AVALON/35TH PROJECT: What’s next, and what caused this week’s bonus backups

| Luna Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

SDOT‘s weekly “what’s next” update for the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project has arrived. Note some timetable updates, a new road closure ahead, and also, the project team addresses why 35th had a very slow morning earlier this week:

Crews have paved the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Charlestown St to south of SW Andover St! Crews also completed the last expected water shut offs this week to connect the new water mains at 35th Ave SW and on SW Avalon Way at SW Charlestown St.

Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:

*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the east side of SW Avalon Way between SW Yancy St and SW Charlestown St to rebuild the road
*A closure of SW Yancy St due to our work on the nearby bus pad. The closure is scheduled to begin as early as Friday and last for a few weeks.

Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on the new drainage utilities on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:

*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the west side of 35th Ave SW to rebuild the road as early as next week
*Storm drainage work at SW Oregon St and SW Snoqualmie St
*We are monitoring the worksite on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.

Things we’ve heard from the community

Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.

Once the road is rebuilt by my home, will I experience any more impacts?
Once we have substantially completed base paving and sidewalk improvements in the road near your home, active roadwork will not take place in front of your home until we come back later this fall to pave the final, top layer of SW Avalon Way. After paving, it’s anticipated that we’ll return in spring or summer of 2020 to re-channel the road with new striping and install the protected bike lane.

Why was traffic so bad during the morning commute on Wednesday the 17th?
Crews conducted night work overnight from Tuesday, July 16 to Wednesday, July 17 on 35th Ave SW to make the final connections and water service transfers over to the new water main. This work took longer than anticipated so crews were not able to safely open the road until around 8:35 AM. Thank you for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience on your morning commute.

Where will work start next?
Now that the water main is connected, we will work to rebuild 35th Ave SW over the next few weeks We’ll also work to build a new transit island at SW Avalon Way. We anticipate beginning work in zone C (SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW) as early as mid-August.

Does that mean the 35th work won’t last all the way until November? We’re asking that on followup

KJ July 18, 2019 (7:07 pm)

There was overnight work both Tuesday AND Wednesday night with no notice. We checked the project website and are on the email list but didn’t see anything. Any idea how long working throughout the night will continue? It echos over the entire area and forces us to sleep with all the windows closed. Thanks for being our neighborhood go-to for info, WSB!

WSB July 18, 2019 (9:14 pm)

Tues/Wed night work was announced in last week’s update:

https://westseattleblog.com/2019/07/avalon-35th-project-whats-ahead-including-2-more-water-shutoffs/

(Also in the emails sent directly by SDOT to the mailing list.) SPU’s notification process is separate but the general mentions were made ….

pdxmark77 July 19, 2019 (4:01 am)

The closing of SW Yancy street is going to create a lot of issues for those of us who live in that area or use the Health Club. There is no easy way around that other than going to Genesee .I appreciate the notice as I would of had no idea they were planning on closing it. I just hope they don’t move the temporary bus stop too far away.

pdxmark77 July 19, 2019 (7:06 am)

What frustrates me is the lack of information from Metro regarding bus stop closures and temporary relocations.Right now, signs are up for the bus stop on Avalon and Yancy about it being closed but no info on their website.Same with Bradford.. there are no notices up about it being closed on the website or the stop.I did tweet Metro about the Bradford stop and the lack of information.. they responded with minutes saying there should be notices up and they will fix it.

brian July 22, 2019 (3:54 pm)

not to mention, the signs are up saying that the C line stop will be moved either north or south as of the 18th. the buses have driven by both the north and south stops both days i’ve waited, seemingly contradicting the signs at the Yancy st stop.

Paul July 19, 2019 (7:56 am)

I’m disappointed that the protected bike lanes won’t happen until 2020. Will we have any space to ride on Avalon?

Tsurly July 19, 2019 (9:54 pm)

Agreed Paul. In the interim, just take the entire lane and ride whatever speed is safe. You have the legal right to do so. That what I’m doing now with the construction.