FOLLOWUP: Raised center divider installed along Harbor/Alki

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

When SDOT announced nine days ago that more speed humps would be added to part of Harbor and Alki Avenues, the agency also said it would install a raised center divider in the area, to deter people from trying to pass on the curve. Driving the waterfront street today for the first time in a few days, we noticed the divider has been installed. As our photos show, they have a feature that other sections of raised center divider in West Seattle – sections of Fauntleroy and Delridge, for example – don’t have: Posts atop the divider.

As promised by SDOT, which described the location as “between California Place and Luna Park,” the divider has gaps to allow turning to/from driveways. The speed humps and dividers follow years of community complaints about reckless and stunt driving in the area.

aRF December 11, 2022 (5:57 pm)

Motorcycle slalom.

Rhonda December 11, 2022 (6:02 pm)

SDOT just installed a fun slalom course for young street racers to test their skills. SMH.

my two cents December 12, 2022 (6:49 am)

@Rhonda – What is YOUR solution? SMH. Want to provide some documentation to this type of activity that is occurring?
- Flivver December 12, 2022 (2:08 pm)
  
  my two cents. So, what exactly have you documented occurring? What’s YOUR solution??
- Rhonda December 12, 2022 (5:00 pm)
  
  “Documentation”? They were just installed literally less than 48 hours ago. They will do absolutely nothing to slow down speeders.

Mj December 11, 2022 (7:10 pm)

There are some gnarly pot holes on the EB Admiral bridge over Fairmont Ravine, I would rather see resources be used to conduct maintenance work!

Derp December 11, 2022 (7:46 pm)

Hey MJ, did you report it, or just throwing it out there. Real easy to do
- Lilia A Unruh December 12, 2022 (12:58 pm)
  
  Yes it is. You can report street maintenance tree needed to be cut down etc etc. Just need to type it in on their site instead of complaining on another 😉 👍.
bill December 11, 2022 (8:00 pm)

Pavement patching does not go well in wet weather. I am fine with resources being used effectively.
Clark December 11, 2022 (9:25 pm)

MJ-use the find it fix it app. Those pot holes will be gone in a flash.
Lola December 12, 2022 (1:41 pm)

MJ – I had one other one to do on the Find it Fix it app this morning so I did this one also. Let us know if they fix it in a few days?
Jort December 12, 2022 (1:57 pm)

Oh my gosh, you know it was totally a one-for-one trade, too, wasn’t it?! Somebody at SDOT said, “We could fix these potholes that MJ noticed but instead we’re going to do something else super wasteful!” That’s totally how it had to go down, there’s just no possible way that a complex transportation agency could do more than one thing at a time, just no way.
uncle loco December 12, 2022 (5:55 pm)

Those potholes are de facto speed bumps.

Flivver December 11, 2022 (7:14 pm)

Will be interesting to see if these additions actually do anything or they end up being an SDOT warm feeling.

1994 December 11, 2022 (9:39 pm)

Or a liability….

Alki resident December 11, 2022 (7:38 pm)

This’ll slow down the fire department when they try to get to your emergency. Those speed bumps are ridiculous and some day we’ll see an empty beach because of all the restrictions.

Dd December 11, 2022 (8:12 pm)

Beware: at night the design of the reflective dividers create a strobe light effect from the headlights of oncoming traffic. Might trigger a seizure in a vulnerable driver. The light show created in the lane your traveling in also very distracting, imo

Morgan December 12, 2022 (6:03 am)

Proverbial affixing earrings to barn yard animal…stop tinkering! I never felt like there was an issue in first place, but if you want to, must. Simply. Do. Something. Do something comprehensive and once and for all.

Auntie December 12, 2022 (6:23 pm)

The speed bumps are the earrings, the barrier posts are the lipstick on the barnyard animal. ;-)

Alki Jack December 12, 2022 (9:19 am)

At least some effort is being put forth to try and do something, anything, to stop the lawless driving on Alki/Harbor Avenue SW. It has gotten so out of hand. But if you have better ideas call SDOT and let them know.

Lilia A Unruh December 12, 2022 (1:03 pm)

Agree 💯! Stop complaining. At least they are trying!! Thank you city for at least trying.😊👍 I pray that it helps 💯 %🙏.
1994 December 12, 2022 (9:49 pm)

A call to the police is the right call to make regarding dangerous drivers. Unfortunately too many people didn’t want the police to have their jobs so we ended up in a bit of a pickle.

Elikapeka December 12, 2022 (12:26 pm)

I really hate the back-in angle parking. Being able to pull in and see the beautiful view was so much better, especially for people that have mobility issues. As for the dividers, I’m not sure they won’t create more problems then they solve. Wish they’d given the speed bumps alone a trial period to see how they worked. I suppose it’s just a matter of time before they close off public access entirely.

Thaddaeus December 12, 2022 (12:36 pm)

Did I miss all the news about people or pets being injured or killed in this location or is this Survivorship Bias?

James Monsalve December 12, 2022 (12:41 pm)

Not very aesthetically pleasing, but if it helps control the reckless driving down there, I’m all for it.

Rick December 12, 2022 (12:45 pm)

This town is chock full of hypocrites. It’s cool as long as I get what I want.

Frustrated Alki Resident December 12, 2022 (4:46 pm)

These raised lane dividers with posts and reflectors are installed in front of the building in which I live. I agree with the comment about it being not aesthetically pleasing, and unfortunately, I’m also doubtful this will control the reckless drivers.

The installation has been in for two days and based on the driving over the last two nights, I think some are seeing it as an extra challenge to drive faster and louder through the area.

Also, we now have a new problem that no one can get around the garbage and delivery trucks that have to stop in the middle of the road at each building in order to do their jobs. We saw multiple cars driving around the barriers to get around a garbage truck today, making the situation even more dangerous than it was before. While I understand the rationale of the speed bumps to address reckless drivers, these lane dividers are a questionable solution to the driving problem and may make things worse for all of us.

West Seattelite December 12, 2022 (6:09 pm)

Another stupid project like adding stop signs to traffic circles. We’re obviously not spending money on the right things and need a change in leadership.

Eldorado December 12, 2022 (6:34 pm)

This ‘solution’ is an absolute eye sore. It makes one of the most beautiful drives in seattle look like it’s under permanent construction. We should be able to vote SDOT officials out of office. First the bridge. And now this (with a LOT of other ridiculous choices in between.) I prefer cameras similar to what they have in school zones to what has been implemented.

C.Henry December 12, 2022 (6:45 pm)

The SDOT really has their priorities messed up. Madison Ave, from the bay to Lake Washington, is a nightmare of construction and half-finished projects.And, every corner in the city seems to undergoing construction to make them ADA compliant for wheelchairs. And don’t get me started on those insane cobblestone streets, circa19th century?, that are in such a state of disrepair that I wonder if I’ll break an axle going over the protruding edges and potholes.Why can’t SDOT take care of those issues first?

Scubafrog December 12, 2022 (7:09 pm)

It’s nice to have something. I’m grateful for it.

J December 12, 2022 (7:36 pm)

Alki is so ugly now with all the dividers, bumps, signs etc etc.

Jort December 13, 2022 (8:08 am)

If you think the dividers or “bumps” are ugly, just imagine what Alki would look like without cars or a two lane road.

uncle loco December 13, 2022 (5:15 am)

It kinda looks like a drag strip now.

Mickymse December 13, 2022 (7:05 am)

Example #5,645,375 of our city needing to waste tax dollars, and create ugly design in our streets, all because some people think they’re entitled and don’t have to follow the traffic laws that apply to all of us. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could spend money on things we actually need instead?

wetone December 13, 2022 (5:22 pm)

It would be nice as a tax payer to see ALL cost of this work on Alki ave , along with ALL costs associated with roadway around Alki point. Engineering, survey’s, studies and so forth……some people might get a real eye opener…… SDOT should be ashamed of money spent, then ask for more $$$ next year saying they have shortfall for the REAL needed roadway work. Of course it’s a lot easier to spend money on these projects now then hold us hostage when next levy comes asking for more $$$$ to fix the real issues…… You can thank Mayor Harrell and our fine city council for all this.

Josh December 14, 2022 (3:43 am)

I came to see all the people who complain about how the city never does anything complain about how the city did something. Did not disappoint.

Whatever December 21, 2022 (12:01 pm)

Makes me sad to see SDOT turn a once beautiful drive into an absolute eyesore. Yeah, in the summer teens drive around there and hang out and cause some trouble, you know, have fun. Seattle has become so conservative and uptight and intolerant of any level of risk. Seattle reminds me of the town in Footloose, no fun allowed!! Put out your beach fire! Slow the flock down! No necking at the beautiful viewpoint! Seattle is actually a very conservative and restrictive place if you think about it.

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