Work finally about to start on 49th/Admiral crossing changes

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Work could start as soon as Wednesday on the long-promised crossing improvements at 49th SW/SW Admiral Way. That’s the word today from SDOT‘s Ching Chan, who says the work will “take up to 4 weeks to complete and have minimal impact to traffic. Here’s the official announcement:

To continue improving access and safety for all users who live, work, and play along Admiral Way SW, we will soon be constructing a crossing improvement at SW Admiral Way & 49th Ave SW. This project was planned in late 2017 and includes several elements to enhance the pedestrian environment at this intersection:

*Relocate the crosswalk at this intersection to the northeast leg
*Install new accessible curb ramps that meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards
*Construct a new median refuge island
*Provide new pedestrian-activated rapid flashing beacons at the crosswalk

These treatments will help to increase visibility at the intersection and provide a more comfortable and protected crossing for people who walk.

This project, minus the curb ramps, was supposed to be done two years ago.

WS REZ October 14, 2019 (2:57 pm)

SO excited to hear about this finally being updated.

Wondering October 14, 2019 (3:16 pm)

I presume crossing at the old location will be legal? Do the people that regularily cross now like the new location?

Charlie October 15, 2019 (8:20 am)

All intersections are legal crosswalks regardless of whether or not there are the painted white stripes. So, yes, pedestrians can still legally cross at the old crosswalk location. I cross this intersection every morning and I am happy with the changes. Eastbound drivers are often very aggressive coming around the corner in the morning. Sometimes drivers will swerve around me at full speed when I’m crossing in the middle of the road!

JTinWS October 14, 2019 (5:08 pm)

I cross there occasionally when I take the 50 or 56 and have to walk home from admiral. The new crossing location works well with the locations of the bus stops on admiral, which are both on that northeastern leg of the intersection. Only downside I see is that the new location doesn’t have great visibility down the hill. Hopefully the beacons will help with that part. I swear people drive up that hill like they’re merging onto I-90.

dsa October 14, 2019 (8:24 pm)

Moving the crossing away from the center of the curve might cause an issue with uphill sight distance. Hopefully that has been taken into consideration.

bobby October 15, 2019 (10:03 am)

cars coming down admiral taking a left onto 49th will have to block traffic with the new island blocking their usual left turn waiting lane. Especially at rush hour this will slow traffic significantly. Not that I mind, just sayin’. Seattle for some reason hates dedicated left-turn lanes.

Ryan Packer October 15, 2019 (10:48 am)

It creates a “double jeopardy” situation where a driver will try and pass a car stopped waiting for a pedestrian to cross.
- Linda Kustok October 15, 2019 (8:28 pm)
  
  This has been long overdue, my only concern is that when cars are headed east bound. I believe there should be blinking caution lights before you come to the actual crosswalk as a warning to stop! Let’s hope for the best.
MSW October 19, 2019 (8:21 pm)

Just noticed that the cross walk island might not give bus # 57 enough room to turn onto 49th. I think the island is a bad design. If there are multiple cars waiting to turn onto 49th, the cars waiting in the turn lane behind the island will have to turn back onto Admiral drive past the island then get in the turn lane in front of the island to make the turn on to 49th.

Mj October 15, 2019 (5:29 pm)

Bobby – there is space for LT motorists to scoot over prior to 49th.

MSW October 19, 2019 (8:41 pm)

MJ – Not sure if there’s enough room for a bus to get into the LT lane. Also there’s only room for one car to turn onto 49th. If there are multiple cars they will have to wait behind the island, turn back onto Admiral to get into the LT. I just did the turn this evening, There’s enough room for one car. For a long bus this might be a problem. Will the bus stop and block traffic waiting for the LT lane to clear?

Sorry, comment time is over.