Traffic update: Northbound 99 now fully open again after crash

(“Live” eastbound West Seattle Bridge camera moved up from earlier stories)
As you know if you’ve already gone to work – it was even more of a mess this morning and not just because of the Spokane Street Viaduct lane closure: A crash on Highway 99 in the 4 o’clock hour shut down all northbound lanes for a while. One lane was open again by 7 am, and the whole thing was reopened as of about 20 minutes ago. If you haven’t left yet, here’s the eastbound West Seattle Bridge (high-rise, looking toward 99 and beyond) “live” camera for reference. ADDED 8:34 AM: Here’s the KING 5 story about the crash that caused the 99 trouble:

According to SPD Blotter, the 70-year-old man driving the overturned car is in the hospital with injuries described as “serious.”

Tyb July 21, 2010 (8:55 am)

Kinda late for the story, thats not like you guys

toddinwestwood July 21, 2010 (9:07 am)

I heard as long as you have your right turn signal on, you can drive past everyone else, in the bus lane and cut in at the last minute to n.b.99.

Sue July 21, 2010 (9:09 am)

My bus arrived at the bridge around 7:45 or so. He was still being told to go via 1st Avenue, even though I had heard 15 minutes earlier on the Forum that SDOT had opened it up from the WSBridge. One thing that was interesting was that the Bus Only Lane had become merely a suggestion – way more cars than normal were blocking that lane, preventing the bus from getting into it for a considerable amount of time. Fortunately, my bus driver realized that 99 was reopened and decided to go for it, even though he was being asked to reroute. It wasn’t until he was on 99 that he actually got the announcement that it was open and we could resume our regular route.

While the backup onto the bridge was bad, I was honestly surprised it wasn’t worse.

Twiggie July 21, 2010 (9:29 am)

I commute to Tukwilla every morning via Highland Park drive and Southbound 99/599. IT was a MESS. The line of cars was backed up to Holden and 13th. In the over 2 years I have been taking this route it was the worst morning drive on record.

WTF July 21, 2010 (11:04 am)

OK, now that we’ve consoled ourselves on our traffic experience, let’s now hope that the injured person is going to be OK. Get “out of your cars” people, and think humans first and OMG my commute sucked, second.

Kim July 21, 2010 (11:26 am)

Thanks to KUOW who reported just after 7 a.m. (before KOMO reported it, and before they turned the “viaduct closed” lights off coming down Admiral), that the ramp from the West Seattle Bridge to NB 99 reopened. That saved me at least a half hour in my morning commute.

WSB July 21, 2010 (11:44 am)

Does Adam Gehrke still do traffic for KUOW too (besides Q13 and who knows what else)? If so, no wonder they were first, as he is the king o’traffic.

SarahScoot July 21, 2010 (12:44 pm)

WTF, I initially felt bad for being annoyed at the commute when I knew someone was injured.
However, when I got to work I went to King5.com to read the full story, and they reported that the driver approached the (closed) construction zone, was instructed by workers to turn around, then ignored their instructions and drove right through the zone anyway, colliding with a jersey barrier at some point (which is what caused the car to flip.
Do I wish harm on him/her? No, of course not. But I am pissed that this individual’s sense of entitlement royally screwed up the commute for thousands of people.

WSB July 21, 2010 (12:52 pm)

FYI that’s all in the SPD Blotter link added to the story, too (written by the SPD Media Unit, from the same info it provides to news orgs).

get \'em! July 21, 2010 (1:06 pm)

I went over the bridge around 8:20 and was thrilled to hear a loud whistle, then see a police officer waving for a person to pull over and out of the bus lane so he could ticket her. It looked like he was in the middle of ticketing two other people at the same time. I wish he were there everyday, but he was definitely busy this morning! Thank you!

Mo July 21, 2010 (3:07 pm)

DARN, I missed it all . . . took the 7:30 a.m. water taxi.

coffee July 21, 2010 (4:56 pm)

but gee, we don’t need more mass transit… I moved my morning meeting so I could avoid the mess….

jon July 22, 2010 (1:14 pm)

lets hear it for the flaggers and construction workers who are constantly accosted by people like this! Everyone thinks flagging is an easy overpaid job…this is why they get paid well.
-pop quiz hot shot. a driver ignores the warning signs and flagger an blows through your lane closure. what do you do?
–A)get hit by the car.
–B)jump into oncomming traffic.
–C)jump of the bridge.

this is why they put concrete barriers on west sea bridge for the closure. to protect the people out there busting thier hump to get a paycheck, from idiot drivers.
–i for one hope he gets a darwin award. or atleast an honerable mention.
-even emergency vehicles will not blow by a flagger!

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