WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: How one business is counting down

Thanks to Beverly Molenda at New Finishes for the photos – she says, “West Marginal Way is looking forward to upcoming relief!! Counting down the days!!!”

Her business is at 4235 W. Marginal. Meantime, SDOT reiterated again this week that they’re still on track for the announced September 18th reopening. As of last week’s media tour, they hadn’t set an exact time, probably early in the morning.

Beverly Molenda

New Finishes, Inc.

4235 W. Marginal Way SW

RLV September 1, 2022 (11:42 am)

I saw these signs last weekend and thought they were great!

Diane September 1, 2022 (2:12 pm)

So can’t wait. Thanks for the countdown. What a challenge this has been. Guess it could have been more challenging. LOL!

FRM September 1, 2022 (3:09 pm)

Once upon a time, my kids took driving lessons on West Marginal. It was a safe, moderate-speed arterial, and I look forward to it returning to that state. As the WSB detour, it’s devolved into high speeds and dangerously aggressive driving. Let’s see if we can make these final 17 days (and beyond) safer ones: watch for cyclists and cut your speeds – because we all inevitably wind-up together at the next stop light.

Josh September 1, 2022 (4:50 pm)

As scary and frustrating as riding our bikes around the peninsula can be given the high percentage of aggressive and downright mean drivers that inhabit this space I do take particular joy at seeing them at the next light and wondering how much money and blood pressure they would save if they drove like other people existed and had feelings.

West Marge September 1, 2022 (6:00 pm)

I’m a decade long resident of West Marginal, 17th ave SW to be exact. You know, that little, odd, historic neighborhood tucked onto the hill just south of the bridge. We’re called Riverside, in case you’re curious. As a long time Riverside dweller, I’m simply giddy about the prospect of taking a left between the hours of 8-11a, and between the hours of 3-7p. I can’t wait to simply leave my house without the need for a pep-talk as I face the incredibly indifferent drivers who use the northbound inside lane to drive 60mph to shave a few seconds off of their commute, while I play double dutch with the traffic to risk my life to get to the junction. I have watched the bridge repair progress from my deck every day, and I’ve been just as excited as this local business owner who took the idea right out of my head to put up an Advent calendar to commemorate the countdown to normalcy. And just like Christmas, it can’t possibly come sooner.