Fixes scheduled for dangerous Wallingford intersection

SEATTLE — Neighbors at 42nd and Thackeray are grateful that the city is finally responding to many calls for help to fix a dangerous intersection.

Nancy Merrill is one of the homeowners that has been writing city leaders and the Seattle Department of Transportation for years asking to repaint two stop lines in front of two stop signs. Neighbors complained that the stop lines faded so much that drivers didn't notice them and they also didn't see the stop signs because they were obstructed by trees. "We were actually as a neighborhood thinking about painting the lines ourselves but I'm not sure how that would go over," said Susan Davis, who lives a few houses from the intersection.

KIRO7 recorded video of several drivers blasting through the stop signs in a story that aired in July. After asking SDOT about the problem, SDOT sent a crew out that day to trim trees that obstructed the stop signs. A spokesperson said that SDOT didn't think repainting the lines were a priority because there were no accidents there in the past three years and the city had other budget priorities.

It costs about $1,000 to repaint one line. "We were actually as a neighborhood thinking about painting the lines ourselves but I'm not sure how that would go over," said Davis.

Just a few days ago Mayor Mike McGinn sent a letter to Merrill and said that he asked SDOT to repaint the lines. "I think the city has a lot of priorities and they have to adjust their budgets and like any other political situation you get enough pressure and you get people to respond," said Bernie Durant, who lives near the intersection.

SDOT said that it plans to send a crew out to repaint the lines in the next two weeks.

KIRO