Starting this weekend, people traveling through the intersection of West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW will see us working on improvements to make the intersection more accessible, efficient, and safe.
Our crews will start the work this weekend and continue for the next several weekends until the work is done.
At this intersection, we will:
- Remove existing raised traffic islands to create a new northbound lane and shift the southbound left-turn lanes further west, providing enough space in the intersection to allow the westbound right turning vehicles (of all sizes) to go at the same time. This improvement will help to reduce wait times at the intersection.
- Update the traffic signal equipment for people of all abilities, and installing the infrastructure to allow us to make signal adjustments in real-time remotely from our Transportation Operations Center.
- Install new accessible curb ramps.
- Relocate the westbound bus stop.
- Improve turning movements for people driving through the intersection to shorten wait times.
For people biking and walking, these changes will make navigating the intersection easier. For people driving, this work will improve intersection efficiency by allowing more people to turn at the same time and more people to get through the intersection heading northbound onto West Marginal Way SW. The new live video stream will also help us monitor and make real-time changes as needed to keep people moving.
This improvement is another example of our Reconnect West Seattle project to address the challenges of the West Seattle Bridge closure.
We’ve completed about 200 Reconnect West Seattle traffic improvements since the West Seattle Bridge was closed last year, and plan to complete about 80 more projects by the end of 2021. This includes a mix of small and large safety projects and traffic adjustments throughout West Seattle, South Park, Georgetown and Highland Park to help address the challenges of the bridge closure.
In case you missed the announcement, we will install a new bike lane on West Marginal Way SW in 2022, after the high bridge reopens. The new bike lane will complete the all-ages-and-abilities network between South Park and the West Seattle Bridge Trail and beyond, including Alki, the Junction, downtown Seattle, and SODO. It will also enhance safety for everyone along West Marginal Way SW. We also plan to build a new sidewalk and crosswalk near the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center later this year.
What to expect for work happening at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW
Timing:
SDOT crews will be working the next several weekends, starting this weekend of July 17-18.
Work hours are 4 AM to 1 PM each day to minimize impacts to area businesses and people driving on the detour route.
This work is weather permitting, and we will share updates if the schedule changes. If possible, please plan your weekend travels accordingly to detour around this work and avoid the work areas.
Lane closures:
People driving can expect lane closures near the intersection as we make these changes. As we demolish the traffic islands, we will close one lane around each island. Please follow posted signs and drive slowly through the area. Uniformed police officers will be present to direct people driving.
After the islands are demolished, temporary traffic cones and barriers will take their place, allowing us to shift traffic around while maintaining as many of the lanes as possible while we finish construction. At the end of the project, the new lane configurations will be implemented with all new lane markings.
A reminder of the other work happening in West Seattle these next couple of weeks, which we shared last Friday, including:
- SW Genesee St closed for second and final weekend this weekend as part of the Delridge RapidRide H Line project. This is the second and final weekend of this closure.
- SW Alaska St in the Junction closure again this weekend. Work is expected to be done Sunday and the street will open again Monday morning, July 19.
- Delridge Way SW has a one-way closure for the southbound lane from SW Holden St to SW Trenton St. Traffic will be detoured to 35th Ave SW.
- SW Roxbury St paving on Monday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 20. SDOT crews will repave the street between 24th Ave SW and 25th Ave SW.