posted 06/03/09 09:27 AM | updated 06/03/09 09:27 AM
Views: 1078 | Comments : 9 | News, etc.

Unexpected impact from Olive Way exit closure: A hubble on Hubbell?

By jseattle
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The Olive Way exit from northbound I-5 has been closed for more than two weeks now and Capitol Hill survives. Only 50 more weeks to go as Sound Transit works with the department of transportation to shore up the freeway in preparation for the start of light rail tunneling later this year.

CHS outlined alternative routes for drivers here. But an unforeseen impact of the closure has been raised in CHS comments by neighbor Swift Albero:

Now that the construction has officially started, it looks like people are passing James Street and continuing straight through Hubbell Place by the Convention Center to get to Pike Street. I live on 9th & Union, which was once a quiet, tucked away corner, now has become the official Olive Way off-ramp detour route. My street is insane now.


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Anybody corroborate Swift A's account? Any other impacts -- good or bad -- that you've noticed in your part of the Hill?

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madison exit
I've see this too. It's not surprising that the Madison exit has more traffic, but there are also a ton more people trying to merge onto the Madison off ramp from I5/7th and then get onto Hubble. I'm not quite sure where they are coming from, but it gets a little crazy with people getting off I5 that are trying to turn right on Madison crossing over with a bunch of cars that are trying to go straight onto Hubble.
Comment by lalala
5 months ago
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Hubble
I experienced this last week and had to turn around, as we waited forever to move! Just take Madison St...so much easier.
Comment by Charles
5 months ago
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RE: Hubble
Just take the bus...so much easier.
Comment by JoshMahar
5 months ago
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Hubbell Place
I'm sure it's crazy now. It was always my prefered route to get back on the hill when I-5 was jammed up under the convention center anyway before the ramp closure.
Comment by DevoDaddy
5 months ago
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Olive Street Exit Closure
I have seen the Madison exit backed up way south in the collector/distributor ramp. One of the key problems is that at the 7th and Madison intersection the right lane is right turn only, the left lane is left turn only and the middle lane is left turn or straight toward Hubble. But many cars turn left from the middle lane and have to yield to oncoming traffic turning right, so often, only one or two cars turn left and that’s it for a signal cycle. The middle lane absolutely should be straight ahead only and this would help immensely. Secondly, as Hubble meets Pike a). there’s no light; b). pedestrians stream across the intersection and frequently don’t let cars pass; c). traffic frequently backs up from the light at Boren on Pike up to or past Hubble so that you cannot turn right.
The other change that has been made that makes traffic worse is at the intersection of Broadway and Madison. Although there is now more Northbound traffic in the afternoon (as an alternate route onto Capitol hill, the Northbound like on Broadway has been dramatically shortened to about 20 seconds from the more normal 60 seconds. Now, traffic backs up as far as Cherry or James.
Regrettably, the powers that be have repeatedly shown they have neither the forethought or capacity to figure their way out of a Dick’s hamburger wrapper, so don’t expect any relief from this atrocious mess.
Comment by Dana
5 months ago
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RE: Olive Street Exit Closure
It is unbelieveable to me that the "traffic engineers" at SDOT did not anticipate this problem and plan accordingly. Isn't that what we taxpayers pay them to do? SDOT is a very dysfunctional department in many, many ways.

Me, I'm going to avoid this whole mess and exit further north at Lakeview Blvd E....it might be a little longer distance that way, but alot less headache.
Comment by calhoun
5 months ago
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hubble on Hubbell
I can confirm. I was driving 2 friends home on Wednesday night, around 10 PM, and I got off on Madison, continuing through to Hubbell. In my defense, the first drop off was Boren and Terry. As I went through the second light on Seneca, I noticed that there were about 9 cars behind me. At that time of night prior to 2 weeks ago, there wouldn't have been anybody.

Since the Olive closure, I normally take Lakeview Blvd. exit, its far faster for access if you live north of Olive St. You have to backtrack, but much more efficient overall.
Comment by ProstSeattle
5 months ago
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99
Most of my I-5 North usage was traveling too and from West Seattle, so now I just take 99. Just sayin...
Comment by pete
5 months ago
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The worst part about this?
We all know that Pike Street is an important pedestrian thoroughfare for Capitol Hill folks walking to and from Downtown. These alien cars come into the neighborhood and most are unaware of the "flow" we have going on over here. Add to the driver's frustration of having to wait in a line that has no conceivable way out, it will be only a matter of time before a skinny jean wearing hipster pedestrian is going to get hit.
Comment by Swift Albero
5 months ago
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