Bridging the Gap is a transportation maintenance and improvement program approved by voters in 2006. It allows SDOT to make investments in needed infrastructure improvements. On 15th Avenue South in the Beacon Hill neighborhood these funds helped improve conditions for drivers, bikers and pedestrians.
Before
In conjunction with repaving 15th Avenue South between Beacon Avenue South and South McClellan Street SDOT worked with the Beacon Hill neighborhood to improve safety, pavement conditions, pedestrian and bicycle access and transit operations on 15th Ave S between S College St and S Columbian Way.
After
The plan resulted in these elements:
- Repaving the street from Beacon Ave S to S McClellan St.
- Two new marked crosswalks at the intersection of S Lander St
- Four new curb bulbs at the intersection of S Lander St
- Allowing on-street parking 24-hours a day on one side of the street.
- Traffic calming provided by alternate side of the street parking. Parking will be allowed on the east side of the road for several blocks, then shift to the west side for several blocks and again back to the east side. The shift in travel lanes forces drivers to slow down.
- Dedicated bike lane in the uphill (northbound) direction with shared pavement markings (sharrows) in the downhill (southbound) direction.
- New right-turn only lane at the intersection of S Spokane St.
- Travel lanes will be wider – accommodating Metro bus operations and improving transit speed and reliability.
The project was completed in September 2010.