West Seattle Greenway ‘spur’ to be built

Neighbors on 36th SW south of Providence Mount St. Vincent recently noticed an SDOT crew marking the street for future greenway construction that was a surprise to some. Checking WSB archives, we found a mention five years ago that a Camp Long-vicinity greenway “spur” was possible as part of what was referred to at the time as “Phase 3” of the 35th Avenue SW Safety Project. That reference also suggested SDOT would be talking with neighbors in advance of any such construction, which apparently hasn’t happened yet, so we asked about it. Here’s the reply from SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:

We’re extending the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway on 36th Ave SW to create safer spaces for walking, biking, and rolling in West Seattle. This extension will connect to Camp Long Park via 35th Ave SW, using the recently built traffic signal at 35th Ave SW and SW Dawson St.

Construction is expected to begin by early summer and finish later in the summer (crews visited the neighborhood this past weekend to make pre-construction markings on the pavement). We will send construction notices in the mail before the actual construction work starts.

The extension was listed in our 2021 Bike Master Plan update, and is part of a multi-year, multi-project approach to create safer spaces for walking, biking, and rolling in West Seattle. The end result will look similar to other Neighborhood Greenways, including:

-Speed humps / cushions to ensure drivers travel at a safe speed
-Stop signs for cross-street traffic
-Bike lane markings on the street
-Wayfinding and neighborhood greenway signs

Here’s a map of the project zone.

17 Replies to "West Seattle Greenway 'spur' to be built"

  • bolo April 5, 2023 (4:40 pm)

    This seems like it could be really useful. Does anyone know if there is bicycle thruway thru WS golf course/Camp Long? That would tie in High Point to Avalon.

    • Dooh April 5, 2023 (7:50 pm)

      Not through the golf course.  Only golfers allowed. 

    • bill April 5, 2023 (11:13 pm)

      There is a perimeter road along the west side of the golf course running from the access road for the golf course parking lot south to Brandon St. A few years back opening it for bike access was mooted but nothing came of it. It would be a sweet way to get from the Avalon area to Highpoint, although you have to surmount the wall on 30th SW.

      • Dooh April 5, 2023 (11:45 pm)

        It never materialized because it is a dangerous area to be in. And a distraction for both the folders and riders.  I have hit a few golf balls north on that road and someone could get hurt.  No way

        • Joe Z April 6, 2023 (12:32 pm)

          Eventually that golf course will be turned into a park and it will be absolutely fantastic. It’s great to walk/run on when the weather scares the golfers away. 

          • A taxpayer not a golfer April 7, 2023 (8:41 am)

            Yes! I’ve been dreaming of the day when we collectively come to our senses and realize what an amazing resource we currently have locked up behind all of that chain link fence. It’d be Central Park for West Seattle and one of the best parks in Seattle. It’d be space for kids to play, space for families to picnic, space for people to enjoy some sun during our summer months, space for exercise and fresh air. Until then, it’s a money losing walled garden dedicated to a tiny minority of people that like to play a single game. But it will change eventually.

  • BikePerson April 5, 2023 (5:31 pm)

    That’s cool! I wonder if the hospital would allow for a cycle track on the grounds to connect that spur to 36 on the other side. 

    • bill April 5, 2023 (11:18 pm)

      Hudson and 37th are better options. The Providence/Mt St Vincent grounds are steep on the south and north sides. And I don’t see how there would be room.

  • Bubbasaurus April 5, 2023 (6:15 pm)

    Absolutely absurd. Is the eventual plan to make every street in Seattle a greenway and therefore undrivable? Those of us who live in the neighborhood are now stuck driving around this area because of closed off intersections and speed bump filled streets for the rare bicycle.

    • Chad Greenway April 5, 2023 (8:06 pm)

      Ah yes, I too lament the loss of the endangered concrete & asphalt species. Scientists say they’re critical to our existence. Two cars nearly hit me yesterday and I just wish the third one was the charm. 

    • Jort April 5, 2023 (8:40 pm)

      Sorry that improvements meant to protect human lives will result in it taking 20 seconds longer to drive a car, I hope the inconvenience is not too much of a burden. I guess drivers can still take comfort in knowing they having unfettered priority on the remaining 99.99999 percent of the thousands of miles of streets in Seattle. 

    • Karen B April 5, 2023 (9:01 pm)

      Have to disagree with your (also absurd?) conclusion about this particular section of greenway! This isn’t a bike-versus-car thing, but more of a quality of life issue for those of us who live here or nearby.All of the neighbors I know on this stretch of 36th  — and there are many — have  noticed an uptick in people speeding through the neighborhood in recent years. Cars from 35th cut through the neighborhood to avoid slowdowns or blockages there. As well, 36th, because of parked cars, is pretty much a one-lane road. Every one I talked to about this was happy to see the traffic calming bumps and the smoother sidewalks, even before we knew why SDOT was installing them. For those who don’t think this specific greenway is important, I’d like to provide some context. Since we are so close to Providence Mt St Vincent – which is NOT a hospital, but rather a post-hospitalization rehab, assisted living, and nursing home – we have older people who are out walking rather slowly, and caregivers pushing wheelchairs at slow speeds. They will benefit immensely from the slower speeds of vehicles as they approach intersections.Until the stoplight at 35th and Dawson was installed, it was incredibly dangerous for anyone in our neighborhood to cross over to Camp Long. That included parents of toddlers, young families, those in work attire who were trying to cross to the bus stop near of Camp Long, and even those who were walkers/joggers/runners or folks walking with dogs. Drivers who want an alternative to 35th, should realize that cutting through neighborhoods as though they were on an arterial is endangering the people who are there.

      • K. Antezana April 6, 2023 (7:52 pm)

        Karen, it just occurred to me, I wonder if Waze and other apps are diverting drivers to 36th. Not sure what if anything could be done about it, but it’s a common complaint against those apps.

    • bill April 5, 2023 (11:22 pm)

      Bubbasaurus: Your ideal neighborhood is in Texas. I am sure there are no pesky cyclists there.   https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/Bragging-rights-or-embarrassment-Katy-Freeway-at-6261429.php

      • Kathy April 6, 2023 (11:59 pm)

        Bubbasaurus, if you want freeway style driving, you can use the West Seattle Bridge. There seems to be a demolition derby style crash on that bridge 2-3 times per week.

  • Sarchka April 5, 2023 (6:49 pm)

    Hooray! We had been looking forward to this project and started to worry it might not happen. 

  • KA April 6, 2023 (7:56 pm)

    Remember when they were going to potentially reduce 35th to 3 lanes with a pretty tree-lined median? I still dream about it.

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