Seattle Grip Upgrades Target Skid-Prone Roads

Drivers on four Seattle corridors will see high-friction pavement added to reduce skidding crashes in wet weather.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Car Types

Seattle Grip Upgrades Target Skid-Prone Roads

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The Seattle Department of Transportation received a $10 million federal grant to increase pavement friction at four Seattle road locations. The upgrades target segments with a history of skidding crashes, including stretches of Highland Park Way SW and Westlake Ave N.

Why it matters

Drivers on the affected West Seattle and central corridors may notice new high-friction road surfaces that help tires grip in wet conditions. The grant targets locations where skidding crashes have happened too often, and high-friction pavement is a proven safety measure against hydroplaning.

The $10 million grant covers four Seattle locations: Highland Park Way SW between SW Holden St and W Marginal Way SW, SW Roxbury St/Olson Pl SW, Westlake Ave N between the Aurora Bridge and Halladay St, and Rainier Ave S between S Fisher Pl and Sturtevant Ave S. The FHWA estimates that high-friction pavement reduces wet-pavement crashes by 83% and all crashes by 57%, though these are national estimates rather than Seattle-specific results.

The players

Seattle Department of Transportation

The city agency that maintains Seattle's streets, bridges, and traffic systems, and that manages the road-safety projects funded by this grant.

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)

The federal agency whose grant programs fund road-safety upgrades and whose approval is required before construction begins.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

The federal agency that sets national roadway standards and publishes crash-reduction estimates for high-friction pavement.

The details

The grant funds road upgrades that increase pavement friction, giving tires more grip so cars are less likely to skid off the road in the rain. The Seattle Department of Transportation will also use an innovative safety analysis built on emerging techniques to identify other likely crash locations. The Highland Park Way SW traction project is separate from the out-to-bid lane-conversion project on the same corridor. Federal grants require ongoing coordination with USDOT before any construction begins.

November 3, 2026: The grant announcement was published.
A few years after award announcement: expected USDOT final approval and start of construction.

The Home Front

High-friction pavement is one of several federally recognized road-safety treatments that cities can fund through competitive grants. Seattle's project shows how local street upgrades are increasingly tied to federal safety programs and documented crash-reduction data.

If you commute on Highland Park Way SW, Westlake Ave N, Rainier Ave S, or SW Roxbury St, expect construction notices as the project moves forward. Keep tires in good condition with adequate tread, since grip matters most when roads are wet.

The takeaway

Wet-road skidding is one of the most common causes of crashes, and high-friction pavement is a proven fix. Check your tire tread depth regularly, especially before the rainy season, and reduce speed on wet pavement.