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January 7, 2011 at 2:26 am #597557
hammerheadParticipantArea by Chelan Cafe. During rush hour, people who are in the right lane to go up Admiral Way sit and wait in line, then the SOB’S who like to go in the left lane and expect to be let into the right lane, really that is not merging that is cutting off. SO for those of who do that beware,I WILL NOT let you in, you can wait in line like the rest of us do.
January 7, 2011 at 3:15 am #713291
angelescrestParticipantAs that has to be one of the nost confusing areas in the city–and with no high-bridge entrances from 1st and 4th, throwing a lot of the unsuspecting onto the lower bridge–I try to be as generous as I can.
Horrendous on a bike as well.
January 7, 2011 at 5:33 am #713292
datamuseParticipantSometimes it’s not cutting in, sometimes it’s being unable to remember which frickin’ lane goes where, because I live down near White Center and only get to northern WS a couple times a month.
So if you see a black Prius with a bumper sticker that says “Adopt a black cat–they go with everything”, be charitable, ok? ;)
January 7, 2011 at 6:00 am #713293
hammerheadParticipantDatamuse I will for you as you have a black cat and I LOVE cats.
Most people KNOW what they are doing and that what pisses me off the most.
January 7, 2011 at 7:35 am #713294
singularnameParticipantOh my. Hammerhead, You are 100% mistaken. Match the lanes, to the lighted arrows, to the lanes available via the arrows. It will not be a matter of you not letting someone in; it will be a matter of you being pummeled, ticketed, and paying a deductible.
January 7, 2011 at 7:51 am #713295
waterworldParticipantIf Singularname and Hammerhead are talking about the same spot, I think Hammerhead is correct. At the big messy intersection of West Marginal Way, Delridge, and SW Marginal Place, there are two lanes for making the slight left from SW Marginal Place onto West Marginal way, just before you reach the Chelan Cafe (on West Marginal): the far right lane and the next lane inside. Once you are on West Marginal Way, headed past the Chelan cafe and toward the fork in the road just under the WS Bridge, those two lanes are marked. The far right lane turns right and runs East, parallel to and almost under the bridge; the inside lane bears left, and goes south under the bridge. It’s not legal to turn right from the inside lane; that one is marked, on the road, for going south underneath the bridge. As Hammerhead and I and many others have experienced, people routinely try to cut in to the far right lane on that short stretch right in front of the Chelan cafe, or worse, they make the right turn from the inside lane.
I also checked on google maps, using the satellite view, and you can see the arrows painted on the road.
January 7, 2011 at 8:25 am #713296
singularnameParticipantAha. There’s the best point yet–are we talking about the same place: One day sitting at a light I counted, I believe, 23 lanes at that “intersection.”
I’m referring to the lanes on Delridge where you sit under the freeway. For at least a year I would be wondering if I was doing it correctly and finally in the Chelan Cafe I asked a cop and got the scoop on that one. Regardless, it’s confusing enough that I’ll happily let someone rage on or cluelessly make the bad turn I’m talking about, but last week there was quite a collision right in that spot that looked like it came off the Delridge turn.
If I understand the section you’re talking about, I agree with that one, but I would add, driving that section maybe once a month off the lower bridge, it’s only after a few months I figured it out and still to this day I have to really concentrate about which lane I need to be in based on where I’m going.
Regardless of everything, road rage and trying to teach lessons through aggression is just plain pointless.
January 7, 2011 at 9:55 am #713297
nighthawkParticipantI hate that intersection/light outside Chelan Cafe. I don’t travel it often although it’s been a bit more recently so now it’s slightly less confusing and the two arrows on the light make it seem like you have two turn lanes.
It has messed me up more than once.
January 7, 2011 at 2:06 pm #713298
redblackParticipantgoing west from the low bridge at the stop light: the left lane turns onto delridge SB; the center lane goes to the high bridge EB (via chelan street); and the right lane leads to spokane street WB (via chelan street).
i go this way pretty often, and i have to agree with hammerhead. people who jump the line after the light on chelan street will have to get behind me. it’s a confusing intersection, yes, but most of you know exactly what you’re doing.
i’m even guilty of it; but only when there’s a semi or a school bus in that right lane and i’m at the front of the line in the center lane. i try not to cut in on my fellow commuters.
January 7, 2011 at 3:59 pm #713299
CMPParticipantI’ve been going home that way from Sodo this past week instead of backtracking to the stadiums to get on I-5 and it is a confusing intersection. I agree that some people cut intentionally, but I’ve mistakenly gotten in that center lane before, not knowing that I should have been in the right lane instead. What I don’t like is that gigantic pothole or dip right in front of the Chelan Cafe as you’re trying to get onto WB Spokane. It looks like it’s been “fixed” recently but I thought I was going to blow out my tire driving through there too quickly a few months back. So I drive slowly through there which doesn’t help the people trying to cut in.
Anyway, I think that whole intersection is a gigantic mess. I feel like I’ve mastered going westbound but if I take the low bridge eastbound, I’m still sometimes at a loss. I’ve lived in West Seattle for eight years and know that I’m good with directions but that area confuses me like no where else.
January 7, 2011 at 4:20 pm #713300
AndyParticipantYou know what makes things worse there, especially for people who don’t know the area, is that there is only one lane that turns right onto Spokane Street and heads West under the bridge, but there are two signal arrows pointing in that direction. Makes it look like both lanes can turn right there. That one has never made sense to me.
January 7, 2011 at 4:52 pm #713301
hooper1961MemberThe WB curb lane is an add lane thus should have a green light virtually all the time (except the rare pedestrian). the city needs to fix this. also people need to turn right on red. both these actions would alleviate the situation greatly
January 7, 2011 at 5:13 pm #713302
WSMomParticipantEven reading these posts gives me a headache. That area is undoubtably the most confusing configuration of roadway in Seattle. After living here over 15 years I still have to double check to make sure I’m not going to end up in the wrong lane heading the wrong direction. I believe better signage is needed!
January 7, 2011 at 7:08 pm #713303
JoBParticipantlook deep into my eyes
it’s really really confusing down there under the bridge
no sane person would go there
look up to the light
that is where you want to travel…
sheesh…
if you guys keep telling everyone what is down there and how to navigate those lanes then it will fill with commuters and won’t be time saving shortcut for those of us in the know any more.
January 7, 2011 at 7:16 pm #713304
maplesyrupParticipantIf you’re turning onto that street from the low bridge, I’m a little more sympathetic and will let you in. It is confusing.
However if you’re already on W. Marginal and try to use the left lane to jump the queue, I will not let you in if I can help it.
January 7, 2011 at 7:19 pm #713305
SmittyParticipantI’m ususally pretty lenient but in this area at that time of night (rush hour) you can assume that 99% of the drivers know EXACTLY what they are doing. Make ’em work for it at the very least!
January 7, 2011 at 7:34 pm #713306
KBearParticipantUsing all available lanes is not “jumping the queue”. It’s what the lanes are there for, and it makes for more efficient flow of traffic. If people would drive more courteously, using the turn signal to change lanes, and letting cars in when there’s room to do so, we’d all get where we’re going more quickly.
January 7, 2011 at 7:41 pm #713307
hooper1961Memberif the city simply fixed the signal to keep it green (it is an add lane) except for the occasional ped it would be no issue
January 7, 2011 at 7:56 pm #713308
moxilotMemberIt’s not only that right turn that backs up the line, Hooper. It’s the left you take when you get off of the low bridge. People try to avoid waiting in the longer turn lane (the one to the far right) by zooming up to the left of the lanes and then cutting over to the right lane in the 80 feet of space by the Chelan.
January 7, 2011 at 8:11 pm #713309
hooper1961Memberthe issue goes away if the city fixes the signal green time to reflect there is an add lane, thus it should be green virtually all the time.
i have contacted the city and they acknowledge the issue; but the signal equipment is dated and limits their options. thus put pressure on the city to update the equipment so they can fix the timing so it is proper.
and people who fail to turn right on red especially at this location are a problem. i personally drive it as an add lane situation that it is and ignore the bogus signal (but carefully check for pedestrians) since it is a non-conflict add lane.
January 7, 2011 at 8:24 pm #713310
hoffanimalParticipantIn a slight hijack of this thread I can’t stand it when people try to jump in the right lane of SB 99 right before the exit to the WSB. Get in line with the rest of us – you know where you are going.
When you do this cutting in you slow down traffic in the through lanes to 1st Ave.
January 7, 2011 at 8:27 pm #713311
maplesyrupParticipanthooper’s right (he’s a traffic engineer after all ;)) but the real problem is the timing with those lights.
January 7, 2011 at 8:29 pm #713312
waterworldParticipanthoffanimal: I don’t know at what point you consider it “jumping in” to the right lane. There’s no way I’m going to drive in the right lane, behind a bunch of slow people, starting way back on the viaduct. It’s silly and a waste of available lane space. However I agree that moving into the right lane in the last quarter mile, especially when it’s backed up, is impolite.
January 7, 2011 at 8:36 pm #713313
hoffanimalParticipantIf traffic is moving by all means jump in but if there is a line of traffic and you know you are getting on the WSB you are not getting behind a “bunch of slow people” you are getting in line with everyone else waiting to exit to the bridge.
January 7, 2011 at 8:51 pm #713314
Genesee HillParticipantYeah, hoop, I always wondered why that light was not green most of the time. Like redblack, I usually stay in the right lane unless there are a bunch of beat up semis in front of me.
That is definitely a challenging intersection down there, no doubt about it.
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