Wilson Ave S Better Bike Lane

Updated November 6, 2026 

What’s Happening Now? 

Thank you to everyone who shared input on the Wilson Ave S Better Bike Barrier project this summer. In response to community input, the project team has refined the design to improve corridor safety. 

Project Overview 

We are upgrading the bike lane along Wilson Ave S between S Dawson St and S Morgan St as part of the citywide Even Better Bike Lanes program. We will upgrade the existing bike lane by replacing the flexible posts with durable, low-profile concrete curbs. This project aims to enhance safety and predictability for people walking, biking, rolling, and driving by clearly defining travel zones, improving driver sightlines, and reducing collision risks. 

We expect to build this project in early to mid 2027. We’ll follow up with neighbors closer to construction.  
  
 
 Example of a protected bike lane with concrete barriers and adjacent parallel parking. 
 

Design Elements: 

• Concrete Buffer: We will replace the existing paint-and-post buffer with a 6-inch tall, flat-top concrete curb, protecting people biking and providing a clean, durable street edge. We’ve added breaks in the concrete curb along the corridor to ensure continuous curbside access for passenger drop-offs, deliveries, and household needs. 
• Travel Lane Realignment at S Orcas St: We will add protective concrete curbs and delineator posts at the S Orcas St intersection, where the travel lanes aren’t aligned, to provide clear visual guidance for northbound vehicles, preventing straying and sideswipe collisions with parked cars. 
• No parking near Intersections & Crosswalks: We will add pavement markings, posts, and/or ‘No Parking’ signs where it is currently illegal to park per Washington State law. This includes within intersections (like a T intersection), or within 20 feet of a crosswalk (marked or unmarked). This will improve sightlines to meet citywide safety standards, ensuring people crossing the street and people driving have clear lines of sight. 

Project Area
 

The project is on Wilson Ave S, extending from S Dawson St on the north side, to S Morgan St on the south side.

Wilson Ave S & S Orcas St 

Graphc shows the intersection of Wilson Ave S and S Orcas St. North of S Orcas St, the bike lane on the east side of Wilson Ave S is protected by concrete barriers, with parallel parking next to it. South of S Orcas St, the bike lane on the west side of Wilson Ave S is protected by concrete barriers, with parallel parking next to it. At the intersection, additional concrete barriers will be added to protect parked cars from side-swipe crashes. On Wilson Ave S at S Orcas St, the lane striping will be changed to clearly indicate that drivers must curve slightly left with the road as they move through the intersection.

Project Background 

In 2019, as part of several projects in Southeast Seattle designed to make travel safer for people who ride bikes and more predictable for drivers, SDOT resurfaced Wilson Ave S and installed protected bike lanes to connect Southeast Seattle neighborhoods to parks, schools, and transit routes. 
Wilson Ave S serves as an important community connector for residents walking, biking, and taking transit, including families and children traveling to nearby parks and community facilities. However, over time, flexible plastic posts along the corridor have degraded, and residents have expressed concerns about sideswipe damage to parked vehicles. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Why isn't SDOT removing the protected bike lane? 

We recognize that some neighbors have asked for the protected bike lanes to be removed entirely rather than upgraded. While we have adjusted the design to better meet the community’s needs, we do not plan to remove the bike lanes. We’ve consistently heard from Seattle residents that people want safer, more comfortable options for biking.

The Seattle Transportation Plan, developed with the public and adopted by the City Council, directs us to prioritize exactly that. Upgrading the bike lane will make this street safer for people of all ages and abilities, which aligns with our Vision Zero goal to end serious injuries and fatalities on city streets.  

What are you going to do about parked cars getting side-swiped?

We are changing the lane configuration at the intersection of Wilson Ave S and S Orcas St to help ensure drivers do not get too close to parked vehicles. We will also add concrete curbs and flexible posts to provide clear visual guidance of the parking lane vs travel lane for northbound vehicles.  

Will parking be removed?

Yes, approximately 10 illegal parking spaces are being removed. This is necessary to meet Washington State law, which prohibits parking too close to driveways, crossings, and intersections. The reason this is against the law is to maintain proper sightlines and visibility for all road users. This is a standard safety requirement, not specific to Wilson Ave S. 

How will loading, unloading, and driveway access work? 

We have added gaps in the protected bike lane for loading and unloading and maintained access to all driveways. Please let us know if you have any specific access needs for your property on Wilson Ave S. 

Will the concrete barriers narrow the street? 

No, we have designed this project using standard lane widths for the travel lanes, parking lane, concrete buffer, and bike lane. The same road configuration can be found throughout the City. 

Funding 

This project is funded by the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy.  

Related Projects 

Even Better Bike Lanes Program
Wilson Avenue S Transportation Improvements Project