Alki Point's Healthy Street gets its last block. How a 2020 street closure became permanent
SDOT has started the final stretch of the Beach Drive walking and biking path, now that King County's sewer repairs are done. Here's the history, what the city's own evaluation found, and what's before the Council on traffic safety.
SDOT crews have started building the final block of the Alki Point Healthy Street walking and biking path, the West Seattle Herald reported on Oct. 23. The work could start because King County had finished sewer repairs underneath the route.
The new section links the existing path on Beach Drive Southwest to a new crossing with a flashing beacon at 63rd Avenue Southwest, according to the Herald. The paper listed these features:
- wheel stops and curbing to separate people walking and biking from cars
- textured surfaces to guide people who are blind or have low vision
- added loading zones and accessible parking spaces
- curb ramps and a reinstalled speed hump
- permanent Healthy Street signs
King County's Murray Force Main project relined about 350 feet of damaged sewer pipe near Lowman Beach Park and finished in October, the Herald reported. The county is taking comments on that construction through Nov. 10.
For people who use Alki Point, this finishes a change that has been debated for six years: part of the road along the water is now mainly for people walking and biking, with car access limited.
How it got here
- 2020: The Alki Point stretch began as a temporary Healthy Street in the pandemic, Seattle Bike Blog reported.
- 2024: SDOT built the first permanent phase, according to the department's 2024 evaluation. It included the Beach Drive path, designated public parking areas and speed cushions. A group called Alki Point for All formed that year to oppose the permanent closure and the loss of parking along Beach Drive, the Westside Seattle papers reported.
- 2025: SDOT published its evaluation, based on a survey of about 1,200 people. According to Seattle Bike Blog's summary:
- 71 percent of respondents said they felt safe using the street. - Most parking areas were less than half full in SDOT's counts. - 28 percent reported difficulty reaching the area because of parking. - SDOT said finishing the last Beach Drive block between 63rd and 64th avenues and adding a crossing at 63rd were next.
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What our records add
This project was an SDOT decision. We found no Council vote specific to the Alki Point Healthy Street in our records. Two traffic safety items connected to it are before the Council now.
Saka's traffic safety bills are up for a vote today. Alki Point is in District 1, represented by Rob Saka, who chairs the Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee. Two of his SAFER Streets bills are on today's City Council agenda:
- CB 121297 clarifies the City Traffic Engineer's authority.
- CB 121298 asks for recommended truck side-guard requirements for city contractors.
We previewed them in Two of Saka's three traffic safety bills go to a Council vote Monday.
Transportation money is up Wednesday. SDOT's budget proposals come to the Select Budget Committee on Oct. 28 (SDOT item).