PM TRAFFIC ALERTS: Crash on westbound high bridge; protesters west of low bridge; SFD response

4:06 PM: Thought this one would be clear by peak pm commute, but it isn’t yet, so: A crash is blocking the right lane of the westbound bridge, Spokane Street Viaduct section, right by the 1st Avenue South ramps and Harbor Island exit. Scanner-monitored discussion seems to indicate tow availability is an issue. So if you are heading this way sometime soon, southbound 99 might be a better bet than anything to the east of it.

4:51 PM UPDATE: The traffic camera has been turned, so we can’t see the original scene, but checking other cameras, the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct seems to be moving OK. However, we’ve just heard police dispatched to the Marginal/Chelan/Delridge/etc. intersection for this afternoon’s anti-Shell protest. Can’t tell from the SDOT cameras what’s happening there (except that police are just arriving, and then going out of frame); we’re on the way to check it out.

5 PM: Also happening now: A mid-level SFD response on Bradford west of Avalon. They’re handling a deck fire.

5:25 PM: The fire response is way uphill from Avalon toward the Bradford dead-end, not affecting traffic. We also have just passed the five-ways intersection; police and a few demonstrators, one with a megaphone, are visible, and westbound traffic on West Marginal is backed up to a block south of the bridges.

5:35 PM: Passing back westbound 10 minutes later – the demonstrators aren’t there any more; a group of bicycle officers are under the flyover a short way north off the spur of West Marginal.

5:42 PM: TW pointed out in comments that RapidRide C Line is running slow; Metro has just texted to blame “traffic.” No further elaboration.

8 Replies to "PM TRAFFIC ALERTS: Crash on westbound high bridge; protesters west of low bridge; SFD response"

  • Stuart June 12, 2015 (4:25 pm)

    4:24- not moving at Rainer Brewery. Sitting for 20+ mins

  • Terri Nakamura June 12, 2015 (4:39 pm)

    Lower bridge route hasn’t moved for 20 minutes or longer :-(

  • Ktrapp June 12, 2015 (5:24 pm)

    Definitely avoid Marginal/Chelan. Probably the worst it’s been. Once again I’m burning quite a bit of gas thanks to the protesters.

  • TW June 12, 2015 (5:24 pm)

    Waiting on 3rd for a C line and many appear to be delayed by 20-30 minutes. Something happening upstream?

    • WSB June 12, 2015 (5:42 pm)

      TW, Metro *just* texted that C Line is delayed because of “traffic.” No further explanation.

  • Ari June 12, 2015 (5:53 pm)

    Been stuck on the 545 for an 1h 10 mins. we are just currently inching along the bridge slowing approaching 80th ave.

  • C Jensen June 14, 2015 (10:16 am)

    The police response Friday was due to an assault by the protesters. A person trying to get to work at T5 was surrounded by the protesters. They screamed, yelled. Beat the car with air fists and shook the car. One of the protesters punched the driver of the car through the open driver’s window. The protests were all very foul mouthed. It was nasty.

    • WSB June 14, 2015 (10:41 am)

      We heard something on the scanner about car windows being punched. The protest group claims on its FB page that a car tried to hit them and that one of the protesters was arrested instead of the driver. I won’t be able to ask about an official report until Monday.

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