Highland Park Way has been in the news lately due to the proposed revisions the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is planning to make to that roadway. The changes are driven by the high number of crashes there (41 over 4 years in their survey) likely related to excessive speed (43mph average). Wide road design, poor visibility on the curve, and the steep hill were also cited as factors in the decision redesign (the link to SDOT’s presentation is below).
As part of this redesign, SDOT is going to reduce the number of downhill lanes from two to one as a traffic calming measure. The uphill side will remain a two lane roadway. SDOT will build a downhill bike lane in the former car lane and separate it from traffic with removable barriers. Uphill cyclists will share the path on the east side of HPW with pedestrians.
At the bottom of the hill where Highland Park Way meets West Marginal Way SW, the bike lane will end and cyclists will merge onto the pedestrian/cycle path to access a diagonal crossing, which will connect them to the Duwamish Trail. This will allow SDOT to keep 5 “general purpose” lanes for cars.
For cyclists, Highland Park Way (HPW) would be a key connection to destinations in south Seattle including Georgetown, South Park, and beyond. Currently, to access these destinations, cyclists have to bike to Spokane Street and turn south at the lower bridge, joining the Duwamish Trail along West Marginal Way. For someone who lives near HPW, this would be add ten miles to their trip. This would also represent an alternative route to SODO and downtown via the Duwamish Trail for those coming from the south.
For these reasons, West Seattle Bike Connections strongly supports the redesign on Highland Park Way. Not only is it currently unsafe for those driving cars, but it is virtually unrideable on a bike due to the speed of cars, limiting it to only the most confident and experienced riders. The redesign will make this safer for all users, cars, pedestrians, and bikes alike. For those who support this project, we ask that you let SDOT know your viewpoint. Outreach will be ongoing as the project proceeds through design and implementation. Final design is expected in the summer of 2026 and construction is projected to commence in the Winter of 2026/2027.
There is also a link on the project page where you can sign up for regular updates on the project.
SDOT’s Highland Park Way SW Project Page