TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates; part of Highway 99 reopens

(8:41 AM NOTE: SDOT cams have been stuck for an hour-plus. So we have added WSDOT Highway 99 cams below)

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Just so we’re all clear – While Highway 99 has reopened between the West Seattle Bridge and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel, it’s still closed for two more days from the tunnel north to Valley Street, while WSDOT rebuilds a bridge. So anyone still on The Viaduct this morning northbound past Seneca will have to exit at Western, and that’s likely to mean slow going. See the map in last night’s reminder. If you need to doublecheck your Metro route, go here.

ONE OTHER ROAD WORK NOTE: Here’s the updated map for Arbor Heights/south Fauntleroy microsurfacing, as it continues through tomorrow.

8:18 AM: No problems reported so far, on 99 or elsewhere – see the comments for some commute stories. Of course, this is a big week for vacation-taking, since schools reopen next week, but still, it’s good news.

8:41 AM: Commenter just noticed SDOT cams have been stuck at 7:21 am for a while. Here’s a WSDOT cam, which is NOT stuck:

And another one:

WS commuter August 25, 2014 (7:18 am)

Can you show a DOT camera shot from the CenturyLink Field on-ramp? I think that is where the back up will first begin.

WSB August 25, 2014 (8:21 am)

Commuter – this is the closest one we found:
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http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/seattle/default.aspx?cam=9264
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There are a few other perspectives on the Traffic page, linked above (direct: https://westseattleblog.com/west-seattle-cams ) including the camera looking at the line of cars exiting northbound 99 at Western as required until Wednesday morning.
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Thanks for all the commute updates … TR

pw August 25, 2014 (7:32 am)

Whoa that was easy! They should close that tunnel all the time! 99 was so clear, and the western exit was only backed up about as far as it usually is.

Add August 25, 2014 (7:42 am)

Morgan Junction to downtown (4th & Virginia) in 20 minutes – left at 7:20. If your’re headed downtown, use 99! Wide open!

Eileen August 25, 2014 (7:54 am)

Left on a C bus from the junction at just after 7am and got downtown by 7:30a. I hope tomorrow is as easy.

West Sea Neighbor August 25, 2014 (8:00 am)

How is the trip from West Sea bridge to I-5 North? More backed up than usual?

East Coast Cynic August 25, 2014 (8:02 am)

Left a half hour earlier from Highpoint–about 7:05am, took about 20-25 min to get downtown. But I have to believe the quick arrival is a product of a lot of people taking the day off.

deb August 25, 2014 (8:32 am)

why are most of the cameras showing pictures from 7:21am? I want to see what the road looks like now please…not just your site either

Lindsey August 25, 2014 (8:41 am)

I had the best commute I’ve had in months! Probably due to last week of summer vacationers, but I was happy.

WSB August 25, 2014 (8:43 am)

Deb, good catch. I’ve tweeted at SDOT (city) to see if they’re working on it. They might not even have noticed – they tweeted a pic around 8:20 that was actually a 7:21 pic. I’ve added above a *WSDOT* (state, not city) cam that is always on our Traffic page – http://images.wsdot.wa.gov/nw/099vc03072.jpg – that’s from the approach up to the elevated section. Looks to be moving OK. – TR

Smitty August 25, 2014 (9:10 am)

It appears that a lot of people didn’t fully understand that the viaduct between WS and Western is still open (despite WSBs repeated efforts!) because 4th avenue south was packed this morning.

WSB August 25, 2014 (9:54 am)

Might have been some “just in case” avoidance going on there too, with the uncertainty of how the forced exit at Western might affect things. 4th does get busy – last couple times I’ve had to go downtown that way during morning commute (for a hearing or meeting), I’ve noticed it gets especially choked in that last section between the ID and CenturyLink.

Sorry, comment time is over.