TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Watching Wednesday

Hoping for a less-congested commute than Tuesday, we begin with three “live” views (refresh this page for the latest) – the bridge, above and below:

And the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct, from the elevated section’s south end:

Find more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: A few links to share in case you hadn’t seen these stories yet –

*Online petition launched for long-sought 35th SW safety measures
*Block Watch Captains’ Network briefing on neighborhood traffic calming
*February 4th hearing on ballot measure to raise Metro/roads money

mary January 29, 2014 (7:45 am)

Avoid the lower bridge. The bridge is up. At the height of rush hour.

D January 29, 2014 (7:55 am)

What’s going on? Adm., Fauntleroy & Delridge are all totally backed up. Nothing showing up on the camera but Twitter posted something 25 minutes ago that said it was worse than usual. Definitely worse than yesterday.

WS Dawg January 29, 2014 (8:37 am)

I’m growing increasingly annoyed by the growing number of cars bypassing backups going down Admiral by taking the right hand lane and going down to Avalon to make a left. It’s very clear that left turns are not allowed from at that intersection. For some reason these people feel that they are above the rules and there time is more important that others who wait in line along Avalon. What can be done to get an officer out there in the morning?

Robert January 29, 2014 (9:17 am)

D – I’ve often wondered if days like today were a direct result of yesterday (a bad traffic day) – and everyone en masse leaving a little bit earlier than normal. It doesn’t help at all, but it makes us fee better.

WS Dawg – I hear ya – wish the city would do something to prevent the shenanigans people do to give them selves a few minute advantage but but make the commute net worse because it causes more merges.

enough January 29, 2014 (10:03 am)

WS Dawg and Robert,

I have had good luck with making a request here:

http://seattle-p1csrprodcwi.motorolasolutions.com/ServiceRequest.mvc/SRIntakeStep2?id=PDWEBTMP&templateid=&guid=509d562f0a0d48129dcd579e0f951532&srID=

D January 29, 2014 (10:09 am)

WS Dawg, although I usually turn right up Avalon, I totally disagree that left turns are not allowed from that intersection. And why would that annoy you anyway? It only means more people are getting out of the lane you are in, obviously making your lane shorter and reducing the backup on Admiral. It does not cause more merges, Robert, it’s the same number of cars going the same direction, just merging in a different location. That would seem to be a good thing.

helridge January 29, 2014 (10:32 am)

WS Dawg, we would need officers in so many parts of West Seattle, all of Seattle, but that would be impossible. As a result these drivers break the rules because they can. Heading north on Delridge this morning this is what I witnessed – low bridge closed resulting in backup to get on the high bridge, the usual drivers snaking through 25th and 26th (from Genesee Hill)to get to Dakota to get to Delridge where they can merge (I admit not illegal but very crafty and causing people who actually live in the neighborhood delays) were taking the left hand only lane all the way down to Andover to merge right (!!!) so that many vehicles behind them couldn’t even take legal left turns, van cuts me off right at the bridge ramp, vehicles coming onto the high bridge from Chelan were not yielding to Delridge traffic, vehicles weaving all over the bridge…seriously we have a team going to the Super Bowl we should be one for all and all for one instead so many of us are all for MEEEEE….
So yeah, these drivers do it because they can. One driver on Beacon Hill this morning couldn’t be bothered by a red light and took a left from S. Nevada onto 15th S. and then, being a single occupant driver, took the HOV lane past a very long line of cars waiting to get on I-5 North.
We shouldn’t even bother getting upset anymore because they will keep doing it, especially if they are never reprimanded. But kudos to all the safe law abiding drivers out there, you know who you are :)

WS Dawg January 29, 2014 (10:53 am)

D, I think you may be confused. There is a no left turn sign at the intersection that was added in the last year or so, what more do you need to know that left turns are not allowed. These individuals are making an illegal left turn and try to merge over to take a right onto the bridge adding to the back up on Avalon.

D January 29, 2014 (11:32 am)

WS Dawg, I think you may be confused. There is no “no left turn” sign there. I believe the sign says, “right lane must turn right”, which is different. “These individuals” may be adding to the backup on Avalon, but they are reducing the backup on Admiral.

WSLiz January 29, 2014 (11:55 am)

I agree with WS Dawg. The sign only says right lane must turn right but the left hand lane is about 1 foot wide and has a picture of a bicycle in it. To me, this means cars have to go right but I can see where there might be confusion followed by “well everyone else is doing it, it must be ok.”

What they are really doing is seeing a long line to get on the bridge to Admiral so instead of waiting it out they jump down and cut to the front of the line on Avalon. If there was a way for them to get in at the end of the line, it probably wouldn’t annoy me so much but what they do is line up (blocking traffic to Alki) and force their way in at the front right before the turn onto the bridge.
When traffic is backed up I have repeatedly seen more cars get through the light that came from Admiral than those that have been waiting on Avalon for 30 minutes or more. Should we cut up to Admiral, take a right where we aren’t supposed to and force our way to the front of their line? It would only be fair…

pupsarebest January 29, 2014 (2:08 pm)

More carpooling would be great and help with the problem, but drivers paying attention to what they are supposed to be doing (driving safely and courteously) would be of equal or greater value.
Welcome to the “new normal”, apparently.

soosan January 29, 2014 (6:48 pm)

Did anyone else see the cyclist who took the eastbound high bridge a little after 7:30 — rode across it on the far south side, then slipped between the cars waiting for the 99 ramp, did a U-turn, and went wrong-way down the Harbor Island ramp? I’m assuming he was avoiding the low bridge up (and also assuming he was a he — who knows).

Just checking as the traffic seemed the usual nightmare and I want to make sure I wasn’t asleep or hallucinating.

helridge January 30, 2014 (9:40 am)

WS Dawg, D, and WSLiz – Turning left onto Avalon after coming from Admiral seems like it would be legal considering the road surface markings. In the ever so narrow left lane there is indeed, after the bicycle, a left turn arrow.