TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; last day of the rest of the 99 closure

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Today is the last day of the rest of the Highway 99 closure, from the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley Street. See a time lapse of the work in our reminder from last night; see the map in an earlier reminder. To check Metro routes, go here.

26TH/BARTON NOTE, 6:30 AM: A fire response across from Westwood Village is affecting traffic in that area.

6:57 AM: Now there’s another fire response, in High Point. Not a big fire but it’s on Sylvan Way a block south of Morgan and will likely affect traffic in that area for a while.

5:45 PM NOTE: In case you haven’t already seen the separate update, the eastbound bridge offramp to NB 99 is blocked right now because of a spill from a truck – described so far as a fuel spill – that’s being cleaned up.

workdowntown August 26, 2014 (7:19 am)

Much slower going this morning compared to yesterday. Backup on Spokane bridge – maybe due to sun in your eyes. And backing up northbound viaduct way before Seneca exit.

WSB August 26, 2014 (7:37 am)

Thanks! Seems to be the case around the city, according to traffic reports on Twitter.

justwow August 26, 2014 (8:32 am)

What a joke living here is. 60 minutes to go 6 miles? Are SDOT now hiring our “hard working” postal workers? Did you see the “progress” they made on 99 after shutting it down this weekend? They dug up holes and patched them up with bumps. And no effort on a single pot hole… Just wow.

WS commuter August 26, 2014 (8:33 am)

Today I drove SR 99. Typical volume for AM commute until the downtown exits.

K'lo August 26, 2014 (8:52 am)

We must be careful about complaining about the shoddy work that was done re:smoothing out SR99. They might get their feelings hurt and shut it down again to do an even worse repair. Just sayin’!

Mike August 26, 2014 (8:55 am)

Get used to it. If the tunnel ever is completed, and that’s a big if, and the viaduct comes down, this will be the daily situation.

justwow August 26, 2014 (9:04 am)

Nicely put, K’lo. :) A welcome change to see someone willing to simply agree rather than go on the defensive.

Que August 26, 2014 (9:10 am)

When they moved here from whatever Midwest sprawl, the correct thing to do would have been adapt their lifestyle to their new surroundings. Instead they refuse to get out of their cars and blame this place. Quite self centered. Fifteen years ago there was hardly ever a traffic jam in Seattle. Why do you think this is? Hint: Adding more roads doesn’t alleviate traffic.

Smitty August 26, 2014 (9:30 am)

“Get used to it. If the tunnel ever is completed, and that’s a big if, and the viaduct comes down, this will be the daily situation.

I think that’s an understatement. With ZERO downtown exits ALL the traffic will be forced onto surface streets when it comes down. During these last 2 days at least there was a Seneca and Western exit option available!

Oh yeah, I forgot. People will magically start taking the bus.

justwow August 26, 2014 (9:41 am)

I say this all the time on here and it never goes down well because everyone has an “excuse”. But Que touching on self centeredness makes it impossible for me not to… Does anyone know what carpooling is? Take a look at the cars on the bridge during rush hour next time you’re in gridlock (ie tomorrow). 95% are single occupants, on a good day. That’s not just selfish – it’s the reason traffic here makes people have mental breakdowns. We’re ranked 6th worst in the country. 6th!!!!!

Clowns August 26, 2014 (12:45 pm)

I stayed in the far left hand lane of the viaduct until I was forced to merge by the barrels (like we were just told to by WSDOT. I have never done that before) and it took me a grand total of 30 minutes to get from ~5000 block of California to Seattle Center.

Clowns August 26, 2014 (12:46 pm)

Granted, I did have to make it clear that if the person did not let me in my car would be pushing them into the garage next to the viaduct. Luckily the PNW passive aggressiveness resulted in no horn honking and being let in with no issues.