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Transportation 3708 results

Finding your way through Fauntleroy: Kiosk now in place
April 26, 2011 3:43 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Another of West Seattle’s new wayfinding kiosks – each sporting the West Seattle Trails walking map as well as art – is in place, this time in Fauntleroy. You’ll find it on the northwest corner of 45th/Wildwood in the Endolyne business district, just a few blocks uphill/southeast from the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Here’s the other side:

Earlier this month, the first kiosk was installed, at Junction Plaza Park (Alaska/42nd), with artists Paul Sorey and Mike Raney on hand.

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Tuesday: Hearing downtown on Conner project alley vacation
April 25, 2011 9:47 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Transportation | West Seattle news

From page 19 of a 25-page PowerPoint scheduled to be shown to the City Council’s Transportation Committee tomorrow, those are some of the “streetscape amenities” promised as part of the 2-building Conner Homes development planned along SW Alaska, between 42nd and California, in the heart of The Junction. Tomorrow morning at 9:30 at City Hall downtown, the committee holds the official public hearing on the “alley vacation” that requires city approval to proceed with the development’s current plan; the actual section of public right-of-way to be “vacated,” if the full council approves, is actually underground, facilitating one large parking garage beneath the two 7-story buildings – the alley will remain an alley at the surface.

As we reported here three weeks ago, Conner negotiated changes to the project with a group of concerned citizens that met with him for more than a year before signing an agreement eventually not to oppose the “alley vacation.” Our earlier story featured highlights of their agreement, which can be read in full on the last page of the presentation to be shown tomorrow; SDOT recommends approval – you can read the department’s official memo here. If the committee approves the proposal tomorrow, it will go next to the full council for a vote. As for the project timetable – Conner told us earlier this month that construction wouldn’t start any sooner than year’s end (existing businesses on the site have leases running till then).

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From SPD Blotter: 60 mph on Admiral Way, 72 mph on the bridge…
April 25, 2011 4:06 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Another day, another Aggressive Drivers Response Team report on SPD Blotter. This one was an “early morning” patrol (borne out by a tweet we received very early this morning). Beyond what our headline mentions – read the details here.

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Pictorial proof: Say so long to Sylvan Way’s pothole proliferation
April 25, 2011 11:21 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Thanks to Lynda B for the photo, verifying that the asphalt-removing Phase 1 of Sylvan Way “spot paving” is under way, despite the rain. As SDOT had promised, the road isn’t completely closed, but it is making things tough around the Vietnamese Cultural Center, El Rey de Taco, and the north side of The Home Depot‘s lot. Phase 2 – new asphalt – is planned tomorrow, if the weather cooperates.

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Giant piñata being built for South Park Bridge groundbreaking
April 24, 2011 10:36 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Brandi Lane)
Construction is about to begin on the new South Park Bridge, now that the money’s been rounded up, and the contract’s been awarded. And as was the case with the closure of the old bridge last June (WSB coverage here and here), one huge party is in the works. One with a construction project of its own – a 20-foot pinata is under construction, to be suspended from a crane.

According to Brandi Lane, “This one-of-a-kind piñata is a replica of our beloved 16th Avenue Bridge and will be filled with candy and prizes – a treat for all who attend the bridge groundbreaking and community celebration on Cinco de Mayo.”

That’s the date for the official celebration of the start of construction – 1:30 pm May 5th, to be precise, as noted on King County’s official South Park Bridge project website: King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Councilmembers and the community will gather at the south end of the 10-months-shuttered old bridge. Here’s the official flyer – but for more details on the community party, you have to dig a little deeper. Brandi says piñata master Alex Lopez (photo above; more on Facebook) is building the huge creation with community help and that there’ll be an all-day decorating party next Saturday, April 30th – everybody welcome – at the Green Compound Garage at 8120 Dallas Ave South.

If you can’t pitch in, at least mark your calendar for the May 5th celebration in South Park – Cinco de Mayo plus bridge groundbreaking.

(King County rendering of design for new South Park Bridge)

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West Seattle road work: Paving update for Sylvan, Orchard
April 21, 2011 10:40 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle road work: Paving update for Sylvan, Orchard
 |   Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in from SDOT – don’t look for those paving crews on Sylvan today, after all. But note another location’s on the schedule:

SDOT paving crews plan to lay a new surface of asphalt next week in the eastbound lane in the 2400 block of Sylvan Way SW (at the curve by Home Depot). On Monday April 25, the crews will grind off the old surface on Sylvan Way, and on Tuesday, April 26, if weather is favorable, they will lay new asphalt. One lane will remain open in each direction. Traffic flaggers will assist traffic. (We previously announced that this work would take place this week, but it has now been rescheduled.)

The crews plan to perform spot paving on SW Orchard Street between Delridge Way SW and Dumar Way SW on Wednesday and Thursday, April 27 and 28.

This repair work is needed due to an ongoing pothole problem at these locations.

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How to slow ‘I-35’? SDOT @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council
April 20, 2011 2:42 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

In November 2007, Denise Sharify showed City Councilmember Nick Licata the dangers of 35th SW in the High Point area – and we captured a moment of drama on camera as he stopped a little boy from wandering out into the fast-moving traffic. She also explained to him how they had been lobbying the city for improvements since at least 2005:

(WSB video, November 2007, outside High Point Library)
Almost a year after that, following a crash that sent a teenage pedestrian to the hospital, Sharify (who works for Neighborhood House) and others staged a high-profile rally in October 2008 along the same stretch of 35th SW.

Not long after that, we published an update on police patrols along the road ruefully dubbed “I-35,” as police ticketed dozens for speeds often exceeding 55 mph.

Flash forward two and a half years, to yesterday afternoon:

The latest “emphasis patrol” on 35th led to 21 speeding tickets, Southwest Precinct’s Capt. Steve Paulsen — veteran of many years in the traffic division – told the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council last night, most around 50 mph in what’s supposed to be a 35-mph-maximum zone, with the highest ticketed speed at 60.

And that patrol came less than a week after a deadly crash at 35th and Juneau – the latest incident to revive concern about 35th SW safety.

SDOT’s community traffic liaison Jim Curtin (above right, with WSCPC president Richard Miller) was already booked to speak to the WS Crime Prevention Council before that happened; traffic-safety issues are often brought up in the WSCPC meetings when it’s time to voice concerns to the local police reps who invariably are on hand.

Last night, given recent events, almost the entire discussion focused on 35th SW.

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More West Seattle road work: It’s striping season
April 20, 2011 2:27 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

As noted here Monday, the Sylvan Way spot paving is scheduled to start tomorrow; in the meantime, Mike spotted this SDOT painting truck out on Delridge by Orchard today. We also saw one near 35th/Morgan yesterday, while photographing the Aggressive Drivers Response Team in action (speaking of which, the last, longest story from last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting will be up in the next 15 minutes).

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West Seattle pedestrian safety: New proposal for California/Dakota
April 19, 2011 8:04 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

At the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, where SDOT community traffic liaison Jim Curtin is front and center: While most of the discussion so far has centered on 35th, Curtin revealed a new proposal for a California SW intersection that’s been of concern – California/Dakota. You might recall the most recent wave of concern there, sparked when a hit-and-run driver killed a dog (and narrowly missed its owner – WSB coverage here and here, and specifically regarding traffic-safety followup, here). Curtin says that the city is applying for a state grant to install a “rapid-fire beacon” (here’s what those look like) that would be pedestrian-activated. If they get the grant, the installation could happen this fall, he says.

ADDED: We asked Curtin a few follow-up questions after the meeting. He says the city will apply for the grant in May, and is fairly confident it’ll be approved; the cost of the special lights will be about $50,000 $15,000. The case of Lucy the dog is not the only reason California/Dakota is being singled out for this, he says; it’s also a busy crossing area because of the schools on the north side of The Junction – such as Tilden, Holy Rosary, Hope, Seattle Lutheran.

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You asked for it, you got it: Seattle Police out today on ‘I-35’
April 19, 2011 4:00 pm
|      35 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Somehow, we had expected to see this happen in advance of tonight’s traffic-safety discussion at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, since SDOT’s Jim Curtin (who will address WSCPC) had told us “more enforcement” was a possibility after last week’s deadly crash: The Seattle Police Aggressive Drivers Response Team was out on 35th SW earlier this afternoon. (Thanks to the WSB’er who texted us after spotting them!) We photographed one of the Chargers at 35th/Henderson – after first spotting them just north of 35th/Webster (and as we got the camera out, off they went, lights flashing):

This comes six days after the deadly motorcycle-car collision at 35th/Juneau, where this afternoon, as police patrolled, we found a roadside tribute to the motorcyclist, Andrew Seffernick (whose 25th birthday would have been today):

Though there have been other 35th SW deaths in the years between, that stirred memories of the tribute a few blocks away at 35th/Graham after the death of bicyclist Susanne Scaringi (also in her mid-20s when a collision killed her in 2006 – also a 2-wheeled vehicle hitting a turning 4-wheeled vehicle broadside). Meantime, we spotted two TV crews out in the area this afternoon, so you may see regional-media stories tonight about 35th SW; the Crime Prevention Council meeting is at 7 pm, Southwest Precinct.

7:48 PM UPDATE: We’re at the WSCPC meeting. SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen says 21 tickets were written today, average speed 50 mph (in a 35 zone), highest one, he believes, was for 60 mph.

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West Seattle Chamber’s question for you: What’s our #1 transportation problem?
April 19, 2011 1:46 pm
|      71 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news


(Photo by Long Bach Nguyen; click the image to see a larger version on his website)
From the distance at which that West Seattle overview was photographed, it’s easy to forget what it’s like down in the trenches, on the roads and the sidewalks, in the cars and the buses and the trucks and the ferries, on the bikes and the motorcycles. We talk about individual challenges and concerns here all the time. But take a moment if you will for the big picture. Right now, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is doing that – in hopes of angling for a share of another city pie related to transportation needs.

Chamber CEO Patti Mullen has convened a group to brainstorm a potential “wish list” for the Citizen Transportation Advisory Council, CTAC III for short, as it drafts recommendations on spending about $7 million around the city (partly related to the new $20 license tax, as explained here). No one on that council represents West Seattle, so the Chamber is trying to make sure our peninsula has a loud, unified voice, by presenting some strong requests/recommendations. We sat in on the Chamber-convened group’s first conversation last week and agreed to run a list of questions by you – for your seat at the table, so to speak, if you’d like to post a comment with your answers to these questions:

*Identify ONE transportation improvement or project you believe is essential? (for example improved bus service to Delridge, more bike lanes or paved streets)

*What ONE street needs the most improvement? What specific improvements (new sidewalks, paving, crosswalks, signals) need to be made?

*If you had $500,000 to improve some part of the transportation system in West Seattle what would you invest it in?

The Chamber needs to compile comments by April 28th; that’s the date CTAC will convene a meeting about “neighborhood interests” (see the link above), and the Chamber plans a followup shortly thereafter. P.S. In case you’re wondering who’s in the Chamber-convened group – facilitated by consultant Josh Stepherson – those on hand for the first of two conversations last Friday were: John Huey, Viking Bank; Patrick Jablonski, Nucor; Brandon Nicholson, Nicholson Kovalchick Architects and West Seattle Junction Association; Denny Onslow, Harbor Properties; Gary Oertli, South Seattle Community College; and Chas Redmond, Feet First (and Morgan Community Association, Sustainable West Seattle, Southwest District Council, among other groups).

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Update: Date set for Sylvan Way ‘spot paving’
April 18, 2011 5:13 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

The date is now set for the pothole-fighting “spot paving” work along Sylvan Way we told you about earlier this month. The traffic advisory is just in from SDOT:

SDOT paving crews will lay a new surface of asphalt this week in the eastbound lane in the 2400 block of Sylvan Way SW (at the curve by Home Depot).

On Thursday, April 21, the crews will grind off the old surface, and on Friday, April 22 they will lay new asphalt. One lane will remain open in each direction. Traffic flaggers will assist traffic.

This repair work is needed due to an ongoing pothole problem at this location.

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Followup: ‘I-35’ safety, and a chance to talk about it Tuesday
April 18, 2011 1:44 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Seen April 2010 at 35th/Webster, shared by MAS)
There have been safety concerns for years along the central stretch of 35th Avenue SW – symbolized by the sign in our file photo – and they resurfaced following last Wednesday night’s 35th/Juneau motorcycle-car collision, which killed a motorcyclist identified by his family in WSB comments as Andrew Seffernick (who would’ve been turning 25 tomorrow).

If you share those concerns – or are worried about other West Seattle streets – it just so happens that, coincidentally, a key SDOT traffic-safety manager is the guest at tomorrow night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. West Seattle resident Jim Curtin is community-traffic liaison for SDOT. We had checked with Curtin late last week, after the deadly crash, to ask if anything happened to currently be in the works for that stretch. He pointed out that Seattle Police will investigate the crash to see what factored into that, but in the meantime: “No changes are currently planned for this location [35th/Juneau] at this time. We can, however, recommend additional enforcement in this area and will look at SPD’s findings to see if any changes are warranted.” It should be noted, though, that those findings may not be out for months, given how long major investigations often take. Tomorrow night’s WSCPC meeting is at the Southwest Precinct (the meeting room is right off the parking lot alongside SW Webster, east of Delridge), 7 pm, all welcome (and you can bring neighborhood-crime questions for SWP police, too). Till then, you can also read up on SDOT’s neighborhood-traffic program, by going here.

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Can you adopt the traffic circle at former Admiral sinkhole site?
April 5, 2011 3:17 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

If you were following the saga in February and March, you’ll recall a sinkhole by the traffic circle at Fairmount and Forest in Admiral turned into a three-story-deep pipe-replacement project. Now that work’s done, and the circle has been restored – but it needs some landscaping love, according to SDOT, which asked us to put the call out for a volunteer, since they don’t have anyone on record as tending to this spot:

We need a landscape volunteer for the traffic circle at Fairmount Ave SW and SW Forest Street. For those who are interested, or may be interested in becoming a landscape volunteer for other traffic circles in the City of Seattle, please contact Joshua Erickson with SDOT’s Urban Forestry Section at (206) 684-5008 or via e-mail at joshua.erickson@seattle.gov.

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West Seattle potholes: ‘Spot paving’ planned for some rough spots
April 5, 2011 11:11 am
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(January photo of Orchard-to-Sylvan potholes, shared by Gary)
Hat tip for this one goes to the Sanislo Elementary School PTSA newsletter – reading the latest edition last night, we saw news of some road-repair work planned nearby, so we followed up this morning by asking SDOT for details. Here’s the reply from Marybeth Turner:

An SDOT asphalt crew will be doing spot asphalt paving along Sylvan Way SW, SW Orchard St and Dumar Way SW in areas where there are frequent problems with potholes.

They will pave the eastbound lane on Sylvan Way SW around the curve to the intersection with SW Orchard. They will also pave the eastbound lane of SW Orchard from Delridge up to the intersection with Dumar Way SW, and then continue for a short distance around the curve on Dumar.

The crews have not yet scheduled this work–it will be executed with other paving jobs, and it requires favorable weather. We will announce the dates when the crews are closer to starting this paving work.

We will also be doing some spot travel lane repairs between the 4100 and 6900 blocks on Delridge to address problem pothole areas.

We would like to perform more extensive street reconstruction and paving, but this is what we can do with the funding available at this time.

The Sylvan potholes got special note here back in January. The city is still tracking potholes online (with 229 in queue as of about a week ago); you can see the latest map, with info on how to report them, by going here.

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Followup: West Seattle Water Taxi spring/summer schedule
March 29, 2011 5:04 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

As first reported here yesterday, the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle-to-downtown run will start its new spring/summer 7-day-a-week schedule on April 8th. And now we have details of how that’ll work this year, including shuttle and game-day plans. The schedule is online here, and you can read on for the overview!Read More

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Traffic alert for bicyclists: New Alaskan Way detour starts tomorrow
March 29, 2011 4:07 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Among the many ongoing changes related to Alaskan Way Viaduct and Spokane Street Viaduct construction, here’s one that starts tomorrow, affecting bicyclists:

Starting Wednesday, March 30 through Friday, April 8, crews will route bicycles off of both directions of Alaskan Way S. between S. Atlantic Street and S. Royal Brougham Way while they rebuild the entrance into the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46. Cyclists will need to follow a signed detour route via East Frontage Road S.

Find more information about the detour – including a map – by going here.

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West Seattle Water Taxi to resume 7-day-a-week schedule April 8
March 28, 2011 6:41 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

With the West Seattle Water Taxi resuming service today after several days off for repairs, some have asked when the 7-day-a-week spring/summer schedule will begin. We got the answer from the office of West Seattle’s King County Councilmember Joe McDermott: April 8th, one week from this Friday. The official schedule isn’t online yet but should be available soon. Councilmember McDermott, by the way, recently became chair of the King County Ferry District board, which oversees the Water Taxi.

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Help shape a new West Seattle transportation initiative!
March 28, 2011 1:45 pm
|    Comments Off on Help shape a new West Seattle transportation initiative!
 |   How to help | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox:

King County Metro is hosting two transportation focus groups for West Seattle residents in April 2011:

King County Metro is bringing a new program to West Seattle in the Admiral, Alaska, and Morgan Junctions. The focus groups are designed to help shape a new program to increase the number of people walking, biking, taking the bus, and carpooling in and out of West Seattle. 

Two focus groups will be hosted on the following days/times:
Tuesday April 5th at Hope Lutheran Church, 4456 42nd Avenue SW, from 6pm to 7:30pm
Wednesday April 6th at Gatewood Elementary, 4320 SW Myrtle Street from 6pm to 7:30pm

Participants will receive a 2011 Chinook Book a guide to living well and having fun in the Puget Sound good for savings of up to $3,000 at local businesses. Food and beverages will be provided. 

Space is limited. Reserve your spot at www.westseattletalks.org or by calling Derrick Van Kirk 206-652-2310 or emailing derrick@feetfirst.org

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Traffic alert: 2 more California SW pedestrian-safety projects starting
March 21, 2011 3:11 pm
|    Comments Off on Traffic alert: 2 more California SW pedestrian-safety projects starting
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in from SDOT:

Seattle Department of Transportation paving crews will start work this week on two pedestrian safety projects on California Avenue SW.

The first project will be at the intersection of California Avenue and SW Frontenac Street [map], where they will install new curb ramps on three corners of the intersection. When the first job is finished, the crews will install a new curb bulb on the southbound side of California Avenue SW at SW Othello Street [map].

The crews will work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking will be restricted in the work area. The crew chief hopes to complete both projects by the end of the month.

These are the two remaining projects out of three on California SW whose Neighborhood Street Fund money was announced last year; we had a progress report on the third one, at SW Findlay, earlier this month.

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Road reminders: Viaduct closure; 1st Ave. S. detour; ‘Good to Go’
March 17, 2011 3:47 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSING BOTH DAYS THIS WEEKEND: It’s the semiannual safety check plus testing of the automatic closure-in-case-of-quake gates. 6 am-6 pm both days (as always, we’ll watch for an early reopening Saturday, and will let you know here/Facebook – “liked” our NEW page yet? – Twitter if that happens). In the official announcement, WSDOT says the “viaduct closed” lights on signs in West Seattle (etc.) may operate “intermittently” because of the gate testing – but even if they’re not flashing, the viaduct WILL be closed.

NORTHBOUND 1ST AVENUE SOUTH CLOSED AT SPOKANE FRIDAY NIGHT/SATURDAY MORNING: The Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project will close northbound 1st South right at the bridge from 8 pm Friday to 5 am Saturday; that means detours for buses as well as private transportation, and Metro has sent an alert saying it means a reroute for Routes 21, 56 and 85: “During this closure, Routes 21 & 56 will travel on 4th Av S & S Horton St. Use the stop northbound on 4th Av S just north of S Spokane St. No stops will be missed for routes 21 & 56. Route 85 Night Owl will miss one stop northbound on 1st Av S just north of S Spokane St. Use the stop northbound on 4th Av S just north of S Spokane St. ”

NEED THE ‘GOOD TO GO’ PASS FOR 520 BRIDGE? WSDOT’s mobile van is coming to Roxbury Safeway (26th SW and SW Roxbury) both days this weekend, 11 am-4 pm, and you can buy the sticker that will line you up with the electronic tolling system. Details here.

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SODO access to northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct resumes tonight
March 11, 2011 4:40 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Three weeks ago tonight, much fanfare accompanied the start of demolition for part of the original Alaskan Way Viaduct (WSB coverage here), which more recently served as the northbound onramp to The Viaduct from 1st Avenue South in the stadium zone. Work on a temporary onramp was scheduled to be done by April 1st – but it’s so far ahead of schedule, the new temporary onramp is opening tonight! WSDOT says that by 7 tonight, they’ll open the newly complete “temporary detour onramp” to northbound 99, with access from Royal Brougham Way.

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Viaduct traffic alerts: This morning, this Sunday, and March 19-20
March 9, 2011 8:07 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation

3 quick Alaskan Way Viaduct notes – Northbound this morning, the Seneca exit is backed up more than usual because of a crash at Seneca/2nd – Metro has even rerouted the 21, 54, 55, 56, and 120. It’s not a major-injury situation, though, so a long-running blockage is not likely … THIS SUNDAY, you may have seen signs about a Viaduct closure for the St. Patrick’s Day Dash. To clarify, WSDOT says the 8-11 am closure is north of downtown, Republican to the Aurora Bridge (course map here), so it shouldn’t affect you south of the Battery Street Tunnel … One more reminder, WEEKEND AFTER NEXT, March 19-20, it’s the next weekend-long Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection shutdown, 6 am-6 pm both days.

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