FOLLOWUP: Here’s how many speed bumps SDOT is about to add to Alki cross-streets

Before the sun went away, we got over to Alki for a look at exact locations for some of the about-to-be-installed Alki cross-street speed bumps between Alki Avenue and Admiral Way. The three photos here are the three northernmost cushions planned for 61st SW.

These last two are barely half a block apart, just south of Alki Avenue.

Here’s the full three-street rundown per a followup question SDOT spokesperson Amy Abdelsayed answered for us today:

There will be 11 speed humps/cushions: four speed humps on 60th Ave SW, four speed cushions on 61st Ave SW, and three speed humps on 62nd Ave SW. Speed cushions are being installed on 61st Ave SW to accommodate the bus route.

As reported here last week, SDOT says installation could start as soon as Wednesday; it’s expected to be complete within four days of when work starts.

Eric1 October 20, 2025 (4:52 pm)

I normally understand the need for speed bumps but I am not sure how effective they will be in the Alki area. For most of the streets there, the smoothest pavement around is the newly installed speed bumps. I think the standard City of Seattle policy of letting infrastructure deteriorate to developing country status has been very effective in most cases. I drive like a drunken turtle when visiting friends in Alki with my passenger cars due to the the low speed slalom maneuvers I have to do avoid damage from the multitude of potholes. Honestly, the speed bumps on the way are the last of my worries.

Rhonda October 20, 2025 (6:07 pm)

Ok, that’s it. My next new vehicle will be an SUV with a good off-road suspension.

Peet October 21, 2025 (9:29 pm)

Or just drive the speed limit and your car will be fine.

CarDriver October 20, 2025 (6:55 pm)

How much are these humps costing?

WSB October 20, 2025 (7:39 pm)

SDOT has cited $5,000 per set of humps/cushions.

Morgan October 20, 2025 (8:24 pm)

Cheaper than raised intersections…which is what I’d like better still than plastic stick detritus for traffic calming on alki Ave

OP October 21, 2025 (6:15 am)

Utterly worthless waste of money and resources better directed to other, more urgent and necessary projects and issues. All the bumps are too shallow and not wide enough; the chassis of my SUV goes over them with barely a blip.

WS Person October 21, 2025 (2:39 pm)

Yup. And as I and so many others have said, putting them on 60th between Admiral and Alki is worthless. It’s too narrow to speed unless you’re on a motorcycle and if so, speed pillows do nothing. I’m all for traffic calming and Lord knows we need it all over West Seattle, but these pillows are a joke.
alki_2008 October 21, 2025 (4:45 pm)

They seem to help with the most problematic cars, which are the lowered cars that like to speed down narrow streets in residential areas. After they bottom out a few times, then they tend to realize they need to slow down at the bumps. There has to be consideration of how speed bumps slow down emergency vehicles, which is why sometimes they are not effective to regular vehicles. Even so, if a non-lowered vehicle goes over the bumps very fast, then things inside their cars and any uncovered liquids will still be affected.

Where they really need to put another 1-2 sets of bumps on the Alki Ave dragstrip that has a long straight stretch without any.

Kaos5 October 21, 2025 (6:39 pm)

I don’t think these speed bumps on Alki are done very well. The bumps really should go across the whole street, with no brakes in between. This week on Alki I slowed down to go over bumps, and I had a car pass me on the left because they did not want to slow down. Again later, I saw a motorcycle speed right through them, since they don’t have to slow down at all they just go between the bumps. I walk down on Alki every day and I constantly see cars just going over these bumps like they’re not even there. Why aren’t they made across the lanes and a little bit higher to really slow the traffic down to the point that perhaps some people will just park their cars and walk because they don’t want to encounter so many bumps. I think the bumps on 41st St. just east of California Avenue are much more effective in slowing traffic.

ANDREA LISTER-PIERCE October 21, 2025 (10:41 pm)

Speed bumps on 60th where the bus goes is ridiculous. These just make faster speeding cars be more out of control. If you look at accidents before and after speed bumps you will see it’s a waste of money. Same Shyt on 26th in the delridge area going 25 with speed bumps some idiot willyell slow down when a car is doing the speed limit.

Jake October 22, 2025 (8:45 am)

Going to need to see data backing this up. (doesn’t exist)

IDC9 October 22, 2025 (2:13 am)

Seems like some of these speed humps are spaced a little too close together. Shouldn’t be more than one set per block. Any more than that is excessive.

JaCK October 22, 2025 (8:30 am)

The bumps need to go all the way across the street. The loud obnoxious motorcycles don’t slow down at all. It seems like 50-60 mph is their preferred speed. Oh and with no legal mufflers. They use the phrase, loud pipes save lives, to justify their annoying behavior.

Slow Down October 22, 2025 (11:06 am)

If *YOU* drove the speed limit (or within 5mph) there would be no need for speed reducing methods. Those who constantly speed always blame it on something else … I’m running late … strong coffee … it’s not me it’s everyone else, blah blah blah … YOU are the problem, slow down. The posted speed limit is not a suggestion, stop being part of the problem.