TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:28 AM: Good morning! No incidents in the area so far.

TUNNELING PROGRESS: With the reopening of the Viaduct on Sunday night, WSDOT ended its multiple daily updates on the tunneling machine, but did have a progress report late Wednesday: The machine has passed the 385-foot mark since the start of the under-the-Viaduct dig, and contractors Seattle Tunnel Partners decided to keep going a while rather than stop the machine right at that point.

8:05 AM: SFD is responding to a crash reported at Sylvan Way and Holly, which is just west of Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor).

8:38 AM: Haven’t heard anything about traffic effects of that crash, but the SFD call there is closed.

9 AM: Remember the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion-re-replacement work closures – west end of the bridge, and some lane closures under the bridge – start NEXT MONDAY. Newest information is here, including our followup questions, answered by SDOT.

Blinkyjoe May 12, 2016 (8:39 am)

7:15- Container trucks backed up from T-46/Hanjin all the way to Alaska Way again….must be Thursday! Love the idling diesel engines…..

WSB May 12, 2016 (8:42 am)

We were reminded of that during Viaductless Thursday … the terminal gates don’t open early on Thursdays.

Joe Bags May 12, 2016 (8:50 am)

Not sure which direction they are today but as many probably already know, sometimes they are queued up and the back up snakes in the right lane all the way back on the W Seattle bridge westbound before you get to the 1st Ave on ramp. Rending the on ramp useless. Plus people sit in the right lane coming off I 5 trying to get westbound. Trucks shouldn’t be able to impede traffic like this for hours on end.

watertowerjoey May 12, 2016 (9:41 am)

You would think there would be some way to use all that free space at T5 to hold semi’s. I’m sure it’s easier said then done.

Trickycoolj May 12, 2016 (9:57 am)

SDOT was driving a John Deere up Highland Park Way to mow the ditches around 9:30 this morning, I imagine it’ll take a while since there’s a lot of storm debris mixed in the 4 feet of brush.

Lydia May 12, 2016 (11:17 am)

I agree 100% with Joe Bags. In fact, I think I will write Seattle Councilmember Herbold to initiate action on this. Our city highways and byways should not be a staging area for Port of Seattle trucks. There obviously is an alternative, that is, opening the terminal(s) earlier.