FOLLOWUP: West Marginal Way SW protected bike lane work ‘nearly complete’

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

After last weekend’s work, SDOT says it’s “nearly” done installing the 2-way protected bike lane along an almost-half-mile stretch of West Marginal Way SW north of the Duwamish Longhouse – jersey barriers are up and lane markings are painted. We drove alongside it this afternoon for a closer look:

Reminder signage is in place at driveways not only on the bike-lane side but also on the northbound side of West Marginal, where the pre-existing Duwamish Trail crosses. It’s been more than two years since SDOT proposed the bike lane, eventually deciding to hold off on installation until after the West Seattle Bridge reopened last September.

sbre April 24, 2023 (6:59 pm)

Hopefully the bike lanes and gutters will be cleaned after they’ve finished with the barriers, trail debris and clogged drains can be problematic on paths like these.I’m sure looking forward to using them!!Enjoy!

Joe Z April 25, 2023 (10:42 am)

SDOT’s new bike lane sweeper buggy was on Avalon this morning!

wetone April 24, 2023 (7:14 pm)

I see so many problems with the design of ingress/egress of businesses along this stretch of roadway that is a main thoroughfare for heavy trucking industry. Once again a huge failure from SDOT with taking a lane of motorized vehicle traffic away for the few bikes that use this section. Done cheaply but not correctly. Bike path should of been built down the eastside from Chelan and hooking to existing path. Seattle and SDOT………you can do so much better……..

Reed April 24, 2023 (8:07 pm)

Your poorly thought out plan fails to mention how you deal with railroad right-of-ways for your east side of Marginal both path plan.
D-Ridge April 24, 2023 (8:36 pm)

How? That’s literally all railroad on the east side.
bill April 24, 2023 (11:00 pm)

There is not enough room on the east side without moving the tracks. And it is terrifying to be sandwiched between a train and traffic racing by on Marginal. With these lanes there will be increasing numbers of bikes. The major heavy truck ingress/egress happens at the driveways farther south on the east side, where I bet some of those businesses would not mind having traffic lights to help their drivers get in and out.
Jort April 25, 2023 (7:48 am)

I hope car drivers will be able to still feel secure in knowing that there aren’t bike lanes of any kind on most of the thousands and thousands of miles of remaining streets in Seattle.

DelridgeDriver April 24, 2023 (7:19 pm)

So good! Thanks SDOT!

Spencer April 24, 2023 (7:23 pm)

Woo hoo! I’m super excited to have a safe path down to Georgetown! I hope it’ll motivate me to visit more often. :D

Alki resident April 24, 2023 (8:52 pm)

Safe path? What makes it safe? It’s a very short stretch that was not done well and doesn’t make sense. SDOT proves its incompetence once again.
- Chipmunk April 27, 2023 (10:27 am)
  
  Safety features:
  * Bikers no longer ride on a sidewalk where cars in driveways cant see and don’t expect them and where pedestrians should be
  * The jersey barrier create a hard physical barrier between cars and bikers
  * The elimination of the extraneous southbound lane reduces the very few but very dangerous high speed cars that race through West Marginal creating a more uniform and safer driving environment
  * Truckers are now more aware of where bikers are and should be clarifying expectations for everyone.
  
  It is remarkable safer than what was there and SDOT did a great job. Its hard to add a protected bike lane into existing infrastructure and they found a way that work for every modality.

Derek April 25, 2023 (8:35 am)

Seems like a waste of concrete? I mean there are other barrier ideas like pylons?

my two cents April 25, 2023 (4:34 pm)

Pylons would be more suitable for car v. car scenarios. Concrete barrier provides better protection for drivers and cyclists.
Auntie April 25, 2023 (6:25 pm)

If you’re talking about those white posts like they have on the bike lane on Delridge, they protect nothing. They are easily driven over and broken, as is obvious from looking at them.
Jay April 26, 2023 (10:19 am)

Pylons don’t damage cars. I see drivers running them over to skip traffic in the bike lane. There needs to be a physical barrier that causes damage to cars, otherwise cars will just treat the bike lane like an express lane just for jerks.

Mike April 25, 2023 (8:52 am)

Now it’s time to increase the speed limit back to pre bridge closure- 40mph!

Julian April 25, 2023 (2:39 pm)

I’m not sure I’ve seen a single person drive the speed limit on that road.

Escondido April 25, 2023 (9:00 am)

Thank you so much for all the improvements around town. It makes a big difference as I commute to work by bike.

andy April 25, 2023 (9:19 am)

This isn’t going go well: traffic (trucks particularly) turning into driveways will have to look for small and yield to fast moving objects (bicycles) in their blind spots in addition to normal traffic before turning into driveways

foop April 25, 2023 (1:46 pm)

That’s precisely how it is today, except instead of a clearly marked and out in the open bikelane, we are relegated to a small, tree covered sidewalk. Cars still turn in and out. Trucks don’t often turn into those driveways, but you might know that if you spent much time in the area this is being built. This is so much safer.

gentrifyWS April 25, 2023 (11:16 am)

So excited to have a safe way to bike to Georgetown now! It’s the coolest neigbhborhood close to us. Deep Sea Sugar and Salt, here I come!!! It’s crazy that there are no buses from WS directly to Georgetown

Scubafrog April 25, 2023 (12:44 pm)

This is great! More of this :)

Mike April 25, 2023 (3:58 pm)

This is going to cause accidents for cars and bikes. There’s also not much of an exit for bikes if the bike lane is full of trash or glass. Just like the death trap of a bike lane on Avalon

Jort April 25, 2023 (10:25 pm)

Interesting, how many cyclists have actually died in that “death trap” bike lane on Avalon?

Mike April 25, 2023 (9:54 pm)

There’s a paved sidewalk right by this. I’m confused as to why this was needed.

D-Ridge April 26, 2023 (7:59 am)

You‘ve obviously not ridden on that sidewalk in the past; it’s narrow, incredibly uneven, has serious blind spots at each building, and doesn’t have enough room for more than one pedestrian or cyclist at a time.
foop April 26, 2023 (10:34 am)

Go ride a bike on that sidewalk and report back.
Chipmunk April 27, 2023 (10:31 am)

Its safer for everyone if Bikers are not on sidewalks. They should be in the road.

Nancy Ritzenthaler April 26, 2023 (7:28 am)

4 of us used it on yesterdays ride. What a huge improvement! Concrete barriers will be lifesavers. Thank you SDOT and Cascade Club!

Julian April 26, 2023 (12:25 pm)

What a GIGANTIC waste of money

Jort April 26, 2023 (3:47 pm)

Interesting, can you tell me how much it cost? You seem to know, so I’m also curious what your threshold is for something being a “gigantic waste?” Anything more than zero dollars?

WestSeattleBadTakes April 26, 2023 (3:29 pm)

Wonderful!

Admiral April 26, 2023 (4:43 pm)

I rolled the facility today SB and had to use the NB space to avoid a mud puddle and debris adjacent to the curb that surprised me. Hopefully SDoT will get it cleaned and install the yellow center striping soon

West Marge April 27, 2023 (5:47 pm)

Living here on 17th and crossing the bike path to get home is a nightly practice of faith. Bikers do not stop at the stop sign. Or if they do, I’ve yet to witness it. PLEASE stop at the intersection, or at least slow down? A little?

Sorry, comment time is over.