TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates & advisories

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7 AM: As we head for the heart of the commute, there’s an emergency response at a crash on West Marginal Way SW just north of Highland Park Way SW – no word, though, on how it’s affecting traffic. And on the northbound I-5 “collector-distributor” downtown, there’s a stall blocking a lane by Marion St.

ADVISORIES TODAY: If you use Water Taxi Pier 50 or state-ferry Colman Dock downtown, today is the day access changes – details in our previous report … near the Fauntleroy ferry dock, county crews are scheduled to repair concrete panels by the Barton Pump Station project this week … and the south end of Beach Drive will be busy today with the continued concrete pour at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project tank site.

7:17 AM: SFD has already cleared the W. Marginal Way scene. According to e-mail from Kimberley, it involved an overturned pickup, and “people were out of their cars helping” even before fire/police arrived. Also, a texter mentioned a crash on the bridge, but there’s no emergency dispatch so far. As the cameras show, though, it’s definitely a full-on eastbound backup.

7:29 AM: Crash just reported at Admiral Way/Avalon – no injuries reported but some blocking, according to the scanner.

7:56 AM: No indication of anything out of the ordinary on the bridge. Meantime, our crew just checked the W. Marginal Way scene – the right southbound lane before Highland Park Way is still blocked but a tow truck is there to take care of the wrecked pickup truck, so this should be clear before too long, no indication of anything mandating a major investigation. Traffic is getting by in both directions.

9:00 AM: One more transportation-news note – the next Seattle City Council briefing on the Highway 99 tunnel project and related issues is coming up around 10:45 am – you can watch live at seattlechannel.org. Preview the slide deck – which mentions more about “what if the Viaduct had to be shut down?” plans as well as settlement affecting downtown water mains – by going here.

9:49 AM: Just back from a quick check on several things: Sharonn had mentioned in comments that 37th is closed in The Triangle north of Alaska because of work involving a big crane. We went by (photo to come) and were told this involves removing something from the roof at the SK Food Group building (4600 37th SW). We also checked on the mentioned-above Murray CSO concrete pour and Barton Pump Station road-panel replacement – both of those projects are under way, with minimal traffic impact (except for Beach Drive south of Lincoln Park Way – unless you’re a resident and have to get through, avoid that today).

8 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates & advisories"

  • Deborah Wolf January 12, 2015 (7:24 am)

    I passed this accident at 6:20. The right hand lane, S-bound, had an over-turned vehicle that was unrecognizable. One wheel was located 30 feet north with debris between the car and the wheel. We were unable to pass the crash without entering the the North-bound lanes. There were no emergency vehicles on site at the time. No one was directing traffic. 2 other vehicles were on the shoulder of the Northbound lanes. One man was in the median on a mobile phone and he attempted to push some debris off the North-bound lanes. I’m so sorry for the drivers involved. It certainly looked like the chance of survival was low.

    • WSB January 12, 2015 (7:29 am)

      The West Marginal Way crash? No indication at this point of major injuries, with SFD having already cleared, and if there were, the road would be closed because of the mandatory investigation. We’ll have to go check.

  • Michelle January 12, 2015 (7:45 am)

    Is the West Seattle Bridge backed up

    • WSB January 12, 2015 (7:53 am)

      No indication of anything out of the ordinary at this point – including on the Fauntleroy/Alaska and 35th/Fauntleroy cameras – so whatever our tipster saw might have been fleeting.

  • Sharonn January 12, 2015 (8:04 am)

    37th is closed from Alaska to Fauntleroy. Huge crane being set up.

    • WSB January 12, 2015 (8:24 am)

      Thanks, Sharonn. We’ll have to go by for a look, since I don’t know offhand what over there would be meriting a crane – the closest development project, 35th south of Avalon, already got its tower crane …

      • WSB January 12, 2015 (9:28 am)

        Update on Marginal crash before I can add to the story – the driver was so unhurt, he refused medical attention.

  • heather January 12, 2015 (9:54 am)

    Wow! It was that persons lucky day to walk away injury free from a car flip. But oh man will they be achy tomorrow.

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