WORK ALERT: Crews returning to 35th SW in Arbor Heights

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(SDOT map of original project zone)

Another alert from SDOT, this time for the half-mile of 35th SW where sidewalks were built last year. The project team says, “We have some final repair work to do on 35th Ave SW – some due to the snow/de-icing damages and … concerns and problems that emerged after project completion. Our crews will be returning to 35th Ave SW this coming Monday, 5/6 for up to two weeks to complete final repair work along the corridor. This work will be fairly low key and will not require complete closures or staging of equipment.” Here’s what they’ll be doing:

Crews will return to 35th Ave SW as early as this coming Monday, May 6 to begin last part of repair work as part of the Arbor Heights Safe Routes to School sidewalk project. This work includes:

 Rebuilding curb bulbs at the following locations:
o SW corner of 35th Ave SW and SW 100th St
o SW corner of 35th Ave SW and SW 104th St
 Rebuilding the curb and gutter on the west side of 35th Ave SW between SW 102nd St and SW
106th St
 Install fog line (line that delineates between vehicular travel lane and parking strip) along the
west side of 35th Ave SW between SW 100th St and SW 106th St
 Hydroseed planting strip area along east side of 35th Ave SW between SW 102nd St and SW 104th
St

This work will take approximately 2 weeks to complete. During this work, you can expect:
 Noise and dust from construction
 Work hours from 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday
 Temporary suspension of street parking on the west side of 35 th Ave SW between SW 100 th St
and SW 106 th St
o No-Park signs will be posted 3 days in advance to parking closure
 Temporary detour and/or lane shift on 35 th Ave SW
 Possible impacts to pedestrian access
 King County Metro service will not be impacted by this work

Questions? Please contact Project Outreach Team at 206-615-0786 or by email at
pedestrianimprovements2@seattle.gov.

anonyme May 1, 2019 (3:28 pm)

Many of us watched last summer as this debacle dragged on. Multiple aspects of the project were done over several times, as they were done incorrectly or not to code – even with a full-time inspector on site. The completion date was supposed to be Labor Day at the latest, but the landscaping geniuses contracted to plant unsustainable lawns along the street were still doing so in DECEMBER. One of the biggest jokes was the “street” trees squeezed into the narrow space between sidewalks and property lines, instead of actually along the street. Some of those trees were planted directly under existing large trees, with branches already touching the limbs of the trees they were planted under. So far, I’ve found none of the trees planted meet SDOT’s own guidelines for street tree planting. It boggles the mind to think that SDOT will now be back to tear and repair all over again, due to poor workmanship and implementation. Good thing we taxpayers have BOTTOMLESS pockets. It’s nice having sidewalks, but the costs should be closely examined.

anonyme May 1, 2019 (3:37 pm)

BTW, I had blueprints for the plan as it was designed for my corner. I found errors on the blueprint and tried contacting multiple people at SDOT, who finally sent a very ticked off construction manager to speak to me. When I showed him the error, he said he didn’t care. We taxpayers are paying for that attitude.

John Smith May 1, 2019 (6:36 pm)

anonyme,If the “construction manager” worked for the contractor, the contractor is required to build according to the contract/blueprint. If there is a problem with the blueprints, then the contractor would inform the City inspector. It is easy to imagine that the City would not have a timely response and/or a solution that does not cost the contractor money; in that situation, it is easy to imagine the contractor building as the blueprint shows.

Chris May 1, 2019 (4:08 pm)

“concerns and problems that emerged after project completion” Seriously??I for the life of me couldn’t believe how extended into 35th those “bulbs” were built on that busy thoroughfare as were they building them! Especially since one bulb is not really visible as you approach it until you are literally on top of it. Did anyone on that project not see a problem with that as they were being built and figure there needed to be some changes made at the time of construction? Driving 35th in that area is downright dangerous especially if you have never driven down that section before and know that the sidewalk curb extends into the street in that area.I hope that is what they are “repairing”

TSurly May 1, 2019 (5:26 pm)

Lane shifts are present in many, many roads and are only a problem if you are not paying attention.
- Gene May 1, 2019 (6:45 pm)
  
  Totally disagree-those curbs- protruding so far into the street are a hazard-
KM May 1, 2019 (9:06 pm)

Curb bulbs are needed BECAUSE that road is a thoroughfare and drivers aren’t obeying the law (speeding, failure to yield.) The roadway is oddly aligned, yes, and drivers should slow down to adjust to conditions.

John Smith May 1, 2019 (6:22 pm)

I haven’t driven there for quite a while, but I hope they’re not just repairing damage (caused by traffic) to the ends of the concrete sidewalks/curbs without any changes before deciding that it’s “done.”

1994 May 1, 2019 (10:32 pm)

The announcement says: Rebuilding curb bulbs at the following locations:o SW corner of 35th Ave SW and SW 100th StI hope what the above really means is the SW corner curb bulb will be reduced. It juts too far into the southbound lane and is a hazard for all. I would never stand at the end of that curb bulb while waiting to cross 100th, too close to traffic with no buffer area.

Millie May 2, 2019 (5:53 am)

Wow, here we go again! I’m definitely not a road engineer, however, even I could see from the original SDOT drawings/blueprints there were issues with the size of the curb bulbs before construction. Once construction began it was even more obvious. Not sure why the issues listed above were not taken care of at the time. Oh, now I remember – it’s only taxpayer’s money. Let’s build and re-build the same thing over and over, while other roadways have the same potholes and haven’t been repaved or repaired for over 20 plus years. I admit I have become a “cynic”.

anonyme May 2, 2019 (6:27 am)

John Smith, not sure how to interpret your response. I tried working through the many layers of SDOT players and contractors in order to get an answer, only to have those answers change wildly and arbitrarily from week to week. I understood that the contractor had to work from the blueprint, which is why I went to a lot of effort to find out who could correct blueprint errors. The so-called “construction manager” I spoke with was from SDOT, not the contractor – who had a “construction manager” of their own. There was no clear line of command or accountability. I started with the project manager and asked every step of the way what (and who) was responsible for what. Could never get a straight answer, and usually ended up back where I started – nowhere. Even tried to contact a state ADA construction inspector, who sent me back to – guess where? The SDOT mouthpiece division. A convoluted mess.

21X Commuter May 2, 2019 (10:23 am)

It would be great if SDOT could improve the shoulder of the northeast corner of 35th and 100th. The large pot hole directly north of the crosswalk has been the cause of multiple accidents at that intersection, and creates safety issues for pedestrians waiting at the 21x bus stop. I’ve contacted the Seattle project outreach team about this before. Ideally they can add this to their scope…

Rob May 8, 2019 (10:35 am)

Fellow 21X commuter here. You should see the bus stop on the northeast side of 35th and 106th. It’s just a gravel patch. I’ve had cars make sharp turns from 106th and almost hit me there. I’ve had so many close calls at that intersection. Even with a blinking red light at the four way stop no one is looking out for pedestrians. I wish they would add a curb bulb there to be honest. There’s no sidewalk on the south side of 106th East of 35th to the city limits. I find it safer to jaywalk to the north side of 106th than to cross at 35th since then I’m only dodging traffic in two directions instead of four.I also contacted the outreach team last year, possibly too late in the project. They said there was no plans for improvements.

anonyme May 15, 2019 (8:41 am)

Has anyone noticed the joke ‘repairs’ done this past Sunday at the corner of 35th & 100th? Some minor construction work was done on the SE corner of the intersection. The problem area, which is the oversized bulb on the opposite SW corner, received some extra paint striping to delineate the narrow, swerving lane and some plastic bollards on the bulb. How does this qualify as curb “rebuilding”? In other words – NOTHING was fixed, and taxpayers get to pay Sunday overtime for a full crew to paint some stripes. This city is in serious need of some independent oversight; we’re being robbed blind.

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