Ave SW between SW Myrtle and SW Webster streets has been delayed and will begin as early as January 4, 2016.

When construction begins, parking will be limited and pedestrian detours will be in place around the work area. This work is expected to take up to two weeks to complete.

Final work to be done at the intersection of 15th Ave SW and SW Holden St includes pouring curb ramps and sidewalk. We expect this work will be complete by Monday, December 28.

Crews began preparing the intersection at 16th Ave SW and SW Webster St for pedestrian safety improvements, including new crosswalks, new sidewalk, and new ADA-compliant curb ramps.

Crews began pouring sidewalk and curb ramps. Weather permitting, this work is expected to be complete by December 28.

Crews will return to the west side of 21st Ave SW, south of where 21st Ave SW and 22nd Ave SW merge, to rebuild the sidewalk. We expect this work will begin as early as January 4 and will include pouring concrete for sidewalk and asphalt for driveways. Both pours require dry days. Weather permitting, this work will take 2 weeks to complete. Residents will be notified in advance of driveway closures.

Construction is complete at 16th Ave SW and SW Kenyon St.

And the city notice includes the caveat that much of this is weather-dependent, so rain can change the schedule. More updates, and links to the full project plan, can be found here. The work’s been under way since late summer.

5 Replies to "Delridge-Highland Park Greenway and Natural Drainage Systems: What's under construction now, and what's next"

  • Spooled December 21, 2015 (7:18 pm)

    I live in the area of this project and would like to protest the following:

    *There’s money for more unnecessary speedbumps but not enough to finish re-paving Myrtle from 16th to 17th. It needs it pretty badly. I guess I should be happy it got re-paved from 17th to 18th.

    *The new 3-way stop signs at 17th & Webster that took away resident’s parking. 17th is a DEAD END here by the way. Not much traffic coming out of that little street. Also the hard-core cyclists I see commuting use 18th. Should’ve put those stop signs at Myrtle & 18th instead of the roundabout nobody knows how to use.

    *The new curb ramps at 21st ave at 22nd ave did NOTHING for the drainage. There is always standing water here, enough to cover the entire northbound lane right on a bend. It’s even worse when this puddle freezes.

    *The weird joggle around the East side of the fire station. Who’s going to pedal over there and back? I’m not. It’s more elevation change and distance. 16th is flat and has stoplights / crosswalks already. Just fix the signal timing.

  • sam-c December 22, 2015 (8:49 am)

    good to know. I was wondering if they were going to come back and finish the sidewalk along 21st. they demo’ed it, built a curb, and then left. It’s been just crushed gravel for a couple weeks now it seems. Are they still planning on widening it like the plan says? it doesn’t seem like they’ve done any preliminary work for that. it would be nice if it were wider. A lot of cyclists use that sidewalk instead of the street. It can be scary as a pedestrian, getting passed by a cyclist (not all of them use their bell, or say, on your right) on a 4-5 foot wide sidewalk.

  • Tom D. December 22, 2015 (10:30 am)

    There needs to be a stop sign added to west bound Dumar Way SW where it intersects with Orchard. It is a blind curve and with the traffic that uses Orchard going up to Myrtle it is an accident waiting to happen.

  • Trudy December 22, 2015 (6:50 pm)

    So glad to hear this work is going to be done. Wheelchair users have to cross Delridge back and forth due to the sidewalks. My daughter (19) flipped over in her wheelchair on the sidewalk this week by Brandon. The road is sinking there and has been topped over with blacktop many times. The sinking has affected the curb and sidewalk as well.

    • WSB December 22, 2015 (7:18 pm)

      Trudy – is your daughter OK? Sorry to hear about the flip.

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