TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Wednesday; 35th SW ‘kickoff’ tonight

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:34 AM: Early trouble: Northbound I-5 is backed up to and through downtown because of a jack-knifed semi-truck near Mercer, currently blocking the two left lanes. And if for any reason you are headed this way from north of downtown, the southbound Battery Street Tunnel is closed with a stalled vehicle.

6:43 AM: WSDOT reports tow trucks have pulled the semi out of the way, so now it’s just “residual backup” on northbound I-5. We’ll take the chance to publish this morning’s transportation-news notes:

35TH SW SAFETY PROJECT KICKOFF MEETING TONIGHT: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW), a meeting you could say has been years in the making. This isn’t the unveiling of a plan, according to SDOT, but an “issue identification/feedback session,” as explained a ways down the project’s home page.

7:07 AM: The southbound Battery Street Tunnel has reopened.

‘WHAT TIME DO YOU HIT THE BRIDGE?’: WSB Forums member “Beaglenut” is asking the question here as an informal poll. Come back for the link later and jump into the conversation!

7:47 AM: New truck trouble on NB I-5 into downtown – a stalled semi in the right lane before the Convention Center lid.

8:26 AM: Delridge has been worse than usual, per commenters. Nothing officially on the logs or otherwise mentioned, so we’re not sure if there’s a specific cause besides “terrible commuting morning overall.”

In cheerier news – If you ride ferries or maybe the Vashon Water Taxi, watch again for whales. We reported late-in-the-day sightings yesterday – and now an Orca Network commenter on Facebook has first word of one today, a few whales seen last hour from the Bainbridge ferry.

8:35 AM: Thanks to Dartanyon for the tip via Twitter, if you’re headed toward Beacon Hill: “Disabled Vehicle left lane, Spokane Street between 14th and 15th.”

9:15 AM: SPD tweets that there’s been a spinout in the NORTHBOUND Battery Street Tunnel, with one lane blocked.

9:45 AM: Now **all** northbound lanes of 99 at the tunnel are reported by SDOT to be blocked while tow crews clear everything out.

9:53 AM: All lanes open, per SPD.

3 PM: Various traffic challenges around West Seattle but biggest one is likely to last into the afternoon commute, at last report: 9th SW at Henderson, Barton, Trenton is closed because of a power-pole fire; the pole is going to be replaced, we were told.

24 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Wednesday; 35th SW 'kickoff' tonight"

  • Smitty October 22, 2014 (6:53 am)

    Pouring down rain means SLOW commute.

    One of these days you would think – of all cities – Seattle would learn how to drive in the rain.

    Leave early!

  • Jasper October 22, 2014 (7:07 am)

    2nd time this week that a semi truck has caused major backup in Seattle!

    We need stronger enforcement for truckers that speed well beyond posted speed limits and in inclement weather!

    Anyone else notice how often semi trucks are speeding past cars even though their posted speed limit is slower…??

  • East Coast Cynic October 22, 2014 (7:22 am)

    Pouring rain means figuratively crossing your fingers and hoping a truck or car accident doesn’t delay your bus commute.

    • WSB October 22, 2014 (7:46 am)

      and there’s more truck trouble … stalled semi in the right lane on northbound I-5 downtown. Adding above.

  • Yma October 22, 2014 (7:48 am)

    So – what’s up with Delridge? Is practically a parking lot :(

    • WSB October 22, 2014 (7:53 am)

      Good question! There’s nothing on 911 and we haven’t heard of anything otherwise.

  • melissa October 22, 2014 (7:57 am)

    If u can put off going in to work.. or telecommuting is an option. Do it. This officially sucks. On a sweaty steamy standing only c line .. 20 min to get on bridge from last stop on avalon… really?

  • melissa October 22, 2014 (7:58 am)

    Delridge was backed up all the way to Brandon St.

  • sam-c October 22, 2014 (8:14 am)

    Jasper- I’m no truck driver, but based on what I see when I’m riding I-5, more likely it’s inattentive drivers cutting the semis off with no room to spare.

  • Mimi October 22, 2014 (8:26 am)

    Sitting. Again. Like yesterday and the day before. Left Admiral at 7:50 and it’s now 8:25 and I’m sitting on the 4th off ramp

  • Robert October 22, 2014 (9:15 am)

    Considering installing the Waze traffic/social App – it at least makes sitting in traffic fun!

  • Rick October 22, 2014 (9:21 am)

    Sam-Often it’s not even due to inatenttiveness.

  • workdowntown October 22, 2014 (9:41 am)

    9:40 and northbound 99 is still slower than molasses in January. Southbound is pretty slow through town too. And it is only October.

    • WSB October 22, 2014 (9:43 am)

      Now SDOT says all lanes are closed NB at BSTunnel while the problem is cleared by tow trucks.

  • JW October 22, 2014 (9:54 am)

    I just don’t get it, why some people in seattle don’t know how to drive in the rain.

  • conlux October 22, 2014 (10:31 am)

    People in Seattle don’t know how to drive period!

  • Vanessa October 22, 2014 (10:38 am)

    Jasper and Sam- I agree with both of you. I often see drivers cutting off trucks and semis without giving proper room. But lately my biggest concern has been truck driver being irresponsible. I frequently see them driving way to fast for the conditions, coming up way to fast exiting off ramps and approaching lights. A few weeks ago I was behind one that didn’t make clearence and took a chunk out of an overpass in south park. Luckily I was far enough behind that I could slam on my breaks to avoid all the concrete raining down all over the road. It’s infuriating to see all the terrible driving by all these “professional” drivers.

  • trickycoolj October 22, 2014 (11:29 am)

    The sudden surge in jackknifed semis makes me wonder how many of them have bald summer tires…. And yeah I have lost most of my trust for the truck drivers up and down East Marginal blowing through red lights and swerving all around. Would love to see the WSP truck enforcement around SODO/Georgetown.

  • sacatosh October 22, 2014 (12:57 pm)

    Any clue what happened at 4th & Yesler this am around 6:50? There was a woman sitting on the ground, legs straight in front of her, in front of a stopped car, holding an umbrella. There was a tow truck or some sort of yellow-flashing-lights-on-top vehicle there, and a handful of people gathered around. Was it a car v. pedestrian? Medical emergency where people stopped to help? Anyone know? I ask because it looked odd, and I hope she’s ok. She was young (20’s, max) asian female in corporate casual type clothing.

    • WSB October 22, 2014 (1:05 pm)

      That was an “automatic fire alarm” call. Maybe the person on the ground was an evacuee, if a building had to temporarily clear.

  • helridge October 22, 2014 (1:02 pm)

    Semi trucks drive like that because they can, who’s going to mess with them?

  • sacatosh October 22, 2014 (1:53 pm)

    I saw there was an aid call at 4th/Jackson at the right time, too. I suspect that was it. Looking at street view of Google Maps, it was indeed at the NW corner of 4/Jackson where she was sitting.

    • WSB October 22, 2014 (2:16 pm)

      Oh, OK. I looked up the call on Yesler and the fire alarm was at 4th/Yesler, didn’t look as far back as 6:50 since you mentioned the time. We were tracking all this fairly closely this morning but don’t pay as close attention if it’s north of the stadiums.

  • Diane October 22, 2014 (3:12 pm)

    I moved here from the bay area in 1998 and was shocked to see big rigs in all lanes on WA freeways; scares me to death, especially to get trapped in a lane between 2 giant trucks; in the bay area the big trucks are only allowed in the right hand lanes; so much safer; I avoid I-5 mostly for this reason; those big-rigs could squish my little Toyota like a bug; I’m originally from southern California, but can’t remember the truck highway rules there; don’t recall it ever being an issue in So Cal, so I’m guessing that is a California law; wonder what it would take to require big-rigs to only drive in right lanes here

Sorry, comment time is over.