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With the Mercer Project, it appears that the needs of pedestrians were ignored. Specifically, it appears that there is no way for pedestrians to cross Aurora between Denny and Galer — a distance of one mile.
In a city where the mayor hates cars, I would have expected some thought given to pedestrians traveling between the Seattle Center area and the SLU area.
We have had to compromise travel for all users of Mercer Street and realize that we have limited options for pedestrians, but we have had to do so for safety reasons. While the options for travel are limited by construction, we are working on improved wayfinding signs to help pedestrians navigate through the area.
At this time pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the south side of Mercer Street to cross Aurora, but they have to then go one block south to Republican Street or north to Roy to continue east between Dexter and 9th Ave N.
The south sidewalk on Mercer Street (across Aurora) is open to pedestrians. We had an issue with a construction fence on Tuesday morning, but that has been corrected. Unfortunately, we have also closed crosswalks on the north and south sides of the intersection of Dexter and Mercer, and sidewalks are closed on both sides of Mercer between Dexter and 8th Avenue. This means that pedestrians have to walk to Roy or Republican street to travel between Dexter and Ninth. The sidewalk on the south side is closed for the demolition of the building at the corner of Dexter and Republican. The sidewalk on the north is closed because of the Broad Street connection to Mercer.
Another option is Broad Street. If you are at the Seattle Center, Fifth Avenue N borders the east side of the Center. Cross 5th Avenue on either of the two signals adjacent to the Experience Music Project, either at Harrison Street or at Broad Street. From Harrison, continue walking to Broad, one block east of 5th Ave. Walk northeast bound on the northwest side of Broad Street, a direct line to Lake Union. Broad will take you to 9th Avenue N, which is in South Lake Union.
You may want to periodically check the project website for updates at: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/mercer_west.htm
and you can also find a pedestrian map at: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/mercer_maps_detour.htm
In the Montlake neighborhood there ae numerous sets of staireways that are pedestrian right-of-way sites, need confirmation that these are SDOT property? One is at 23rd and E. Newton St. – a trangle parcel with steep slope and set of stairs from Newton to 23rd and long set of stairs at 22nd and E. Blaine to E. Howe street. May have to visit these sites to confim which city department these sites fall’s under.
Thank you.
We have three separate stairways in this general area in our inventory. Two are maintained by SDOT and one is maintained by the Parks Dept. All three are within public right-of-way.
1. Stair #382 – This stairway connects E. Blaine St. to the S/W to E. Howe St. to the N/E, and consists of four flights of steps. This stairway is maintained by SDOT.
2. Stair #384 – This stairway cuts across the triangle formed by 23rd Ave E. to the West and E. Newton St. to the East, and consists of two flights of steps. This stairway is maintained by
SDOT.
3. Stair #613 – This stairway is located on the west side of Boyer Ave. E. at the intersection with E. Howe St. and consists of one flight of steps. This stairw is maintained by the Parks
Dept.
Hello, I posted this question a little over a month ago and was told that I would get an email response after 7 to 10 days and haven’t received anything yet. I just want to make sure it hasn’t dropped off the radar!
I carpool to work downtown via Dexter Avenue.
I have a big concern about the traffic plan where Dexter Avenue and Denny Way meet, specifically on the South Side of Denny on Dexter. There are two car lanes, the right hand lane is supposed to merge into the left hand lane to make room for the bike lane on that street. This merge requirement is pretty much ignored by cars in the right lane, which just continue into the bike lane instead of merging into the left lane. This causes an unsafe situation for the bikers, to say the least. It also means that cars abiding by the traffic plan are hard put to merge from the left lane to make a right turn at the next intersection within the green portion of the bike lane because there are a bunch of cars already illegally in the bike lane. Is it possible to add a physical curb to enforce the car merge requirement (with a curb cutout for the bikers using the bike lane) or some other solution to resolve this issue? I believe this to be a very frustrating area for both bikers and cars alike, who otherwise seem to share that road pretty well. Thanks!
We apologize for the delay. However, please understand that the turn-around time for our engineers to do investigations, analysis and then determine an answer to an inquiry is taking longer than usual because they are severely under-staffed and receive a high number of inquiries requiring investigation. We appreciate your patience and will respond directly to you upon completion of our investigation.
Thanks!
I am a special education teacher looking to take my 8 students to the Seattle Aquarium. There are 3 students in wheelchairs and the 5 others need constant adult supervision and assistance. How can we safely transport the students to the aquarium? We are coming from Covington and are open to all transportation options. Thank you!!!
We will be in contact with you directly.
Does anyone know how much longer Virginia St. will be closed, between 8th and 9th Avenues, in front of the police station? I sent an email last week, but have not received a response and Virginia is still closed every morning.
This is not an SDOT job. It is a private contractor laying a side sewer line from a building on 8th and hooking it up to the main sewer on Virginia. Their permit says the job began this past January and that they’ll be working there until July of 2014.
hello.
no new light system promised on corner of John st and 16 ave. not installed yet….this is a very daangerous situation for seniors..who cannot see the stop and go light.
G.Morgan
We need to know what kind of light to which you are referring…is it a traffic signal or an overhead light? If it is an overhead light, did you mean to say 15th instead of 16th?
i live at 6723 25th ave nw in ballard and people drive very fast up and down our road and we have almost 20 children living on our street i would greatly appreciate any info on the process for getting traffic knobs or speed bumps installed. thank you for your time on this matter.
all the best.
Andrew.
Hi Andrew – Please go to our Neighborhood Traffic Calming website where you will find all the details of the program, including a request form: Neighborhood Traffic Operations: Traffic Calming Program
What is the correct way to make a left turn at an intersection with a traffic island?
Keep to your right following the circle (on your left) all the way around to the street you wish to reach where you will then turn right.
My question regards what is appropriate action for drivers merging onto traffic near Ballard Bridge and similar locations where visibility and distance is minimal. Should merging traffic signal, even though on-coming traffic can’t see it?
Rules of the Road note that you should always signal your lane changes and merges.
Although traffic moving towards you on 15th Ave N can’t see the blinker (it’s on the side opposite their approach), vehicles behind you will see your signal. And while it’s unusual, this can prevent an aggressive driver from attempting to pass you on the right or make a dual right turn while you are waiting for a clear break in traffic.
Do you still have that unique shiny monorail running across Seattle? I remember some 10yrs back when visiting my friends in the US we had tons of fun just traveling over the city and enjoying the views.Lovely time it was.
Yes, we do!
I have been contacted by a contractor about a permit to run power under an I-5 bridge to conect a parking kiosk at I-5 and Jackson Street. Who is the city manager in charge of that project?
Paul Lacy
WSDOT Utilities
440=4120
Paul, the Project Manager will contact you directly.