Suicide Hill Gets A 4 Way Stop At 41st and 43rd

 Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) posted this information in a recent newsletter about the busy intersection of Suicide Hill, with a huge blind drop and hidden driveways and alleys, getting a 4-way stop to slow down traffic:

4-Way STOP forSafety, School Zones Installed at NE 41st Street and 43rd Avenue NE

The busy intersection at NE 41st Street and 43rd Avenue NE was finally made safer with the addition of an official 4-way stop. For years, LCC has contacted the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) for help to make with the dangerous intersection. 

Neighbors and LCC worked with Councilmember Pedersen’s office to request a safety review of the intersection, completed in May 2021 An SDOT civil engineer from the Transportation Operation’s Center reviewed the traffic volume and noted the high rates of speed that occur daily down on the steep NE 41st Street. 

The new stop signs will slow down speeders and make the intersection safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles, and neighbors.  Several attempts have been made to remove the new signs.

In addition, new flashing school signs were installed to alert drivers of the School Zone on NE 45th Street. 

The Laurelhurst Community Club, (LCC), has been working on this major safety hazard for many years. SDOT installed a reduced speed sign and a yellow blinking light in the past to calm speeds in 2013, shortly after a car travelling at a high rate of speed unfortunately hit a dog.

A neighbor who lives two blocks from the dangerous intersection said that he has heard numerous accidents from his house.

Neighbors have requested over the years for the City to install speed bumps or traffic calming always with the same response of no. The reason is because this street is a main arterial and emergency vehicles need access. Neighbors also contacted the City about conducting a traffic study.