AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Wondering ‘how much longer’?

(WSB photo, 35th SW south of Avalon, last Sunday)

Back in spring, SDOT said work on the 35th SW stretch of the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project was expected to last into November. Now that November’s almost over, some WSB readers asked about a status update beyond the weekly progress reports. So we asked SDOT about that yesterday. Here’s the reply:

Based on our initial schedule, we expected work to continue on 35th Ave SW through November as we have expressed in past [mailing-list emails].

The overhead signs that you may have seen along the corridor refer to November as a completion date for the intersection at 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way. We anticipate wrapping up work at this intersection next week, prior to Thanksgiving.

In the first week in December, we plan to continue work on 35th Ave SW and progress towards working at the 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St intersection and on SW Alaska St.

So bottom line, 35th SW work will NOT be completed this month.

Meantime, since SDOT’s media team sent that answer to our question, the project team’s official weekly update has arrived, with some elaboration:

We are wrapping up 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.

We will not be working Thursday, November 28 or Friday, November 29. We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!

Zone F (SW Alaska St from 35th Ave SW to 36th Ave SW):

We will begin work in Zone F as soon as the week of December 2 to complete concrete and utility improvement work. Construction here is expected to last a few months. We will provide more information about what you can expect during the first few weeks of construction next week.

Please expect:

Left turns for people traveling northbound on SW Avalon way at the 35th Ave SW intersection is now restored

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. See our website or most recent email updates for more information on what’s taking place.

When will work be completed on this project?
We anticipate completing work as soon as Spring 2020. We will continue to keep the community up to date on the latest schedule information.

24 Replies to "AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Wondering 'how much longer'?"

  • Andros November 22, 2019 (3:06 pm)

    I’m sure everyone is going to roll their eyes hard on this one. If only we could have put more worker on the case, this would have been done so much sooner…but alas, here we are with our main entry/exit points still impeded in W. SEATTLE.  It’s no wonder that no one wants to do the improvement work on Fauntleroy. 

  • ktrapp November 22, 2019 (3:17 pm)

    While I understand that construction projects can go long, I have to roll my eyes a bit over the whole “the sign that says ‘November’ only relates to the intersection” excuse.I’m a bit confused as to when it is all supposed to be done though.  The construction people reference work being done the first week of December, which really isn’t THAT big of a delay.  While the SDOT is talking Spring 2020, which definitely is a delay.  It looks like work on 35th is to be done by early December, and I guess work on Alaska next to 35th is what will go into the Spring? 

  • dsa November 22, 2019 (3:52 pm)

    SDOT said above: “…We anticipate completing work as soon as Spring 2020….”    As soon as, is not a completion date.  I would like to see a “no later than” type answer.  I wonder if this contract has a early finish bonus and late completion penalty clause.

  • Steve November 22, 2019 (4:17 pm)

    I’ve lived here over 60 years and sometimes this city makes me crazy…and the Avalon/35th project is a perfect example. Why in god’s name does it take FOREVER to get anything done?  They start a project and it sits there…unfinished for months or years.  Days or weeks go by without any progress.  The new wheelchair ramp (at least that’s what I think they’re building) at the Alki Statue of Liberty is a perfect example.  It drives me friggin’ nuts.

  • Doored November 22, 2019 (5:58 pm)

    With no physical barrier (Avalon) between parked cars and the bike lane, there is nothing to prevent an unaware car passenger from opening a car door in the path of a cyclist. I have noticed that some cars are actually parked inside of the painted buffer zone. Just seems really dangerous for both cyclists and car passengers. Maybe I am missing something? 

    • KM November 22, 2019 (7:16 pm)

      I’m under the impression SDOT will be putting posts in the spring. I think once it is complete, it will provide a better cue to passengers. Better than those driver door zone lanes that are the norm a lot of other places around the city!

    • Peter November 22, 2019 (8:50 pm)

      People in cars Are responsible for checking what’s coming before opening their door. 

      • KM November 22, 2019 (9:56 pm)

        Sure! But that doesn’t mean they will or that the cyclist won’t get seriously injured or the police, if they choose to show up, will actually do anything the assist the cyclist who was injured or address the reckless behavior of the door opener. Speaking from experience. In the meantime, we need to design and build safe streets.

      • Tsurly November 23, 2019 (6:38 am)

        You are absolutely correct, but unfortunately car drivers often shirk that responsibility, among many others, either out of laziness, complacency, anger, selfishness, etc. Its the whole reason Avalon is being rebuilt; it became unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists because drivers are negligent. So when everyone wants to blame someone for all of the construction and supposed delays, blame a car driver.

  • Matt P November 22, 2019 (7:13 pm)

    Just an FYI I’ll put here since there was no traffic thread today: the law says you must yield to buses at all times.  That means today when the C bus I was on signaled to merge back into traffic from the Avalon stop just after exiting the bridge, the 10 cars that we had to wait to pass us should have all stopped and let the bus in.  Transit is prioritized because it’s full of many more people than a car and making sure they get places faster is better for everyone.

    • Shawn November 23, 2019 (8:46 am)

      People don’t seem to get this, despite the fact it is literally painted on the busses. I’ve had people actually honk at the bus! Can you imagine if the did that to a cop car or an ambulance? Yield To Buses! 

  • Azimuth November 23, 2019 (9:01 am)

    Normally I would say to delays “as long as it’s done right…” My confidence with SDOT projects of this scale are unlikely to meet that.

  • Trickycoolj November 23, 2019 (10:27 am)

    I was suspicious of their ECD last week when the project update was a bunch of pats on the back about painting Avalon and nothing about very far from finished 35th.   Wish their project managers understood that their stakeholders (everyone driving this mess daily) value transparency in status and ECD rather than some pats on the back hiding the actual ECD. 

  • Ms Herbold??? November 23, 2019 (4:55 pm)

    Isn’t our “progressive” council member a bit remiss in not getting information about the time/cost overruns on this project? Who helps maintain accountability to make sure these projects are on time and on budget? Seems like something a districted city council member should be doing. 

  • Jethro Marx November 23, 2019 (6:48 pm)

    I wonder how many of us have done this kind of work before. I suggest you mix up some concrete and try to make it do what you want it to do before complaining. Every time I drive by while they’re working, I see absolute top-notch work. The completed portions are near-perfect in finish and elevation, and that ain’t easy, nor does it happen at every job. I am happy to wait on that level of quality.

    • Tsurly November 24, 2019 (7:31 am)

      Adding to your excellent points, perhaps all of the armchair engineers complaining on here forget that this project also included replacing many of the utilities within the ROW being reconstructed, which is a huge project on its own. I’d imagine they are probably the same people who complain about upzoning/growth and use the “but what about the impact on our antiquated and already overused utilities” argument.

      • Question Authority November 24, 2019 (7:24 pm)

        Probably the same people who moved to West Seattle in the past 5 years and now complain how crowded the bridge is while trying to get anywhere.

  • Beth November 23, 2019 (9:53 pm)

    If the brilliance of the Avalon bus stop design is any indication we’re in big trouble! 🤧

  • steve November 23, 2019 (11:46 pm)

    okay. but once the work is completed, will traffic flow any better? with new lane restrictions and a majority of parking spaces on Avalon eliminated, doubtful. 

    • Tsurly November 24, 2019 (7:25 am)

      Clearly you choose not to read any of the past reporting on this or anything put out by SDOT, and only want to complain and push your narrative.The intent is not to improve traffic flow (for cars), but to create SAFER egress for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit.

      • Master Plans? November 24, 2019 (12:24 pm)

        If you are referring to the vague, unsourced and untenable  transit, pedestrians and bike master plans- then whatever. Those are a classic government misdirection to account for the fact that we are three decades behind on Mass Transit and nothing will be changing anytime soon.

        The reality here is that this project had an original timeline of a November wrap up, now it has “spring 2020”. That means a budget blowout and poor planning at best, incompetence at worst. For all the talk about cycling, I sure don’t see too many going through there. 

        • WSB November 24, 2019 (1:57 pm)

          The *35th* section was projected as November, not the entire project, which has always been described as lasting at least a year (here’s our report after meeting with SDOT reps in May 2018, almost a year before construction even began)
          https://westseattleblog.com/2018/05/avalon-repaving-rechannelization-see-where-the-sdot-plans-going-one-year-later/

        • Tsurly November 24, 2019 (3:48 pm)

          As WSB pointed out, you are wrong. Try reading the background provided before spewing ignorance.Your observations about how many people use the new Avalon bike lane are irrelevant; it’s safer than it was before.

          • Try civility... November 24, 2019 (7:11 pm)

            The 35th section isn’t anywhere near complete. This is a leading indicator that the entire project is overtime and over budget. Accountability is very important here. Sorry you seem to be having a bad day. Maybe Thanksgiving will cheer you up a bit. 

Sorry, comment time is over.