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Golden Gardens Drive Northwest Washout Repair Project
Revised May 9, 2008 Golden Gardens Drive Northwest was shut down December 3, 2007 after the record-breaking rainfall that saturated the region caused a collapse in a section of the roadway just west of View Avenue Northwest. In the case of emergency damage to roadways we work to respond as quickly as possible to restore what was damaged. City crews responded right away to place emergency control measures including mesh over all exposed ravine soils to secure them (using two layers of bio-degradable erosion prevention fabric); tree-chip mulch at the base of the hill to protect the area used by park goers; and sand bags to prevent additional downstream saturation by channeling water away from the damaged area. Concurrent with the stabilization of the eroded areas, the City worked to identify funding for the emergency repair while a team of geotechnical experts began to assess the collapsed area to determine appropriate corrective measures necessary to restore the roadway and mitigate future washouts. The geotechnical study, completed March 10, 2008, also included design recommendations to restore the roadway. A public meeting held March 24, 2008 at Golden Gardens Bathhouse described the likely next steps in the emergency restoration of the roadway. Also at the meeting, Seattle residents offered comments for potential future improvements to Golden Gardens Dr. NW. SDOT plans to begin construction mid July and open the road by the end of the year. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Does SDOT intend to make changes to the function or width of the roadway as part of the repair? No, SDOT intends to repair the roadway to its previous two-way function and width, consistent with current engineering standards. SDOT will also add bicycle markings and improved signage. The shared lane pavement markings (or “sharrows”) are bicycle symbols that are placed in the roadway lane indicating that motorists should expect to see and share the lane with bicycles. 2. What are the limitations of the funding from the Federal Emergency Relief Program? The requirements for use of the emergency relief funds available from the federal government state, “Replacement of roadway facilities other than bridges is limited to the existing number of lanes and surface type.” Though the regulations may have some leeway, significant enhancements to the roadway, such as widening for improved pedestrian/bicycle access, would not be eligible for Federal emergency relief funding and would also require significantly more funding than the cost of the restoration (additional property acquisition and stabilization could cost upwards of $20 million). 3. Are you considering other options for the roadway? For a potential future roadway enhancement project we are gathering input regarding preferences. At the March 24 th public meeting attended by 80+ area residents, the majority were in favor of either limiting the road to one-way vehicle traffic while enhancing access for bikers and walkers or reconfiguring the roadway to be a pedestrian/bicycle access road only (save for emergency vehicle access). Separate from the emergency repair, SDOT will assess options for possible roadway enhancements. Closing the roadway permanently to cars is not an option because Golden Gardens Drive NW is one of only two access routes to regional facilities, namely Golden Gardens Park and the Shilshole waterfront, which are used and enjoyed by people all across Seattle and beyond. 4. What would be the process for evaluating reconfiguration/improvement options? SDOT will assess the regular use of Golden Gardens Dr. NW after it has been repaired and reopened, in order to better understand reconfiguration impacts. Traffic patterns will be monitored in order to obtain key volume data. To begin that process, even while the roadway is still closed, this summer SDOT will collect traffic volume data on key alternate routes. Then, once Golden Gardens Dr. NW is restored, SDOT will collect traffic volume data on area roadways. Finally, SDOT will look at the feasibility of each idea as it relates to the need for and availability of additional funding. 5. Who would you seek input from to determine potential roadway changes? We have heard many varying opinions on this issue, from the March 24 public meeting and from other sources, and we want to be sure we are considering all viewpoints. As noted above, Golden Gardens Drive NW concerns people all across Seattle and beyond because it is one of only two access routes to major regional amenities. The goal would be to provide as many public comment options as possible. Hence, we will discuss the future use of Golden Gardens Drive with:
Project Description The construction work planned for this summer and fall will repair the section of Golden Gardens Drive Northwest that was washed out. The goal is for this repair to be a long-term solution to the problem. A 2005 geotechnical study of the area reports, “the southbound lane of Golden Gardens Drive NW has been cracking and slowly settling for at least 30 years,” and it goes on to note that the settling is likely complete and no longer expected to impact roadway stability. A recently completed geotechnical study determined that the collapse of Golden Gardens Drive was initiated by an abnormally large volume of stormwater eroding the steep slope supporting the roadway. The City has mitigated this problem by replacing an existing inlet and catch basin and re-building the water pipes near the east entrance of the park. As part of the geotechnical study, the report has provided recommendations for reconstruction of the roadway and additional data to better inform re-construction decisions. Current Project Schedule
Roadway History Golden Gardens Drive NW has long been utilized by both cars and bicycles. Based on information from traffic studies the roadway has not been shown to be high risk. Data from the Seattle Police Department shows that in the 10 years between January 1998 and January 2008 there were no recorded pedestrian/vehicle accidents or bicycle/vehicle accidents between View Ave. NW and Seaview Ave. NW. Of the 41 vehicle/vehicle or vehicle/object accidents recorded in that decade, there were no fatalities and eight recorded injuries. Safety for all modes of transportation is the goal so SDOT is also looking at elements such as road markings and improved signage to remind drivers that Golden Gardens Drive is a dual purpose road and used by cyclists as well. Project Contact
Project Location
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