TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates and alerts

(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)

6:59 AM: Another rainy morning, with traffic trouble in multiple places. We start with word of a stalled vehicle blocking the right lane on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, before Delridge, and a crash on the NB 1st Avenue South Bridge. About the latter, a texter says, “Traffic backed up Olson Place/Myers Way to Roxbury. Alternate routes completely advised.”

7:14 AM: WSDOT says the 1st Avenue S. Bridge crash has cleared but as always, backups will linger. As for the West Seattle Bridge, looks like a tow truck has arrived.

7:28 AM: At Delridge/Kenyon, police are responding to a 120 bus with someone reported to be harassing the driver. Haven’t heard whether NB or SB.

7:44 AM: High-bridge stall has cleared – backup of course will take a while – and low bridge is up. Wait a while before leaving if you can.

7:47 AM: This won’t help the bridge – now there’s a problem on NB I-5 just south of the I-90 exit.

7:57 AM: The low bridge has reopened.

8:24 AM: Still getting reports that most paths to the West Seattle Bridge remain backed up. Seems to be a multitude of incidents, earlier and current, affecting things – now there’s yet another NB I-5 problem on the south side of downtown, a stalled vehicle near Seneca Street.

8:44 AM: And another crash on the West Seattle Bridge, per scanner.

8:56 AM: Also via scanner – that’s now clear.

9:03 AM: New one from the scanner – stalled vehicle NB at Olson/Myers.

Megan November 2, 2016 (7:21 am)

Fauntleroy is really backed up.

WSB November 2, 2016 (7:27 am)

Thanks – I don’t see a crash listed by SDOT or SFD and haven’t heard anything on the scanner so would have to guess it’s related to the stall on the bridge.
Pixie November 2, 2016 (10:05 am)

Headed to work in Burien. Had to go to @128th and backtrack to 14th S as my regular route was backed up, too. A usual 15 minute commute was 25 minutes. I have not seen so much AM traffic through White Center/Burien via Ambaum in a while.

Diane November 2, 2016 (7:41 am)

And lower bridge is up, perfect timing! Port of Seattle is the BEST.

WSB November 2, 2016 (7:42 am)

The Port of Seattle isn’t responsible for raising the bridge. The low bridge is a city structure but it doesn’t have any discretion, either. Maritime traffic gets preference on the waterway per the U.S. Coast Guard. Long ugly history of trying and failing to change that …

Sue November 2, 2016 (7:54 am)

EB Alaska backed up to 42nd – very unusual.

Mark November 2, 2016 (8:10 am)

The 21 & 21X that travel along 35th are unusually packed this morning, too. The 21X that arrived at Morgan & 35th just before 0800 had to leave a few passengers at the stop because it was full. Sigh.

Jerry Hoffmeister November 2, 2016 (8:14 am)

Delridge backed up to the boren school or so.

Sunuva November 2, 2016 (8:31 am)

Wow, what an ugly morning to be on the roads in West Seattle! Delridge backed up to Boren school, as mentioned above. Traffic diverting to 26th Ave is causing a long backup there as well. There is no way around this mess!

WSGirl November 2, 2016 (8:36 am)

That’s literally the worst traffic I’ve ever seen leaving West Seattle. Took me an hour and 20 minutes to get to my downtown office from my house by Lincoln Park. Unreal.

schwaggy November 2, 2016 (8:44 am)

The first blocking incident on the bridge was a stalled car2go. The 2 officers on scene could have literally lifted that vehicle and put it down in the gore point, thus unblocking a lane. Instead they sat there for 45 minutes waiting for a tow. Unreal.

chemist November 2, 2016 (10:30 am)

What, you think those push-bars on the front of SPD vehicles are there for… pushing broken down cars ?

LarryB November 2, 2016 (9:03 am)

I left my house in Sunrise Heighs at 6:50 and decided to go via Delridge, which was packed. It took 15 minutes to go two miles. Once I got on the bridge it wasn’t bad. I’m glad I didn’t leave later – what a crazy morning.

Kathy November 2, 2016 (9:13 am)

Another option: Ride in the Rain – West Seattle Bike Connections Team

Gear and safety tips for riding in the rain

East Coast Cynic November 2, 2016 (9:28 am)

If we had the topography and the numerous bike lanes of Amsterdam, I would bike to work. Too many hills and too much dangerous traffic on the streets to compete with around here. More power to those who do it otherwise.
- WSEA November 2, 2016 (10:13 am)
  
  Get an electric bike at westside bikes. I would seriously recommend test riding one.
  
  http://www.woodinvillebicycle.com/product-list/bikes-1000/other-1037/electric-1038/
  
  My brother has one and its awesome. You still have to deal with the elements but it removes the hills issue. I would also recommend taking beach drive thru alki to remove the traffic problem, if thats doable.

newnative November 2, 2016 (9:29 am)

Not to rub y’all’s nose in it but leaving from Admiral completely bypassed that stall and back up, making for an early arrival to downtown. Unfortunately, the traffic cameras don’t always explain exactly where the problems are located.

mrodd November 2, 2016 (9:53 am)

I think I REALLY lucked out this morning. Left my house in Brace Point around 620 and got to my office in DT Bellevue at 655. Always best to leave as early as possible.

KM November 2, 2016 (5:54 pm)

Or later! We generally don’t leave our to catch the bus until about 9am in our house. Really helps if you can move your commute to off-peak times.

Mr E November 2, 2016 (10:40 am)

Traffic would be a lot less of a headache if drivers would:

Stay off their phones
Turn on their headlights when using their wipers (especially you silver vehicles)
Stop creating their own turn/merge lanes because the queue is too long/inconvenient for them

For those drivers who adhere to the laws and use common sense: thank you.

Seattle PD could make policing local traffic a full-time job because people are too selfish to follow the rules.

wb November 2, 2016 (12:38 pm)

What is it with the cars willfully blocking the bus lane on SW Avalon so they can turn right onto the lower bridge ramp? How priceless.

I saw the busses staying in the left lanes and then having to take the right.

I found out too late that was happening and had to do a u turn and wait through two light cycles for the privilege of trying to get on the lower bridge.

Kudos to all the bikers I saw going by.

Kathy November 2, 2016 (8:04 pm)

This is why we need grade separated light rail. Because even if we could get dedicated bus lanes, drivers won’t respect them. Vote Yes on ST3.

CJ November 2, 2016 (2:10 pm)

This is becoming the new normal. Just wait until the Whittaker Apt Complex is occupied – hundreds of more cars flooding the Alaska/Fauntleroy corridor headed for the bridge. Pack your patience people!

West Seattle since 1979 November 2, 2016 (3:34 pm)

Another annoying thing that happens is blocking the crosswalks. Almost every morning while crossing Fauntleroy at Avalon to get to the bus stop at 35th & Avalon, I have to risk walking out into traffic on Avalon or wait through the cycle and hope the next drivers don’t also block the crosswalk. People do use those crosswalks, folks!

Also, when turning left, please don’t drive right up to pedestrians who are crossing legally at the light, as if you’re going to run into them. I know you want to get ahead, but there’s no need to scare people. Some people may walk a little slower because of leg problems, etc. but they’re crossing legally and they have every right to cross.

nw November 2, 2016 (5:51 pm)

When I am walking during dusk to increase my visibility I use a hand held light and make it visible to drive not intrusive just visible males a huge difference and drivers halt.

Sorry, comment time is over.