West Seattle, Washington
06 Tuesday
Close one Friday night for head coach Keffrey Fazio‘s West Seattle High School boys-varsity team, losing at home to Bainbridge by just three points, 50-47. Top scorer for the Wildcats: #23, Andre Moore, with 12 points:
Next with 10 points, #1, Nate Pryor:
#2, Melvin Arrington, followed with 8:
At the very end of the third quarter, West Seattle lost the lead via a buzzer-beater by Bainbridge senior Blake Swanson (#4, with Wildcats #3 Tyler Lenzie below).
From there, the Spartans held the lead throughout the 4th quarter, ahead by as much as five points, finally winning by three. The Wildcats are now 7-6 overall and are on the road until Friday (January 23rd), when they’ll face Ballard at home.
10:52 PM: A crash at Admiral Way/51st SW is blocking the westbound (downhill) lanes right now. One person is reported hurt, but injuries are not believed to be major.
11:27 PM UPDATE: Won’t be blocked much longer. Car’s already on a tow truck and scene will be clearing.
That more-routine lineup of trucks around 8:30 this morning, near the entrance to T-18, was the last one we saw today, after the city and port announced and took steps to head off any threat of a third day of backups onto the West Seattle Bridge and surface streets. By afternoon, when we checked again pre-commute, even that terminal-entrance lane was empty. So what now? No official updates from SDOT or the Port, but Councilmember Tom Rasmussen told WSB tonight, “SDOT has advised me that the Port and City will continue the work and changes that were implemented today through Thursday. Of course, I want to know the plans for after next Thursday.”
Earlier in the day, ILWU Local 19 sent a news release (read it here) saying it had an even simpler suggestion: “The terminal operators, including Stevedoring Services of America at T18, need to immediately address the daytime traffic problems in Seattle by shifting operations to service trucks at night as well as days. It really is that simple,” according to Local 19 vice president Jason Gross. The schedule changes were mentioned in this ILWU news release we linked in our Thursday coverage; the terminal operators announced the nighttime cuts in this January 2nd news release. And while their contract negotiations continue, both sides got a letter today from more than 170 business organizations, reports CNBC, urging them to reach an agreement. The letter – which you can see here – says in part:
… Sales of American exports remain clouded in uncertainty across Asia and our overseas competitors eagerly highlight the problems at West Coast ports as a reason not to purchase American made or grown products. …
Please consider allaying the growing concerns of the many thousands of businesses and millions of jobs which rely on West Coast ports for orderly and timely supply chain operations by working together to conclude the ongoing contract negotiations so we can then address the congestion issues at key West Coast ports. …
At least nine Washington state organizations are among the signers.
(WSB file photo: Roxhill Park-side ‘wall of buses’)
The Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Neighborhood Council has been working for more than a year to push Metro and the city for safety improvements in the area of the Westwood “transit hub.” One year ago, WWRHAH led a walking tour with Metro, county, and city reps. Progress on some of the issues was reported four months later; other changes have included SPD bicycle patrols. Today, WWRHAH co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick sent an update on more of what they’ve been working to get:
We are pleased to announce that Metro Transit will be upgrading the sidewalks along the bus stop from the Rapid Ride stop to 29th Ave SW this year. In addition to new ADA-compliant sidewalks, Metro will also be adding lighting in the same area.
Metro asked King County for additional funds for capital improvements to the Rapid Ride, and that includes $170,000 for sidewalks and lighting for the bus stop along Roxhill Park.
Design work has started, with implementation this year. No firm date has been given as of yet. We have asked Metro to come to our March 3rd WWRHAH meeting for further updates in regards to the Transit Hub. We will also be asking SDOT to be there as well to discuss Barton Street concrete panels that are sinking, and crosswalk improvements to critical intersections.
WWRHAH meets first Tuesdays (next one, February 3rd), 6:15 pm at Southwest Library.
Those who knew and loved Joe Fine are invited to his Celebration of Life tomorrow, 11 am-3 pm, at Duke’s on Alki. Here’s the remembrance that his family is sharing:
Joe Fine, 76, of West Seattle, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2015 from pancreatic cancer.
Joe was a legend to all that had the honor of knowing him. Born December 17, 1938 in Valentine, Nebraska to Mary Lamoureaux, he would spend his earliest years in Valentine at the family ranch just over the border in South Dakota. After WWII, he was adopted by William Fine, and the family settled in Billings, Montana, where Joe would graduate from high school. He attended and graduated from The University of Montana in Missoula. While there he was an active member of the Phi Delt house, where he was known as “Shakey.”
After graduating, he married Sharon Sayre and together they had two sons: William Glen and Gregory Joseph. He was a successful sales rep for Standard Oil and then Carpenter Paper before settling in Kalispell, Montana, where he owned a number of businesses including Joe’s Varsity, The Jean Factory, and Clothes Gallery. Whether he was creating award-winning promotions like Levi Clause and the Jean Advisor, or later selling diamonds in retail, doing remodel construction, or the nearly ten years he spent at Home Depot in the Garden Department, Joe is remembered for his entrepreneurial spirit and almost magical salesmanship.
All along the way, Joe collected a diverse group of friends that remained close throughout his life:
Last year, the city’s draft proposal for Pedestrian Zones was circulated to neighborhood and district councils around West Seattle and the rest of the city via a series of briefings, several of which were covered here, starting with one almost a full year ago in Morgan Junction.
It’s meant to tweak zoning in some business districts to ensure that future development is more pedestrian-friendly. And tonight, the mayor’s office has announced the final proposal is ready for review. The announcement came via a news release you can read here, and a sheaf of documents linked here. Maps show the 11 sections of West Seattle where changes are proposed; you can see the maps here. There are five maps – scroll through the first 25 until you get to:
*Exhibit Z, showing a stretch of Delridge Way from north of Juneau to just north of Brandon
*Exhibit AA, showing stretches of 35th SW in Morgan, Gatewood, Westwood
*Exhibit BB, showing a section of South Delridge
*Exhibit FF, showing a section of Admiral
*Exhibit GG, showing part of The Junction
(Specific information about each area proposed for tweaks can be found in this report.) None of the proposed rezoning shown would change maximum allowable height for development in the affected areas. This all goes now to the City Council, which will set dates for hearings and votes.
3:45 PM: An incident reported to involve a pedestrian has a police/fire callout at Delridge/Orchard, and we’re told northbound lanes are blocked, with traffic backing up. More to come.
3:58 PM: Our crew at the scene reports the road is now fully open and police are clearing out. A private ambulance was leaving. That suggests the victim’s injuries were not major. We’re trying to find out more.
4:03 PM: Police tell us at the scene that the victim was a juvenile who suffered a broken leg. And they confirmed an earlier incident we had been checking on – 15th and Roxbury, less than an hour ago, in which a juvenile pedestrian also suffered a broken leg. Both scenes are now clear.
2:04 PM: For the second day in a row, a local student has been robbed while walking to school. Thursday, it happened in Gatewood; today, in Westwood. The victim’s mom contacted us in hopes someone might see this, tossed aside somewhere:
She told us her daughter’s phone “was nabbed right out of her jacket pocket as she walked from Westwood Village to Sealth High School on 25th ave. SW. We filed a police report but she’d really like the bottom half of her Beemo phone case back. It might have been discarded somewhere along 25th Avenue SW.”
We have requested but not yet received the police report in this case – if and when we do, we’ll add whatever else it includes, including descriptions, if any. Meantime, we asked the mom if her daughter’s OK. “She’s understandably shaken but physically OK. She’s just real sad about losing the phone case.” If you see it, contact police; the case number is 15-017129.
4:10 PM: We’ve obtained the report from SPD but it includes very little additional information. This was reported around 8:30 this morning; police were called once the victim arrived at CSIHS, so there’s no exact address of where she was when it happened. The robber is described only as black, male, maybe 15-17 years old, wearing black. The victim said he came up to her, said “Give me your phone”; she didn’t respond. He then reached into the front pocket of her sweatshirt, grabbed her phone, and ran southbound, toward Westwood Village.
Sounds like a long time, but it’s not: We are now less than 3 weeks away from your first side-by-side look at the four (so far) people who want to be the first-ever Seattle District 1 City Councilmember, representing West Seattle and South Park. WSB is presenting the first announced candidates’ forum in this race:
Thursday, February 5, at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden)
Doors open 6:30 pm
Forum 7-8:30 pm
The candidates are (in first-name alphabetical order this time):
*Amanda Kay Helmick
*Chas Redmond
*George Capestany
*Tom Rasmussen
If you need to bookmark a reminder, here’s the official listing on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (Facebook event page coming up soon too). HPIC has lots of room, and we’ll have refreshments, so have dinner and then come see and hear (and bring a question for!) the contenders for this area’s new seat on the City Council, which starting this year will be made up of seven people elected by district, two at large.
Two weeks after a Seattle Public Utilities contractor started night work cleaning sewer/storm lines at the Fauntleroy ferry dock, SPU has announced an extension: “The concrete slurry found in the pipes is a higher strength than we had expected. Therefore, the contractor will discontinue with the jet and hydro cleaning efforts and move to a milling process to grind the slurry from the pipes. The equipment and noise levels will remain the same as before.” Part of the north ferry-loading lane will continue being coned off while this work is done. It’s now expected to continue 9 pm-5 am through January 30th.
(September 2014 photo by John Westrock, recently added to WSB Flickr group)
Weekend’s almost here! While you await Sunday’s Big Game – and/or other weekend excitement – here’s what’s up for the rest of today, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
REMINDER – FOOD DRIVE! As noted here earlier this week, Straight Blast Gym (WSB sponsor) has a big month-long food drive under way – drop something off today/tonight/this weekend (or any time before January 31st) and help them get to their goal of a ton and a half! (5050 Delridge Way SW)
TEEN SPACE: DESIGN CHALLENGE! 3:30 pm at Southwest Branch Library – teens are invited to take the challenge and build a structure that won’t collapse under pressure. Or – just chill. Details here. (35th/Henderson)
HIGHLAND PARK MOVIE NIGHT: Doors open 6 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, kids’ short 6:15 pm, main movie at 7 pm. Details on the HPIC website. Free – BYO chair or use one of theirs. (12th/Holden)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Only West Seattle High School has home games tonight, with Bainbridge Island HS visiting: Full schedule here; girls’ varsity at 6:15 pm, boys’ varsity at 8 pm. (3000 California SW)
‘BUS STOP,’ NIGHT TWO: West Seattle High School Drama Club presents “Bus Stop,” student-directed by Kaya Hubbard, again tonight at 7:30 pm in the school theater. Details on the WSHS home page. (3000 California SW)
LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC! Listings for musicians performing tonight at Salty’s on Alki, C & P Coffee, Feedback Lounge (all WSB sponsors), Skylark, and Benbow tonight – find them all by going directly to our calendar.
Nine days ago, Beth‘s VW Passat was stolen from her driveway near Lincoln Park. The next day, a reader reported it turned up in front of their home in Beverly Park. Now – Beth says it’s been stolen again:
Turns out they ransacked and found an extra key in my husband’s car. I am
requesting help again since some lovely lady found it last time in the 115th
area. I was having it rekeyed on Saturday!!!2004 royal blue VW Passat with Sun Valley and state of WA stickers on back,
license #AKD2678 (in a Hans Automotive frame). I am so frustrated!
If you see it, call 911.
P.S. The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s first meeting of 2015, with local SPD leadership on hand, is at 7 pm next Tuesday (January 20th). If you have neighborhood crime/safety concerns, be there.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:19 AM: This morning’s big question is whether the city/port plan to keep trucks from backing up again today (details toward the end of our Thursday coverage) will work; two texters before 6 am reported signs of a backup, but we’re also hearing police (via scanner) on the case, so we’ll see. And we’ll be watching outbound traffic as always.
6:58 AM: An emergency response in the 3000 block of SW Barton is blocking the westbound side of Barton, per scanner. No other details.
7:03 AM: We should also remind you that Monday (January 19th) is a federal holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, and that means transit changes – Metro will be on the “reduced weekday” schedule; the Water Taxi will not be running; schools will be closed.
7:29 AM: Our crew went to 30th/Barton to find out about the emergency response. A motorcycle rider has been taken to the hospital after his motorcycle collided with a car at 31st/Barton. Police don’t have information on his condition but apparently his injuries are not major, as TCIS is not being called out and the westbound lanes will be reopened soon (a tow truck is there now).
(WSB photo: Police officer, tow-truck driver at motorcycle/car collision scene)
Eastbound traffic is not affected.
8:02 AM: Police/fire en route to a reported two-vehicle crash in the 5600 block of 16th SW, north of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). At least one person is reported hurt.
8:35 AM: Last sign of that crash is an SPD vehicle by the north entrance to SSC. We’re now headed to check on the port-truck situation.
8:49 AM: Nothing visible on the bridge itself. Checking the surface streets and port vicinity next.
9:09 AM: Here’s what we saw a few minutes ago:
Lineup for T 18 but not affecting through traffic pic.twitter.com/fzivy26qaH
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 16, 2015
From an overlook in east Admiral, we saw a few trucks queued at Terminal 5. Will check back around midday.
3:50 PM NOTE: We were going to write a separate story reassuring folks that there’s no truck trouble this afternoon – not even the routine queue shown in our photo above – but unrelated breaking news is getting in the way of that, so we’re just mentioning it here. If you see anything different at any point, please text or call (when you can do so safely/legally, of course) – 206-293-6302.
One month ago, we published a request for your help with a student research project – Holy Rosary School students were testing a hypothesis about how people learn about new technology. With almost 700 responses to their online survey, as noted the following week, they proceeded to modify their hypothesis, and win an award. Now, the next step – explained by their coaches:
The Holy Rosary Gator-bots will continue their journey this Sunday by participating in the First Lego League semi-finals at Shoreline Community College. Thanks to the West Seattle Blog and their wonderful readers, the Gator-bots received a lot of great ideas on the project portion of the competition asking the question, How can we improve the way people learn about Technology?
The Gator-bots considered different ways they could help people with technology from the readers responses and finally chose to made a website with step-by-step videos. Their first wave of videos are out on the site for your viewing pleasure at yourtekhelp.com. Please take a look, and we encourage you to sign into the guestbook with your comments! The boys have worked long and hard learning about website technology, video creation technology and video production. Words of encouragement are always appreciated!
And if you come out to Shoreline Community College on Sunday to watch the competition, the first 50 people to mention that they saw the Gator-bots on the blog will receive a Gator-bots button!
Thank you WSB and West Seattle. We feel blessed to be part of such a wonderful community.
Gator-Bot coaches
Brian Christenson
Rise Pyscher
David Redenbaugh
Good luck, Gator-bots!
Even as the number of Puget Sound’s Southern Resident Killer Whale population hovers at a dangerously low level, one of the group’s members remains thousands of miles away, 
captive in a tank. Tokitae is the last surviving SRKW from those captured decades ago; she has been at the Miami Seaquarium for 44 years, performing as “Lolita.” This Saturday from coast to coast, wildlife advocates will demonstrate in support of setting her free and returning her home to Puget Sound. Here in Seattle, the big gathering is a march for about a mile along Alki, starting at 1:15 pm Saturday (January 17th); meet at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki) at 1 – more info in our calendar listing. (Photo via Wikimedia)
P.S. Thanks to Steve for the tip on this – you also can paddle along the route in support – that group will leave Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) at noon.
From SDOT:
The medians on Southwest Admiral Way between Southwest Olga Street and 39th Avenue Southwest are scheduled for cleaning on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 20-21.
Gardeners from the Seattle Department of Transportation, Urban Forestry, will groom the medians from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The inside lane in both directions will be closed for worker safety.
Just found out about this via a routine check of the police-report map: A middle-school student walking to catch a school bus this morning told police that two men knocked him down and robbed him.
(SCROLL DOWN for updates – as of our firsthand check at 4:20 pm, the backup’s cleared; 4:50 pm, added list of city/port traffic-reduction measures; 10:19 pm, adding new SDOT news release with yet more details)
(Thursday morning photo by Don Brubeck)
For a second day, a major backup of port-bound semi-trucks is backing up the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct to I-5, as well as surface streets – photos like these continue to come in:
This of course isn’t the first time a queue of port-bound trucks has affected traffic. But it’s the first time in a long time that we’ve heard of this magnitude of backup, persisting on into the day. So we contacted the Port of Seattle and SDOT to ask about the cause and what if any management steps have been taken. Port spokesperson Peter McGraw’s response:
The terminal operator is working very hard to get cargo moving on and off their docks while handling three large vessels. What we’ve been seeing here the past couple days is a surge of export commodities– goods from eastern Washington. So between the extra loads and the ongoing work disruption, we’re seeing an unusually high amount of back-ups. We’ll be keeping a close eye on things today, working with our transportation partners and the terminal operator to move cargo as quickly and safely as possible.
DOT’s Marybeth Turner says the city is concerned:
SDOT has expressed its concerns to the Port of Seattle about the truck queuing occurring on city roadways. We will meet with both the port and the terminal operator today about these impacts and potential solutions those parties can employ.
McGraw’s mention of “ongoing work disruption” refers to the situation we first mentioned two months ago – West Coast terminal operators and longshore workers are in mediated contract talks, eight months after their contract expired. An ILWU news release circulated earlier this week says the terminal operators’ organization reports they’re running out of room for containers on the West Coast docks; that organization, the Pacific Maritime Association, continues to accuse the union of slowdowns. Since last November, large ships at anchor, waiting to get into either Seattle or Tacoma, have been visible from West Seattle; right now MarineTraffic.com shows eight in all – three in Elliott Bay, and five outside Manchester (some shown in this photograph from early today):
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
ADDED 1:21 PM: Yet another vantage point of the truck backup:
Bit of traffic on the bridge @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/O8E7Qv1DAK
— Scott Sweeney (@ssweens) January 15, 2015
3:39 PM UPDATE: Commenters (and people we’re hearing from on Twitter, too) say it hasn’t gotten any better. We’re going out for a firsthand look. Check the comments for some travel advice. SDOT advises avoiding the westbound Spokane St. Viaduct.
4:13 PM: We’ve just traveled the eastbound bridge – no more truck backup visible on Spokane St. Viaduct. Got off at 1st and noted that a motorcycle officer appeared to have lower Spokane blocked, westbound, just west of 1st. We’re circling back around to check.
4:20 PM: The officer is out of the road, in the median, and westbound Spokane is open again, no backup or slowdown. We have also crossed the low bridge and it’s open and clear.
4:50 PM: From Anthony Auriemma in Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s office, an update on what’s being strategized:
SPD will have an officer working traffic from 7 am-3 pm during the slowdowns. Their primary job will be to assist with cross traffic and assist with preventing the intersections from getting blocked.
· SDOT is working on updated signage and traffic alerts. You may have noticed that SDOT this afternoon began advising drivers to avoid the Spokane Street Viaduct and to use alternate routes such as 1st Avenue South.
· SPD is joining SDOT at the Traffic Management Center (TMC) to help with traffic conditions. As you may recall from the Transportation Committee briefing, this is part of the improved incident management protocols that SPD and SDOT agreed to after the June 99 meltdown. Councilmember Rasmussen visited the TMC this afternoon to check out conditions and make sure SDOT was working to find solutions.
· SDOT is attempting to secure Terminal 5 for remote parking as an interim solution.
· Other engineering and enforcement solutions are still being worked out between SDOT, SPD, and the Port.
And just after we published this, Auriemma e-mailed again to say that T-5 has been secured for parking starting tomorrow.
8:01 PM NOTE: Joe Szilagyi of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition points out that the mayor tweeted about this earlier this evening too.
ADDED 10:19 PM: Rare late-night news release, just in from SDOT, with a few more specifics of what’s happening:
To ensure that traffic flows safely and efficiently near Port of Seattle facilities, the City of Seattle will take measures Friday to address trucks backing up onto city and state roadways due to Terminal 18 delays.
Based on discussions with the port, starting Friday morning trucks will be detoured off city streets into a holding area at nearby Terminal 5, where they will stage for entry into Terminal 18. Truck drivers will be directed to this holding area using fixed and variable messages signs.
Also on Friday SDOT will install “No Stopping, Standing or Parking from 3:00 AM to 6:45 AM” signs on Harbor Island to ensure vehicles stage at Terminal 5 prior to the opening of Terminal 18’s gates. The Seattle Police Department is providing officers to support traffic flow and prevent the West Seattle Bridge, Spokane Street Viaduct and intersections near Harbor Island from being blocked by commercial vehicles.
“The City of Seattle and the Port of Seattle are working jointly to address traffic issues created by delays at Terminal 18,” said SDOT Director Scott Kubly. “These measures will allow the port to process its trucks without creating congestion for drivers and transit riders.”
“I have been working with SDOT, SPD and the Port of Seattle to address the congestion created by port facilities, and will continue to work on this problem as long as the delays continue,” said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. “I appreciate these quick measures being taken by the Port and the City, which will ensure drivers and transit riders can make their trips without unnecessary delay.”
(WSB file screengrab of SDOT camera looking toward bridge’s offramp to 99)
While today’s big bridge-traffic concern is the Port-bound truck backup (working on a separate story), the ongoing point of contention is usually the eastbound weekday-morning jam. Physical improvements to the bridge are unlikely anytime soon, says the city, so simpler, quicker improvements can and must be pursued, suggests City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, saying that if the right people/agencies get together and talk about operational changes and coordination, that could make a difference.
Toward that end, the West Seattle Bridge Corridor Management Task Force will be launched, he has announced, adding that Mayor Ed Murray has promised his support. (This is what Rasmussen staffer Evan Clifthorne was hinting at during the December West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting.)
Before we get to details of the task force, here’s why nothing is likely to change physically on the bridge any time soon, explained in documents provided by Rasmussen’s office in response to questions from the WSTC, in their declaration of priorities last September. One big question involves whether one of the bottlenecks off the eastbound bridge could be expanded. The SDOT response says basically, no:
(Yellow-rumped Warbler, photographed at Fauntleroy Park by Mark Wangerin)
Halfway through the first month of the new year, and the calendar‘s starting to fill up again. Tonight, your options include:
PLAY POKER AT THE FEEDBACK: Starting tonight, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is the home of private events for Seattle Poker Open members, 6 pm Thursdays – membership and event info here. (6451 California SW)
ART OPENING: 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, it’s the opening reception for the exhibit MELT, curated by Hami Bahadori. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC Church‘s parlor, with the agenda including a briefing on the application process for park events. (62nd/Hinds)
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: 7 pm in the school library, with scheduled updates including fundraising and athletics. (3000 California SW)
MONEY MANAGEMENT: 7 pm at Hope Lutheran Church, free informational session about Financial Peace University, which starts next week. (42nd/Oregon)
OPEN MICROPHONE AT C & P: 7 pm, you’re invited to the “Unplugged!” open-microphone event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – info here. (5612 California SW)
WOMEN’S BUSINESS MEETUP: 7 pm at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), bring cards! Details here. (6040 California SW)
‘BUS STOP’: West Seattle High School Drama Club presents “Bus Stop,” student-directed by Kaya Hubbard, at 7:30 pm tonight and tomorrow in the school theater. Details on the WSHS home page. (3000 California SW)
MORE! on our calendar.
9:41 AM: If you’ve been having trouble getting through to the Swedish clinic in West Seattle, Dr. Tom Erdmann sent this note explaining what’s going on:
Swedish West Seattle has been experiencing phone connectivity issues since late 1/14/2015. We have no outgoing message. The busy signal is due to the phone outage. Repairs are underway but no estimate is available as to when phones will be restored. The clinic is open. If needed, please walk in for an urgent appointment.
10:57 AM: Per Dr. Erdmann’s comment, this has been solved. Also note, in a separate situation/location, Sound PT‘s problem, lingering from Tuesday’s Andover crash.
(WSB photo, August 8, 2014, from Seattle/Sunset viewpoint in North Admiral)
In this week that’s already had two aircraft-carrier sightings off West Seattle – USS John C. Stennis heading out for training, USS Nimitz moving from Everett to Bremerton for maintenance – we have one more carrier note. Remember the coverage last August as the USS Constellation was towed out, headed down the Pacific Coast, around Cape Horn, up through the Caribbean and to Brownsville, Texas, to be scrapped? Oceangoing tug Corbin Foss, with the “Connie” in tow, is now arriving after five months – the timeline projected back last summer – and expected to finish the journey by tomorrow. The Foss website has kept up its “tow blog” with periodic data entries.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:12 AM: Good morning! No alerts today – just watching to see how things go. Speaking of watching – we just noticed the city has added more live video to its Travelers Information Map (where you can get the same travel times that are shown on the signs over the major outbound roads), and you can now watch for up to 5 minutes at a time (previously, :30). Explore here, on the lower right.
8:52 AM: See comments for advice to take more time if you’re heading out through Highland Park.
9:36 AM: We’re getting more reports that the truck-backup problem is back and affecting westbound traffic on the bridge. Trying again to find out why this has suddenly flared up over the past few days (for a current visual, see the lower-right image above, from the camera just east of the low bridge, and you can see the truck lineup headed for the port).
3:42 PM: We’ve been tracking the ongoing truck-backup problem in a separate story – see it here.
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