DELRIDGE PROJECT: Next week’s plan for RapidRide H Line road/sidewalk work

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(WSB photo, earlier this week)

Just in from SDOT, the weekly update on what’s ahead for the road/sidewalk/utility project paving the way for the RapidRide H Line launch next year. First, the key points:

Final channelization and overnight lane striping will continue throughout the corridor, we are currently working to complete striping in Zone C and along the 26th Ave SW neighborhood greenway

-Crews will be working overnight from 6 PM to 6 AM. We have obtained a noise variance to complete this work.

-Landscaping continues throughout Zone A

-Construction in Zone B is nearly complete, but we will continue to make minor updates throughout the duration of construction

-Sidewalk upgrades near SW Barton St and SW Henderson St will continue into next week. We will be installing new curb bulbs in this area to enhance crossings for people walking

-King County Metro construction continues in White Center – Metro crews will close 15th Ave SW between 106th and 107th to all general traffic. (Details here.)

The full preview is here. It also briefly mentions the new proposal to remove the Delridge/Oregon pedestrian bridge – if you missed our coverage earlier this week, with opportunities for feedback, here’s that story.

Sam-c August 20, 2021 (5:48 pm)

For a city that does a lot of work in the interest of bike safety, i’m surprised by some of the choices made along the north section. Like, near the Delridge library… And a couple adjacent blocks. Between the cars parked at the curb and the median, there’s no room for a bus to pass a cyclist on the road. Twice, i’ve seen cyclists give up and move to the sidewalk.

1994 August 20, 2021 (9:10 pm)

So many driveways are now accessible only from one direction. People who utilize their driveways for off street parking will be circling the block just to be able to pull into their driveway. Delridge doesn’t have enough width to support a u-turn option at the end of the new islands…..gonna be one giant detour for residents on Delridge. I experienced a minor parallel parking difficulty at an island stretch on Delridge and ended up stopping traffic until parked.

Foop August 20, 2021 (9:56 pm)

Delridge was 3+ lanes before this, there’s plenty of space to U-turn, if people can’t handle that I’m not sure I want to share the road with them.

Curtis August 20, 2021 (10:43 pm)

The corner of SW Barton Pl & Delridge had a lane taken out for a sidewalk. Now if one person is turning left it will block the entire direction from moving forward. The bus stops now block all traffic in that direction…. every time a bus stops so will the entire flow of traffic.

Bubba August 21, 2021 (7:56 am)

It also appears that they’re taking out the second lane going eastbound on Orchard St. to put in a left-turn lane going westbound. Unless they move the bus stop, every time a bus stops just across the intersection, it’s going to stop traffic back up the hill. It seems like SDOT is actively working to make traffic worse.
sam-c August 21, 2021 (2:01 pm)

Between the pandemic and the bridge closure, a lot of people haven’t really gotten familiar with many of the drastic changes. Will be a shock, I’m sure. One more example… the main SB travel lane, right before Holden, turns into a right turn only lane, without any advanced warning or signage. Now, drivers/ buses, need to jump to the left, right at the same spot where people coming from the Highland Park way detour have really gotten used to having a center turn lane to be able to turn left.
- Auntie August 23, 2021 (12:15 pm)
  
  There appears to be a third southbound lane at Delridge & Holden (currently coned off). Where will that go? Left turn into someone’s driveway?? South of the intersection is one lane only, so it’s not going there. Just wondering is anyone knows what the purpose of that lane will be.

Jort August 23, 2021 (11:16 am)

That’s why it will make more sense to ride the bus than to ride in a car. It’s by design, to encourage people to use the more sustainable form of transportation that’s better for our city and better for our planet.

Jill Loblaw August 24, 2021 (8:54 am)

Jort, while I agree with your comment in general, there are plenty enough of people who travel to work in outer areas; and not just downtown. I drive to Issaquah daily, for example. Plus, I participated in a vanpool for 18 years before it was disbanded last year because of the pandemic. If there were a direct bus to Issaquah, I’d take it.

Sorry, comment time is over.