Dear SDOT,
Thank you, I guess, for doing whatever it is you’re doing at the corner of Rainier Ave. S. and MLK Jr. Way, but… um… how long does it take to pave 50 feet of roadway? It’s been nearly a month since you shut down the southbound right lane approaching the intersection, creating mile-long backups for much of the day, and with the summer doldrums ending, traffic is only gonna get worse.
Any chance of speeding things up a little bit? Local drivers, bus riders and businesses are just wondering.
Love,
South Seattle
SDOT blog. Ask them a question.
http://sdotblog.seattle.gov/ask-us-a-question/
You’re welcome.
Nobody cares about this road. . . really. . . what IS important today is that Dick’s is asking people where they should locate their next restaurant. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! I need a Dick’s on the Eastside. Go to http://www.dicksdrivein.com/Di.....ut_Us.html and tell them to give the Duke his restaurant!
Troll @1,
Thanks. What would I do without you?
Thanks for posting this. I can’t believe they’re taking so long to finish such a tiny project. The location right at the intersection of SE Seattle’s two biggest roads is causing the worst back-ups, sometimes all the way to Dearborn for southbound traffic. It’s making my commute home on the #7 insanely unpleasant and long. I walk or ride by this site daily in the mornings and often no one is even working on it. WTF?
Duke @ #2: I’ve already voted for the north. Sure, they’ve got Dick’s already west of the U.W. and Crown Hill, but we need one in Everett. It’s a working-class community which would support and reward an all-hours operation – I think it would do well here.
I work on the Eastside, but I don’t think a Dicks will do well there. They’ve already pulled out of Bellevue back in the mid-1970’s. And the demographics are working against them here. Lots of high-earning people with expensive tasts, lots of Microsofties from around the world. I’m always amazed at the young workers here who don’t blink at spending $20.00 + on lunch every day. It’s really hard to buy lunch here for less than $8.00.
Of course, there is the “servant class” here (including the day laborers hanging out in front of Home Depot) who would probably like a break from Burger King.
By the way, is Dicks EVER going to accept credit/debit cards? Every time I’m in the U-District I have to find an ATM machine befoer I can buy some burgers.
Goldy;
I haven’t seen the project. But I’m wondering if they had to pour cement to replace some cracking/crumbling roadbed before they could lay asphalt. If so, it needs about three weeks to cure properly (perhaps more, depending on the weather) before they can lay the asphalt.
Just a guess.
By the way, is Dicks EVER going to accept credit/debit cards?
Why add to costs?
Credit card swipe fees average 2 percent per transaction.
Cash only baby! And pay for your ketchup. They should put a cash machine inside of the restaurant – Wouldn’t they make money on that?
As to Eastside, there are plenty of us Seattle transplants living on the eastside who would support Dicks. Bring it on!!
On the other hand…THANK YOU SDOT for finishing the 4th Ave exit from the West Seattle bridge under budget and faster than expected. Having east bound West Seattle viaduct down to 1 lane sucked…a lot. So far the entire West Seattle viaduct expansion project is on budget (slightly under) and on schedule (a little ahead). See, it can be done!
SDOT (selfishly declaring open thread) off topic:
Check it out, a half dozen states that are suing over the new health care program are also applying for its benefits.
Hypocrites
Tell me about it. The bridge across 520 @ NE 36th ST started in mid-2009 and won’t be done for nearly six more months. It’s a City of Redmond project.
However, it is a wonderful example of ARRA dollars (nearly $5 million from ARRA) at work, putting people to work building needed infrastructure so that they can then spend their dollars to create more aggregate demand in our teetering economy.
So fuck the idiots who think we should stop spending that money. They’re not just wrong, but demonstrably so.
Oh, and I voted for an Eastside Dick’s. Could their site be any slower?
Looks like the Rainier Valley Post has the answer to Goldy’s question.
I love SDOT.
I work in Ballard. A few years ago, cars were getting stuck in the parking strip along Shilshole Ave. I called the pothole rangers. A few weeks later, they regraded and surfaced the shoulder, vs just filling the divets with more gravel. Problem solved.
I think SDOT does pretty damned good job considering the meager resources they have. And I love seeing my tax dollars at work.