TRAFFIC ALERT: Two new 4-way stops in The Junction

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

12:09 PM: Thanks to Jake and E, who both sent tips and photos after SDOT crews showed up this morning to convert 40th/Edmunds and 41st/Edmunds into 4-way-stop intersections. E, whose photos are above and below, wrote, “As a pedestrian who has almost been run down by the range of distracted-to-malicious drivers, I am ecstatic that SDOT is painting zebra stripes and installing 4-way stop signs along Edmunds this morning.”

Both noted that some drivers seem not to have noticed the new signage yet. West of these new installations, 42nd/Edmunds is a 4-way, and California/Edmunds is signalized.

ADDED 6:10 PM: We went through the area late this afternoon and noted that crosswalks are painted on all four sides of both of these intersections.

sam-c November 10, 2022 (12:38 pm)

Yay for safer intersections! I like these changes.

DelridgeDriver November 12, 2022 (8:51 am)

Yes, more please! These intersections were terrifying as a pedestrian.

Mr J November 10, 2022 (12:51 pm)

OMG. FINALLY. Now do Alaska on 40th too. These intersections are nasty. Thank you SDOT.

Michael K November 10, 2022 (12:59 pm)

I just walked by and they’re also finally doing crosswalks at 42nd. I drive this route every day and it’s shocking how few cars stop for people waiting to cross.

Amanda November 10, 2022 (1:00 pm)

Very happy when I saw this during my lunch walk today. These intersections have always been a bit scary for pedestrians with cars flying up and down the hill that won’t stop unless you’re already in the middle of the street.

MercyMoi November 10, 2022 (1:21 pm)

Being a stick shift driver hitting 4-way stops westward on that steep hill is going to be a drag. It’s my regular driving route multiple times a day so I’ll probably shift to another arterial.

GoAround November 10, 2022 (2:31 pm)

Perfect. This is part of the strategy. Slow you down or make you go another route. Enjoy that manual transmission.
- MercyMoi November 10, 2022 (4:33 pm)
  
  Umm, I didn’t include a complaint in my comment just that I was making a change. Why so much negativity?
  - Carmel Slee November 10, 2022 (5:56 pm)
    
    I’m sorry, that was rude! I understand. My concern when we go electric, with all this stopping and starting is going to take energy. Slowing us to a crawl on arterials is dumb and I think it causes aggression. Years ago my mom lost 20k in value on her house when the street became an arterial. It was for safety and made it possible to safely drive faster! Crosswalks with a light work! Bike lanes “could” work, but Seattle isn’t doing it safely! Walkers and bikers need to be responsible too! I hate Genesee light with a clutch too.
  - miws November 10, 2022 (6:04 pm)
    
    MercyMoi, your comment was reasonably clear to me. Admittedly, at first, I wasn’t feeling much sympathy, as being a full-time pedestrian I’m very passionate about pedestrian safety and don’t have much sympathy for drivers complaining about measures that enhance it. As I read on, I realized that you were going to implement a workaround for yourself. (And I get having to start out on a hill with a standard transmission, I had to do so all the time, years ago, with my ’67 Beetle). —Mike
heartless November 10, 2022 (3:51 pm)

Having learned how to drive on a manual in San Francisco, you have some, but not very much, of my pity.
- momosmom November 10, 2022 (5:42 pm)
  
  Ground and Heartless, ******is it hard being perfect?
  - heartless November 10, 2022 (9:39 pm)
    
    “Ground and Heartless, ******is it hard being perfect?”
    
    You have no idea…
22blades November 10, 2022 (7:29 pm)

You might want to “shift” to an Automatic if it’s such a bother. I love Manuals

S - In West Seattle November 10, 2022 (1:58 pm)

This is such a loss to drivers. They are trying to kill off drivers with these changes.

WestSeattleBadTakes November 10, 2022 (3:25 pm)

The comedians are on a roll.
heartless November 10, 2022 (3:53 pm)

Yes. Stop signs are a covert operation to “kill off drivers”. You are the embodiment of why people like Jort need to exist.
- Jort November 10, 2022 (6:00 pm)
  
  If we’re talking about drivers being “killed off,” drivers should probably take a look in the mirror, since driving is responsible for a significant number of fatalities in America. 42,000 people a year die in America because of cars. Here’s a hint: it wasn’t stop signs that killed them. Drive slower and come to a complete stop — if it’s too much to handle, then it’s time to hang up the keys.
  - Walking contradiction November 11, 2022 (10:10 am)
    
    When pedestrians start injuring drivers I’ll reassess my celebration of changes like these. This improves the quality of life of so many. If having to stop your car for three seconds to keep others safe is such a drag, try having to walk, bus, or bike around town and see how much you appreciate this change.
Julian November 10, 2022 (4:06 pm)

I think we’ll manage.

Jason November 10, 2022 (2:13 pm)

Oh great, 4 straight blocks of stop lights or 4 way stop signs if you are heading east/west. Whether you are on a bike or in a car, that just stinks.

Jort November 10, 2022 (2:44 pm)

Thankfully, on a bike, you are legally entitled to roll through the stop sign in certain circumstances. Cars are not. Ever.
- Chemist November 10, 2022 (5:55 pm)
  
  Bicyclists are legally entitled to slow to a speed that a stop is possible, be sure to yield to any drivers in the intersection (especially a stopped driver at the right and honestly any other stopped drivers will expect the cyclist to stop at an all-way-stop too), then yes. RCW 46.61.190
WestSeattleBadTakes November 10, 2022 (3:27 pm)

Sounds like we should give bikes priority at intersections. Thanks for raising this important issue.
heartless November 10, 2022 (3:50 pm)

Is it almost enough to make people rethink driving everywhere, or does it not stink quite that bad?
22blades November 10, 2022 (7:31 pm)

You can roll through on a bike… (w/ caveats)

grouchy November 10, 2022 (2:14 pm)

Makes for safer trips to Origins,
but only if drivers stop.
The old premise followed by SDOT of not installing Stop Signs where there would be a high likelihood of drivers ignoring them has been abandoned.
It is remarkable how soon after lack of enforcement, drivers ignore and openly violate traffic laws.
Be careful of the increasing chaos out there.

Joan November 10, 2022 (2:29 pm)

I too drive a stick, but if it’s safer for all, I support it. I may avoid going up that hill!

MercyMoi November 12, 2022 (10:08 am)

That’s exactly my point above. 👍 Just that I won’t head West that way. Didn’t think I’d get so attacked, geez. And to Carmel Slee’s point, Genesee Hill is very tricky too and I avoid it during busy times.

Socialcontract November 10, 2022 (2:50 pm)

I’ve witnessed at least 10 collisions and dozens (if not hundreds) of near misses at 41st and Edmunds over the last 15 years. It’s probably a case of a few bad drivers spoiling the bunch but I have no sympathy for drivers having to slow down and stop. <1% have been driving 25 mph and visibility is really bad at this intersection due to the steepness of the hill.That being said, when conditions get icy stopping on the downslope and starting on the upslope will be really tricky. Probably increased risk significantly from that perspective. Be careful everybody!

bill November 10, 2022 (9:07 pm)

Anyone who is not on the short list for a Darwin Award can look at that hill when it’s icy and realize to avoid it. It’s quite entertaining to walk that hill on a snowy day and watch the clueless slide their cars down it. The stop signs will not change this.

Lincoln Park Mom November 10, 2022 (2:52 pm)

No more frogger trying to go north/south. I love it!

Auntie November 10, 2022 (2:54 pm)

I can’t believe the drivers complaining about having to stop at every corner. What’s your big hurry? Oh – you have been using this as a shortcut to avoid the Alaska Street arterial haven’t you? Well, too bad. Slow down, stop for pedestrians. Just calm down.

KBear November 10, 2022 (4:49 pm)

Listen to your Auntie! This wouldn’t have happened if drivers weren’t speeding and ignoring pedestrians. Also, if there really were a War On Cars, the West Seattle Bridge would still be closed.

Lola November 10, 2022 (3:06 pm)

I can hardly wait for the speed bumps to come to these streets. They seem to like to keep any and all cars from the roads as much as possible. Why not make it a safe street where everyone can walk in the middle of it?

WSB November 10, 2022 (4:28 pm)

Speed humps aren’t installed on hills.

BJG November 10, 2022 (6:10 pm)

Why not finish the job and add a 4 way stop at 45th and Edmunds? That blind left turn going west at the top of Edmunds hill is going to kill someone as eastbound cars come crashing over the top of steep hill without slowing. We hear horns and watch near misses daily. It’s a very busy corner now that traffic avoids The Junction by using 45th as an arterial.

Jeff November 10, 2022 (9:07 pm)

Agreed. People want to just blow the stop signs, then glare and honk at me for having the nerve to be driving through on Edmunds.
SpencerGT November 10, 2022 (10:18 pm)

Same with 44th.

Sue H November 10, 2022 (6:17 pm)

Wonderful news! I used to live on 41st between Edmunds and Alaska and those two intersections were rough if you’re trying to make turns. This will make it much easier and safer for drivers and pedestrians. I’m still driving in that area often and appreciate the change.

Sara November 10, 2022 (6:22 pm)

I am so thankful they added cross walks on Hanford for people heading to West Seattle or Hiawatha. I have almost hit kids and have also almost been hit myself several times. Glad to see these improvements.

Johnny Stulic November 10, 2022 (8:08 pm)

I, for one, am looking forward to the day all vehicular traffic in Seattle is eliminated through attrition and replaced with clearly viable and superior alternatives so that all of us aging boomers can bicycle from here to Capitol Hill and back in heavy rain, or better yet, stay home and never leave the house.

bill November 10, 2022 (9:15 pm)

Amen, Jonny! As a younger boomer I often bike to Capitol Hill and farther. The day cars disappear from our streets can’t come soon enough.
Jort November 10, 2022 (10:37 pm)

It’s a stop sign, dude. What, maybe 2.5 seconds additional time to the drive? It’s a stop sign. Or is somebody stationed at the corner confiscating vehicles from “aging boomers” and forcing them onto Lime bikes? Unreal.

Eldorado November 11, 2022 (5:48 am)

Yea… I’m not driving on Edmunds ever again.

Hammer in Hand November 11, 2022 (7:04 am)

None of this will matter when sound transit blows up that entire area

D-Ridge November 11, 2022 (8:58 am)

I’d love to see this on Oregon too, it’s so dangerous for folks to the north to even reach their nearby grocery stores on foot. Oregon and 39th would be my top contender.

CAM November 11, 2022 (9:24 am)

This is great. But as a frequent pedestrian and frequent driver of this corridor can we please also address the parking situation on Edmunds between Fauntleroy and 40th? Because I myself, while driving the speed limit and paying attention, have had to slam on my breaks to avoid bikers/runners/pedestrians crossing Edmunds where there is zero visual of them before they enter the roadway. This isn’t always a problem of people being distracted. In fact, I’d love to see more attention to parked vehicles too close to intersections on all streets.

wetone November 11, 2022 (2:27 pm)

More Vision Zero work. We’ll see how it goes. Track record not very good……People commuting thru area will make the difference, not the signs. With no enforcement or accountability today I see things continuing to be same, except for more noise and traffic buildup as motorized vehicles stop and go thru intersections…. In fact I believe this will be a more dangerous area to all including bike riders and walkers giving them a false since of security especially in rainy/bad weather due to grade of road when one try’s stopping. Time will tell………

bill November 11, 2022 (8:44 pm)

There is no trouble stopping when you drive a safe speed. Give it a “try’s.”
- Flivver November 13, 2022 (7:09 am)
  
  Bill. Define a “safe speed” for all situations.
- wetone November 13, 2022 (12:01 pm)
  
  Bill, same attitude SDOT has with their thinking process……. Hasn’t worked very well ;)