TRAFFIC ALERT: Preparation for weekend 35th/Alaska closure, with one change ‘as soon as tomorrow’

SDOT is reminding you about this weekend’s scheduled closure of the 35th/Alaska intersection, starting Friday night, and preparations including “closing the left-turn lane for people driving north on 35th Ave SW and turning onto SW Alaska St as soon as tomorrow (December 11).” Details:

35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St:

To rebuild the concrete roadway, we will be restricting left turns onto SW Alaska St as soon as tomorrow, December 11. To reach SW Alaska St, please proceed north on 35th Ave SW and turn left at SW Avalon Way. Please note that this work is highly weather dependent and is subject to change if weather is wetter or colder than anticipated. Please expect:

No left turns from 35th Ave SW onto SW Alaska St

This closure will be in place for several weeks

People driving on SW Alaska St can turn right or left on to 35th Ave SW

If you are driving north on 35th Ave SW, continue driving north and turn left onto SW Avalon Way, left onto Fauntleroy Way SW, and then a left onto SW Alaska St.

Upcoming 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St Weekend Intersection Closures:

To rebuild the concrete roadway, we will be closing the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St for up to 3 weekends:

The first intersection closure is this weekend from Friday, December 13 at 7 PM to early on Monday, December 16 to allow us to conduct water utility improvements

The second intersection closure is scheduled for the weekend of December 20; we will share more information through next week’s email updates and on our website.

We plan to do this work over the weekend to minimize noise and traffic impacts as much as possible. Please note that this work is highly weather-dependent and is subject to change if weather is wetter or colder than anticipated.

During these closures, please use the recommended, posted detour (see map below) or alternative forms of transportation, and do not use side streets and residential streets to avoid the closures. You can also expect:

Coordination with King County Metro on bus stops and routes; check Metro Rider Alerts for the most up-to-date information

Loud noise, dust and vibrations

No parking signs at SW Snoqualmie St and 36th Ave SW to accommodate nearby businesses and local traffic
35th Ave SW to be local access only from SW Edmunds St to SW Morgan St

If you live on the east side of 35th Ave SW, you will only be able to turn left on to 35th Ave SW, south toward SW Morgan St

If you live on the west side of 35th Ave SW, you will only be able to turn right on to 35th Ave SW, south towards SW Morgan St

Uniformed police officers to be present to direct traffic

If you live off 35th Ave SW between SW Morgan St and SW Alaska St, please be patient as you approach our Uniformed Police Officer at SW Morgan St. Inform them that you live in the area and they will allow local access to continue. We will be detouring all other traffic.

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

Tomorrow, we will close the south side of 36th Ave SW at SW Alaska St for a few days to complete water utility upgrades. As soon as next week, we will close the north side of 36th Ave SW at SW Alaska St for a few weeks to complete demolition and rebuilding the road. Please expect:

loud noise, dust, and vibrations while we complete this work.
36th Ave SW will be open during the weekend closures of the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St
Temporary and intermittent driveway and alley closures
Pedestrian access to all businesses and residence will be maintained

David December 10, 2019 (10:01 pm)

I hope that SDOT configures NB 35th at Avalon to have a dedicated left turn lane. Otherwise only a couple of cars will get through on each cycle due to being stuck behind those turning left on to Avalon.

DAFFY December 10, 2019 (10:29 pm)

“If you are driving north on 35th Ave SW, continue driving north and turn
left onto SW Avalon Way, left onto Fauntleroy Way SW, and then a left
onto SW Alaska St.”… Uh, isn’t a left from southwestbound Fauntleroy Way SW onto eastbound SW Alaska Street presently a prohibited turn?

Anne December 11, 2019 (3:37 am)

That’s what I thought too.
- Marty2 December 11, 2019 (8:06 am)
  
  Daffy and Anne, you are both correct. You cannot turn left onto Alaska Street from Fauntleroy Way (in both the North or South direction). I appears someone was looking at a map and didn’t know left turns onto Alaska Street at the Fauntleroy/Alaska intersection were not permitted. I would turn left at Alki Lumber onto southbound 36th Ave. SW to get back to Alaska Street.
tsurly December 11, 2019 (8:52 am)

I may be misremembering, but when they had temporary lights there during previous phases of work, I recall there being an actual left turn arrow. Perhaps whatever temporary light system they have planned for this round will allow for a legal left turn.
Sue H December 11, 2019 (8:53 am)

Yep. Not allowed..I also don’t see the turns at Avalon going well. You’re lucky now if you can get 1-2 cars through on a light. That’s going to back up badly. Glad for the heads-up so I can go an entirely different way.
Lee December 11, 2019 (10:42 am)

Definitely illegal left, but I would think most people on that reroute would want to make the perfectly legal right turn onto Alaska. Maybe that’s what they meant? The traffic turning left from 35th onto Alaska is going westbound, and I’d guess the majority of that traffic goes at least as far as Fauntleroy, and the reroute is fine for them.It will definitely be awkward for that group trying to get to the triangle businesses along Alaska, but 36th and 37th from either direction should be adequate for access for a short time.

Rick December 11, 2019 (9:26 am)

(In)efficiency (in)action! We’re the best!

2 cents December 12, 2019 (2:17 am)

I’m not an ambi-turner.

Jeanne December 13, 2019 (7:00 am)

I hope people remember that 36th is residential and slow down! There are 2 large apartment complexes and a very busy YMCA that provide a very pedestrian heavy intersection at 36th and Snoqualmie st. Please drive through that area with care.

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