Update 4: July 7
It's official: SDOT has cleared up the treacherous sidewalk on Delridge Way S.W. across from Home Depot.

West Seattleite Kieth Ramsey is the one to thank for taking the issue into his own hands and making a YouTube video chronicling the overgrowth of weeds that forced pedestrians to walk in the street at times.

Here is a note from Kieth:
The Seattle Dept of Transportation came back out for a second day of mowing along Delridge Way SW between SW Orchard St and 21st Ave SW, today. The sidewalk on the East side of Delridge is now clear and passable. Pedestrians no longer have to step into the street and risk being hit by oncoming traffic while walking down the road. It is a success for the neighborhood. I'm relieved this hazard has been removed.

-Keith

Update 3: July 7
Mary Beth Turner of SDOT said the work would be completed before the end of the day. She spoke to the supervisor in charge of the work and was assured it will be handled. "He said it definitely would be done today," Turner said.

Update 2 July 6:
When Keith Ramsey contacted local media about the overgrowth of weeds and grasses along a section of Delridge Way last week he did so with a well produced YouTube video illustrating the problem. In a previous update the Herald explained how we had contacted SDOT (who owns the land) and gotten assurances it was scheduled for completion today, July 6. As promised, SDOT did in fact show up. But not so fast. Ramsey now points out that the work done was not complete and that more needs to be done. To make his point clear beyond any doubt, he has produced another YouTube video. He states on the YouTube page "At 1 pm July 6th, 2011, a mowing crew from the Seattle Department of Transportation cleaned a portion of a Delridge Way SW sidewalk so choked with weeds and brambles that it is impassable by pedestrians. The crew only did half the job, however, and left the worst part of the sidewalk still overgrown with blackberries. This is creates a hazard to pedestrians that the SDOT, which owns the property adjacent to the overgrown sidewalks, needs to act immediately to resolve."

His video shows that from utility pole to Orchard Street the overgrowth is what he calls this section "the area that you have to step out in the street in order to pass," and cites two women with a baby in a stroller he saw," pushing the stroller in the street because they could not pass..."

Update:
SDOT's Marybeth Turner looked into the work order to tame the wild weeds of Delridge Way S.W.

"SDOT’s Street Maintenance crews have this work scheduled for sometime next week," she said.

In the meantime, the Herald recommends walking the western side of the road (unless you are in the mood for an adventure).

When notified of the SDOT response Ramsey said," I'm glad that they are dealing with the issue. It's a little unfortunate that I've got to frankly start a PR campaign to get it done, but I'm glad to be able to use the sidewalk now."

Original post:
West Seattle resident Keith Ramsey called the Seattle Department of Transportation regarding overgrown blackberry bushes and weeds on the eastern sidewalk of Delridge Way S.W. across from Home Depot, forcing pedestrians at times to step out into the street to avoid the sidewalk-encompassing flora. After being told last Tuesday that SDOT would put in a work order and not seeing any progress to date, Ramsey decided to make a YouTube video documenting the overgrowth.

His video is posted along with some background information. The Herald has sent the video along to SDOT for a response and this tale will be updated when we hear back.

From Keith:

I am just a local homeowner trying to keep my neighborhood attractive and safe. This overgrown stretch of sidewalk, and the island where 21st Ave SW meets Delridge Way SW, have been eyesores since I moved in a month ago. When I started poking around on line and discovered that most of this property is owned by the City of Seattle DOT, I got a little upset. I realize Delridge isn't Alki, but this is just a case of neglect by the city. Not only does this neglect contribute to blight in the area, it directly causes a hazard to pedestrians who must step into traffic when trying to walk along Delridge here.

I called the DOT's 684-ROAD number about this last Tuesday. When I told them it wasn't just any overgrown property, but their own, they laughed and said, "Oh, that's bad!" I was told they would put in a work order to have someone "go and take a look," but wasn't given any time frame for doing so, and I wasn't asked for my contact information. Property owners have an obligation to maintain the right of way adjacent to their property. The DOT should never have allowed these lots to have grown so far out of control that they entirely block the sidewalk and cause a hazard to pedestrians.