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Paving of 40th St. to Finish This Week

Jack Jack June 7, 2020 20 Comments
Paving work on 50th back in May. This is typical of the work on 40th.

For those living near 40th St. the first half of 2020 has seen an increased pace of construction to smooth sidewalks, improve pedestrian crossings and lay new asphalt. Along with those benefits, though, have come some necessary ills: noise, dust, traffic delays and detours for pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles alike. (Residents up near 50th St. have already endured a far longer period of the same. That work is now complete.)

But the end is now in sight. We received word from SDOT this week that they intend to finish the paving of 40th from Stone Way to Latona, the last stage in the project, on Monday and Tuesday unless weather or other delays force the work into Wednesday.

Quoting from their email, here’s what we can expect:

  • NO access in or out of driveways or parking garages when the road is closed and paving is in process. Asphalt can take up to 6 hours to fully cure; we will re-open driveways as it is safe and feasible.
  • We will deliver flyers to notify you before driveway closures
  • No parking signs will be in place during this work
  • If you need access to your vehicle during this work, please park on side streets
  • Emergency access will be maintained at all times during this work
  • Pedestrian access to homes and businesses to be maintained at all times
  • There may be changes to the King County Metro lines 31 and 32. Please sign up for Metro Rider Alerts for more information. Traffic will be maintained with one rotating lane of traffic 

I’ve been enjoying the smooth sidewalks that have been in place for a month or so now. I can walk along without looking at my feet! The smoother streets will be nice, too. Still waiting for the pedestrian beacon at Bagley near Irwin’s to be activated.

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20 Comments

  1. tj
    June 7, 2020 at 11:40 am

    It seems the 40th construction went faster than 50th and with less impact. After all, 50th got the highway entrance and more traffic, while 40th construction was done half during the shut down times. Also I think the stretch done on 40th is shorter than 50th?

  2. Rob Cranfill
    June 7, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    We will be glad to see it done! We live just up from 40th on 1st.

    One quibble to an otherwise nicely-done project: anyone else feel like the curb-cuts and new sidewalk edges are a tad, uh, inelegant? Like, kinda clunky, often misaligned, and just rather protuberant? Maybe it’s just cuz they’re new and I’m not used to ‘em.

    But take the NW corner of 40th & 1st NE for example. The uphill edge of the sidewalk, the little retaining wall so to speak, sticks way out into foot traffic, I think. Maybe it has to, to follow the property line. Seems like a big trip hazard to me.

    Sorry for the Monday-morning quarterbacking. Like I say, I mostly dig (haha) what they have done.

    • Gary Anderson
      June 11, 2020 at 4:55 pm

      The plan for the sidewalk at our corner had curbs but I asked them to reconsider because the old sidewalk didn’t have curbs. Owen, I believe the project manager for the contractor, checked and changed the plan. No curb, no trip hazard.

  3. Gary Anderson
    June 11, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    I sent email to SDOT and the Paving Project email address to ask if they would consider installing a solar powered radar speed sign eastbound on 40th between Wallingford and Latona. Vehicles are very fast on this downhill stretch so a current speed sign may encourage some drivers to obey the 25MPH speed limit.

    If inclined, please email a request.

    • Marie of Romania
      June 11, 2020 at 7:59 pm

      That’s a great idea, Gary. Those signs do catch my attention and, being a reasonably decent person, I try to align to its warnings. Still, I can’t help but wish they would fire a rocket-propelled grenade at anyone going 10 MPH or more over the limit. Too harsh?

      • Gary Anderson
        June 11, 2020 at 8:06 pm

        Might be too much collateral damage with an RPG. It’s amazing how many cars back up behind you when you drive 25 MPH eastbound on 40th.

    • DOUG.
      June 11, 2020 at 11:05 pm

      The people have spoken. No traffic mitigation on 40th. Freedom! #Doing40on40th.

      • Marie of Romania
        June 12, 2020 at 4:16 pm

        Keep trying with that hashtag DOUG. Maybe one day…well, ya never know! 🙂

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