TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; weekend notes; bridge crash

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:39 AM: Good morning! Much quieter so far than yesterday was – no trouble spots to report so far.

WEEKEND 99 CLOSURES: If you have seen the signs, you might not realize these do NOT involve 99 between here and the Battery Street Tunnel – the Alaskan Way Viaduct itself remains open. The closures are from the tunnel north to Valley Street, as explained here.

VIEW FROM THE WATER: Maggie, who commutes from Vashon and has long shared helpful info, also shares beautiful views like this on occasion, snapped from the Water Taxi:

@westseattleblog Morning WSB crew! Mount Rainier behind the Alki lighthouse. Passed by on the Sally Fox this morning. pic.twitter.com/6YuG7Nxufp

— SudsyMaggie (@SudsyMaggie) May 8, 2015

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY TOMORROW: If you’ve missed the mentions elsewhere – tomorrow is the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (an event coordinated by WSB since its fourth year in 2008). Many people use it as an occasion to wander around their immediate neighborhoods and see who’s selling what – with 340+ sales, chances are there’s at least one near you; both versions of the map (with short descriptions highlighting some features of each sale) are here. Forecast: Sunny, high in the mid-to-upper 70s.

8:28 AM – BRIDGE CRASH: First trouble spot of the morning. Crash reported to be blocking the bus lane on the eastbound bridge, midspan.

8:35 AM: Just added that screengrab of the bridge camera showing the crash-related activity. Haven’t heard anything on the scanner yet about injuries.

8:57 AM: No update yet on how soon this might clear. At least one person is reported to be hurt and the outside lane is blocked.

9:06 AM: Cleared!

Panda May 8, 2015 (9:17 am)

What a commute today. Distracted drivers unite!!! I saw that accident happen just beside me and slightly ahead of me. It was like slow motion as I watched the guy get rear ended. The at-fault driver either looked down or was otherwise distracted as the cars in front of him abruptly stopped. Nobody appeared terribly hurt as arms went in the air in both cars gesturing “What the heck?”.

Crumpled hood seemed to be the worst of it.

The actual impact happened in the middle lane. Glad to see they at least hobbled over to the side.

me too May 8, 2015 (9:43 am)

Yeah, it was a challenge in many areas. Not the usual Friday light I sometimes experience on the various interstates.
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Panda, was that the one that happened near the crest of the WS bridge, eastbound about 8:30? I happened by it just after they got to the right shoulder. Some debris was still in the lane to the left of the bus lane.

me too May 8, 2015 (9:46 am)

Tried to edit but got a do not have permission message.

I see the screen grabs now. When I drove by, the guy was out of the car looking at the crumpled hood and rear bumper. I figured they would just drive a way since it didn’t look that bad. Surprised to see 2 firetrucks arrive.

me too May 8, 2015 (9:48 am)

Sorry to see this happen and hope they are ok.

babs May 8, 2015 (10:16 am)

Crazy week for traffic accidents.

Lisa May 8, 2015 (4:48 pm)

There seems to be a disabled ferry in the bay. Tugboat there.

WSB May 8, 2015 (5:10 pm)

Hi! Thanks. We’ve had a separate story about that since right about the time you commented:
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https://westseattleblog.com/?p=309642
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Thanks to the person who texted from Colman Dock – we got word of it just as the first word was coming out on citywide news orgs, who of course are now all over it too. – TR

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