AVALON/35TH PROJECT: What’s done and what’s not

From SDOT, an update on where the Avalon/35th project stands:

We have finished placing temporary striping on SW Avalon Way! We are currently installing new signs along the corridor to help guide people driving and biking. As you adjust to the new channelization, please drive carefully and allow everyone a little extra space.

This new design accommodates transit needs, north and southbound bike lanes, and adjusts parking on both sides of SW Avalon Way. For more information on the final design, see our final design plans and graphics on our website.

We wanted to highlight a few of the significant changes to SW Avalon Way, to help people driving, walking, and biking understand the new road design.

· Parking removal near curb ramps: We have restricted parking near curb ramps and intersections to increase visibility and safety for people walking and driving

· Parking after 10 AM in bus only lanes: People driving northbound on SW Avalon Way can park in the bus only lane between St Orleans St and SW Bradford St after 10 AM on Monda through Friday. Please do not park in front of curb ramps.

· Left turns onto SW Yancy St: People driving southbound on SW Avalon Way cannot turn left onto SW Yancy St and instead should travel south and turn left at SW Genesee St. This change is to ease traffic flow and create space on the road for protected bike lanes.

· Left turns onto SW Genesee St: People driving northbound on SW Avalon Way cannot turn left onto SW Genesee St and instead should travel north and turn left onto SW Andover St. This change is also to ease traffic flow and create space on the road for protected bike lanes.

· Left turns off SW Manning St: People driving are no longer able to turn left at SW Manning St and onto SW Avalon Way as it is not a safe turn for people driving with the new channelization. This change is also meant to ease traffic flow near the SW Spokane St, West Seattle Bridge onramps, and Harbor Ave SW intersection.

(Note: Crews will not be working Friday, November 29.)

Work near 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way Intersection:

We are rebuilding the northern 2 lanes on SW Avalon Way east and west of the 35th Ave SW intersection. This intersection will continue to change as work continues. Please drive slowly as our traffic control will shift frequently.

Please expect:

· No left turns for people traveling northbound on SW Avalon way at the 35th Ave SW intersection. People driving can turn right onto 35th Ave SW or continue straight on SW Avalon Way.

· Traffic delays at the 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way intersection due to temporary lane reductions

· One lane of travel in each direction on SW Avalon Way

· Right turns in and out of driveways at this time

Work is continuing in Zones C, D and E.

And a few Q&A’s from SDOT:

Can you legally cross a double yellow line?
Yes, if you are turning into a private driveway or alley, you can legally cross a double yellow line. This article from our blog and the Revised Code of Washington can help clarify questions about crossing a double yellow line. 

What is the difference between a solid white line vs a broken white line on the road?
Besides the edge of the roadway, a solid white line is used to indicate areas where lane changes are discouraged. Broken white lines indicated two or more lanes that are going in the same direction in areas where it is safe to change lanes.

Grocerylist November 16, 2019 (10:33 pm)

Going north on Avalon, taking away the protected left turn west on Genesee, making a protected right turn lane east down Genesee, making you drive down to Andover where it’s very busy with car and bus traffic with no stop light makes no sense to “ease traffic flow.” As long as there are no cops, err tax collectors, I’ll continue to turn left on Genesee.

sam-c November 17, 2019 (10:13 am)

Taking away the left turn onto Yancy is going to take some getting used to. I imagine there will be more cars winding around the neighborhood with that change.

sb2780 November 18, 2019 (11:37 am)

This change is completely asinine. SDOT says turning left onto Yancy going northbound impedes traffic flow, yet puts in an unprotected left on the southbound side of the road in the same location to allow left turns onto Andover. Really? How does that make sense or help pedestrians/bikes/car traffic?

Diverting traffic onto side streets on both sides of Avalon to ‘help’ traffic flow is shortsighted and is a huge problem for these neighborhoods already with cut-through traffic. Now SDOT is basically sanctioning it.

MSW November 17, 2019 (3:17 pm)

I was heading north on this road recently and it seemed like the planners at SDOT are going crazy with painting lines all over the place . The bus bulb seems like it will back traffic up during commute times. This is going to make traffic flow better?

Shmacs November 18, 2019 (12:29 pm)

Both rode my bike and drove on the improved Avalon, felt much safer as a biker and could also feel the need to drive more slowly in my car, which is the aim. Thanks SDOT!

nf November 18, 2019 (1:57 pm)

Now even metro buses are crossing double-yellow to pass during morning commute. This is southbound on Avalon between Genesee and 30th/Yancy. Of course other vehicles have been doing this for some time, without much apparent concern for whether there is oncoming traffic–both north- and south-bound during heavy traffic.

Tanej November 18, 2019 (3:02 pm)

So, what’s the prognosis for “done in November” on this project? Bus drivers, car drivers and COMMUTERS are tired of the every-other-day-a-new-route and lane closures. And what’s with the scoop shovel just parked on 35th for a week between Avalon and Fauntleroy? How is this ever going to be completed before the world ends when they take days off like last Friday and the weather doesn’t cooperate for pouring cement?

KM November 18, 2019 (4:37 pm)

This project isn’t slated to be complete until spring of 2021, not sure what you mean by “done in November”?
- WSB November 18, 2019 (5:12 pm)
  
  SDOT has said repeatedly that the 35th/Avalon work (and 35th south of Avalon) would be done in November, so it’s on my checklist.
  - KM November 18, 2019 (5:15 pm)
    
    Ah, thank you. I still won’t start complaining until the late spring for any part of the project :-)

Andy November 18, 2019 (6:15 pm)

There has not been any movement or work done with the equipment on northbound 35th Ave SW north of SW Alaska for at least a week. Has SDOT taken the contract away from the contractor to finish this section? The contractor had been working to prepare this section for concrete, but this work has been stopped for some time.

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