(SCROLL DOWN for updates)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: We’re starting the morning with the usual traffic watch, including updates on how/whether the anti-drilling protest – previewed here – is affecting things, until/unless it becomes big enough to break out into a separate story. (It’s not scheduled to start until 7 am.) Updates to come.
At the protest gathering spot. Also saw bike officers heading toward T-5 entrance pic.twitter.com/q1gXP436N8
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 18, 2015
6:37 AM: We dropped off our crew about 15 minutes ago. No commute/low bridge effects so far. Only a few dozen people in view (and as expected, a full contingent of regional media). Police are at the gathering point and while headed eastbound, we saw bicycle officers heading from the Chelan Café vicinity northwest toward the T-5 entrance. Again, if you’re noticing helicopter(s), at this point it’s TV, related to this. Our crew, by the way, has learned the plan – subject to change – is to march over the low bridge toward T-5 starting around 7:30. (In our tweeted photo above, note the portable barricades; during the December 2011 Occupy protest there, police blocked the road with them at one point.)
7:02 AM: The aerial view just shown on KING matches what our crew reports from the ground – about 100 people so far. No other traffic trouble spots so far – sunny morning, so don’t forget your shades.
7:11 AM: Until/unless major traffic effects start, we’re just posting photos to our Twitter feed – go here if interested. Bicycle riders should note that this is having some effects on the path there.
7:20 AM: March is about to begin. From our crew at scene: Police plan to close WESTBOUND LOW BRIDGE while it proceeds so it can move more quickly. EASTBOUND LOW BRIDGE TO REMAIN OPEN. Per scanner, police estimate about 500 demonstrators.
7:27 AM: Entire bridge closed after all (LOW bridge) while protesters head for T-5. Will update when that changes. Here’s a “live” SDOT camera showing the low bridge:
7:43 AM: Per scanner, police are reopening the low bridge now that the protesters have all crossed. Again, this is not affecting the high bridge or other routes. You can check the Chelan/Marginal camera in our top grouping to see what’s happening at the west end of the low bridge.
7:51 AM: Protest march now at Terminal 5, which is NOT on a major traffic route. SDOT confirms low bridge is open again:
Demonstration update: @SeattlePD has reopened the lower Spokane St Swing Bridge in both directions to traffic.
— seattledot (@seattledot) May 18, 2015
8 AM: No traffic effects currently unless you are trying to get onto T-5, which hasn’t been busy since it was officially closed last July.
8:06 AM: Adding photo of demonstrators milling at T-5.
What happens next, we don’t know yet – police are there, and also standing by in case the group decides to march back across the low bridge, though that was NOT in the plan published in advance – there had been an intent voiced to shut T-5 down all day if they could. Meantime, the commute overall remains normal – no incidents in/from this area.
8:21 AM: Looking ahead to tomorrow – remember that Seattle Public Schools will be closed Tuesday for the one-day teacher walkout to protest legislative lack of action on school funding. Teachers are planning morning gatherings at WSHS and Chief Sealth; more on all this in a separate story later.
9:20 AM: Back from picking up our crew and also checking out T-5 from a different angle:
Meantime, view of #PolarPioneer through the fence at Jack Block Park pic.twitter.com/5POBdECmwD
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 18, 2015
No word of any arrests in connection with the protest but police remain deployed and alert; one drove over to check us out while we were peering through the barb-wire-topped T-5 fence at the end of the driveway into Jack Block Park. We’ll continue to monitor this through the day and will have a separate story later with some of the morning’s scenes, but otherwise, we’re on to other news.
| 31 COMMENTS