SDOT just got a $10 million federal grant to improve traction on four stretches of road around the city, including two in West Seattle. One of those is on Highland Park Way, but it’s not part of the out-to-bid lane-conversion project, SDOT tells WSB:
This will be a separate project. Federal grants require ongoing coordination with USDOT and typically take a few years between when the award is announced and when USDOT gives final approval to start construction.
The grant will fund road upgrades to increase pavement friction and prevent cars from skidding off the road into people or buildings in the rain. This will be done at four locations with a history of this kind of crash happening too often:
• Highland Park Way SW between SW Holden St and W Marginal Way SW
• SW Roxbury St/ Olson Pl SW between 5th Ave SW and SW Cambridge Pl
• Westlake Ave N between the Aurora Bridge and Halladay St
• Rainier Ave S between S Fisher Pl and Sturtevant Ave SHigh-friction pavement is a proven safety measure that reduces the risk of hydroplaning. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that this treatment reduces the risk of crashes on wet pavement by 83%, and reducing all crashes by 57%. This also benefits people outside of cars as an out of control vehicle is a risk to everyone walking, biking, rolling, or living in the area.
According to SDOT’s post about the grant, “(T)he federal grant will fund an innovative safety analysis using emerging techniques to identify locations where crashes are likely to occur. This will enhance our ability to plan effective safety investments before crashes occur.”