West Seattle Blog…

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday and beyond

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Lighter traffic, since this is the start of a four-day weekend for Seattle Public Schools. Looking ahead, a few notes:

-Monday, Metro and the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on Sunday schedules

-Next weekend (starting May 31st), weather permitting, the Delridge/Holden intersection will be closed for repaving

-Metro riders will be interested in the next Westwood Roxhill Arbor Heights Community Council meeting on June 4th – here’s the announcement.

As always, we’ll update here with any traffic issues in the hours ahead.

West Seattle road work: Delridge/Holden intersection closure tentatively set for May 31-June 3

An update from SDOT as Phase 3 of the Delridge Way repaving project proceeds – the next intersection closure is tentatively scheduled to start at the end of next week:

May 31 – June 3: Delridge Way SW & SW Holden Street Intersection Closure

All work is weather-dependent

Most of the intersection of Delridge Way SW and SW Holden Street will be closed from 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, until 6 a.m. Monday, June 3, for roadway restoration and storm drain installation. This work is part of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Delridge Way SW Paving Project that is rebuilding much of Delridge Way SW between SW Orchard and SW Roxbury streets.

For the closure of the Delridge/Holden intersection, the detour will be as follows (see attached map):

· Northbound traffic on Delridge Way SW – Take SW Thistle Street to 35th Avenue SW to SW Morgan Street/ Sylvan Way SW/ SW Orchard Street to Delridge Way SW

· Southbound traffic on Delridge Way SW – Take SW Holden Street to 35th Avenue SW to SW Thistle Street to Delridge Way SW

During the week of June 3, the roadway will be striped between SW Henderson and SW Thistle streets, the areas of Phases 1 and 2. Street parking will be eliminated and lanes will be temporarily shifted for up to four days while striping is completed

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday alerts, including bridge crash, Roxbury crash

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:19 AM: Just getting word of a crash on the eastbound bridge. (update) Texters say it apparently involves a scooter rider, and multiple lanes are blocked.

7:32 AM: Emergency personnel are still tending to the scooter rider on the ground. If you haven’t headed out yet, avoid the high bridge – try the low bridge or go through Highland Park or points south to get to the 1st Avenue South Bridge. Feeder routes are reported to be backed up too, especially Fauntleroy to 35th.

7:41 AM: Via Twitter, @jamesmahler says a tow truck has arrived for the scooter, and fire/medic vehicles have cleared, taking the rider to the hospital. Everything we’ve heard so far suggest the incident might only have involved the scooter – other cars were stopped for a while, but those were drivers who pulled over to help.

8:15 AM: The crash scene has since been cleared. We have messages out to both SFD and SPD hoping to find out more, particularly regarding the rider’s condition.

(Photo of scooter-crash scene, courtesy Winston)
8:28 AM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore says the rider is a woman “approximately 30s,” not seriously hurt, taken to hospital as a precaution.

9:37 AM: Eastbound Roxbury is blocked by a crash at 14th/15th – car hit a tree; two people taken to the hospital.

10:34 AM: Metro reports buses in the area are back on their regular routes, which means the scene on Roxbury is clear.

WEDNESDAY TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: Holiday weekend approaches

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Since many schools are taking a four-day Memorial Day weekend this year – Friday through Monday – today will be the second-to-last “regular” commute of the week. So we should also start making note of Monday schedule changes:

*Metro will be on a SUNDAY schedule for Memorial Day
*West Seattle Water Taxi also will be on a SUNDAY schedule for Memorial Day

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday on the move

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:19 AM: After a rainy night, the most recent alert for this morning is no surprise – KING 5 traffic reporter Tracy Taylor tweets that there’s “one lane blocked each direction on Highway 99 near Battery Street Tunnel due to standing water.”

8:16 AM: Thanks to the person who texted that all lanes are back open by the tunnel.

8:41 AM: Thanks to Mary for e-mailing to report a tree blocking 18th SW just south of Holden, causing some abrupt braking on Holden. She says a tree service has arrived but looks like cleanup might take a while.

9:18 AM: At Morgan Junction, the bus sightings usually involve Metro. But this morning, there’s a head-turner, photographed by Ben:

So far, the only information we’ve tracked down is that Thai Me Up is here all the way from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and seems to be on tour for American Craft Beer Week.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday, with 99 changes north of downtown

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
We start the week with two reminders:

*The regional crackdown on seat-belt and cell-phone lawbreaking starts today, as previewed here recently.

*If you drive Highway 99 north of downtown, you’ll notice a change starting today, following the weekend closure because of the Mercer Corridor Project – it’s now 2 lanes each way between Valley and Harrison, shifted to the west, according to SDOT. The changes in that area are detailed on this webpage.

Traffic alerts today: West Seattle 5K, Summer Streets, Highway 99

Quick road reminders before we get to the day’s full list of highlights:

(Photo added – taken about 8:50 am on Alki Avenue)
-Parking restrictions along Alki/Harbor start at 8 am, to get ready for the West Seattle 5K, with the route closing approximately 9-11 am. Here’s a detailed map covering this (and the next part of the alert).

-11 am-5 pm, Alki Avenue is closed to motor vehicles between 56th and 63rd for Summer Streets, the “car-free day” festival. Here’s the reroute info for the Route 775 water-taxi shuttle.

-North of downtown, the Highway 99 closure between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street continues until early Monday.

(“Live” image from WSDOT camera looking southward over 99 – approach to NB Western ramp is at left)
If you are heading northbound from here, you will have to leave 99 at Western Avenue.

10:34 AM UPDATE: Highway 99 might fully reopen as soon as 1 pm, SDOT says. We’ll update here whenever official word arrives.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Showery Friday

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:15 AM: The roads are damp, so be careful out there. It’s Friday, and it’s Bike To Work Day, which we’ll cover in a separate update. A few notes:

*Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferries are all running late right now, says WSF, because of an earlier staffing problem.

*Reminder that this Sunday, May 19th, starts with the West Seattle 5K and continues with Summer Streets on Alki, aka “car-free day.” Alki SW is closed along the race route until 11 am, and then from 56th to 63rd continuing until 5 pm. Other citywide traffic alerts for the weekend are here.

*If you drive 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel, there’s a closure starting overnight tonight (added: continuing all weekend) between the tunnel and Valley Street because of the ongoing Mercer project.

7:21 AM: A crash just south of the West Seattle Bridge on I-5 is blocking multiple lanes.

7:42 AM: WSDOT says tow trucks are working to clear that scene, and 2 lanes are now open southbound. This camera has the wide view:

That’s one of the cameras you can find anytime on the WSB Traffic Cams page.

8:22 AM: Though all lanes are open again at the scene of that crash, there’s still a long backup on southbound I-5. P.S. Thanks to Neil McNeight for the photo – shows you what emergency workers are up against as they handle a crash on the freeway!

12:19 PM: A truck problem is partly blocking the ramp to NORTHBOUND I-5 right now.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; 2 upcoming reminders

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
As we begin the morning, one more reminder: The new southbound Delridge Way detour between Holden and Thistle is now in effect. Looking ahead to the weekend, the only major planned closure happens on Sunday, for the West Seattle 5K and then Seattle Summer Streets on Alki:

Along the usual car-free-day footprint, Alki and Harbor Avenues will be closed for WS5K approximately 9 am-11 am, and then everything reopens except Alki between 56th and 63rd, where festivities will continue till 5 pm (see you there!).

BUT FIRST … tomorrow (Friday) is Bike to Work Day, with a commute station under the West Seattle Bridge 6-9 am as usual, and other special events/stops as shown on this map assembled by the Cascade Bicycle Club:

ADDED 9:55 AM: Thanks to commenters for word of the truck flip on the hill to and from the Myers Way ramp to/from Highway 509:

It was a Charlie’s Produce truck, witnesses say. No injuries reported; traffic was getting around, albeit slowly, and the tow truck had arrived by the time our crew got there.

ADDED 10:39 AM: SDOT just tweeted that a crash reported earlier on southbound 1st Avenue South at Horton has closed the 1st Ave. ramp to/from the westbound West Seattle Bridge.

ADDED 12:54 PM: Still closed at last report. Thanks to Tony Bradley for the photo:

We’ll update when the blockage is cleared and the bridge ramp reopens.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday, with road-work reminders

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing to report as the heart of the commute moves on, except: Today’s the scheduled start of the new southbound Delridge Way detour between Holden and Thistle, as the repaving project starts Phase 3. And SDOT also plans to be fixing a section of Delridge at 23rd, scheduled as a one-day project.

Update: 1st Avenue closed after deadly crash

4:49 PM: Thanks for the tips that 1st Avenue is closed in the Georgetown area, north of the 1st Avenue South Bridge. According to the Seattle Fire Department, a car vehicle hit a pedestrian this afternoon at 1st and Findlay – a 70-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries. Investigators are now at work in the area. No update on how long it will be closed, but if you would take 1st to or from the bridge, find an alternate route.

5:49 PM UPDATE: According to SPD Blotter, the 69-year-old woman hit by a pickup truck in this crash has died.

6:22 PM UPDATE: SPD estimates 1st will reopen around 7:15 pm.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday on the move

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing reported to be out of the ordinary right now on the main routes in and around West Seattle. The weather’s chillier than recent mornings but has calmed from yesterday. One note from Metro – its customer-service phone line is having trouble.

Speaking of Metro, today at Union Station, 4 pm, is the County Council committee hearing at which it’s hoping for a show of support from system users concerned about cuts if there’s no funding solution during the Legislature’s special session. (Details in this WSB story from Monday.)

Road-work reminder #1: SDOT confirmed on Monday that tomorrow (Wednesday) is when Phase 3 of the Delridge Way repaving project starts, which means a new southbound detour between Holden and Thistle.

Road-work reminder #2: A separate, one-day paving project also is scheduled tomorrow on Delridge, at 23rd, as announced last week.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:13 AM: No major West Seattle-vicinity traffic trouble reported currently as we head for the heart of the Monday commute. In the road-work department, this week is expected to see the Delridge Way repaving project move into its third phase, between Thistle and Kenyon; we should get confirmation of that from SDOT, along with detour details, within a day or so.

5:04 PM: Those detour details are out now – see the map here.

Also – a traffic alert if you head south to Burien: There’s a tree down in the southbound lanes of SW Ambaum, just south of SW 116. We have been covering it on our partner site White Center Now.

6:20 PM: And now a crash reported on southbound Delridge, between Andover and Genesee.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday on the move

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:47 AM: Happy Friday – and, might we say, happy West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day Eve! So far so good.

8:30 AM: I-5 might not be your best choice if you are heading out now, reports KING 5′s Tracy Taylor, tweeting about a backup from the Convention Center to Boeing Field.

9:12 AM: For low bridge and bicycle path commuters – there is a crash at East Marginal/S. Spokane, just east of the low bridge, involving a semi-truck on its side, per an image our friends at KING 5 has shown. Avoid the area.

11:36 AM: No injuries in that crash, by the way. Looking ahead: Road work on Delridge just announced for next Wednesday.

12:05 PM: Someone asked about the East Marginal Way status in comments; SDOT tweeted that the scene was clear as of an hour ago.

(Photo by ELLEN M. BANNER/THE SEATTLE TIMES; republished with permission)
12:56 PM: Adding a photo from that scene, courtesy of our partners at The Seattle Times.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday off to foggy start

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:01 AM: Sunshine’s due back later, but for starters, it’s murky out there.

7:56 AM: A few other notes – First, as announced Wednesday afternoon, the north tollbooth and lane at the Fauntleroy ferry dock reopen today, after a closure related to the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project next door. Also: It’ll be a weekend with NO major closures/projects affecting traffic, according to the online “lookahead” – good news for shoppers getting here for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday AND for any to-and-from travel on Mother’s Day this Sunday.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates; question for you

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: As the day begins, we have a question for you, transit-related: Later this morning, we’re scheduled to sit down for an interview with Metro Transit general manager Kevin Desmond, as the county steps up its campaign contending that Metro is in the fight of its life, facing more cuts if the Legislature doesn’t take some steps to help alleviate its funding crisis. Is there a question you would ask him if you had the chance? If so, post it in the comment section – we’re going to do our best to get to as many reader questions as we can. P.S. Whether you have a question or not, you’re invited to speak to a County Council committee next Tuesday – details here along with a way to comment online if you can’t be there in person.

7:48 AM: As noted in comments, there’s a crash on the eastbound bridge. If you haven’t left yet – alternative routes, or waiting, would be a good idea.

7:56 AM: Because of the crash, SDOT has switched the views on the bridge cameras – the one atop this story usually looks eastward – here’s the one that usually looks west:

8:20 AM: Eugene says in comments that the scene is clear; hard to tell from the cameras, and there’s been no official announcement. Also in comments, Trickycoolj warns that Holden is backed up in Highland Park – a popular alternate access to get to northbound 99.

8:59 AM: Shortly after that last update, SDOT did tweet that the crash scene had been cleared. The backup always takes longer to clear but we’re hopeful it’s getting back to the “normal” slowness now.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:21 AM: No sun-glare challenges this morning, though the forecast says it’ll be back – no other major impediments reported so far, either.

7:58 AM: Aiko reports a school bus stalled or otherwise mobility-challenged on 35th SW in the High Point area.

8:45 AM: Traffic alert for Delridge in the 5900 block – what’s on the 911 log as a car fire is, according to Tom via Twitter, a car-vs.-truck crash just outside K-5 STEM at Boren. We are en route to see what’s happening.

9 AM: The crash involved a taxi that went into the back of a truck, on the southbound side of Delridge:

As bad as it looks, we are told at the scene that no one was hurt.

Delridge Way repaving project: Third phase to start May 15th

(February photo of Delridge Way work, from SDOT via Flickr)
The second phase of the Delridge Way SW repaving project is almost over, with the third phase expected to start next week. So says SDOT in this advisory just out of the WSB inbox:

The Seattle Department of Transportation expects paving work on Delridge Way Southwest to progress to the next phase on Wednesday, May 15. The contractor will detour southbound traffic on Delridge from Southwest Holden to Southwest Thistle streets, and reopen the stretch from Southwest Thistle to Southwest Trenton streets. The new detour, from Holden to Thistle, is expected to remain in place through mid July. This work is Phase 3 of the project that is rebuilding much of Delridge Way Southwest.

Delridge will remain open to northbound traffic except for intersection work. Local access to businesses and residents will be maintained. SDOT will release a map and details of the new detour as the date approaches.

After the contractor completes work between Thistle and Trenton, Delridge will be striped between Thistle and Henderson streets. Also, crews expect to return by late May to the stretch between Trenton and Henderson for weather-dependent crack seal work.

This is a five-phase project. At the end of Phase 3, construction activity will move north to Phase 4, between SW Orchard and SW Holden streets.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Sunny Monday

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:57 AM: So far, checking the traffic-watching sources we monitor, “sun glare” is the only thing causing slowdowns here and there. The high temperature is expected to be in the 80s again today.

9:58 AM: If you’re downtown-bound, heads-up – we notice the 911 log lists a crash on NB I-5 just north of the bridge.

11:54 AM: SDOT just updated the Delridge repaving project, saying it’s expected to move to Phase 3, between Holden and Thistle, next week. Here’s the story.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend reminders

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to sunny Friday! Since the weekend’s almost here, we start with reminders about two road-work projects:

SPOKANE ST. PAVING: This work will be under way west of the low bridge, under the high bridge, 7 am-7 pm both days this weekend – detour info and other details here.

RAMP TO SOUTHBOUND I-5 CLOSED: This is the last major closure of the I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair project, and it’s planned to be in effect around the clock from late tonight until early Monday. Here are the detour details.

ADDED 9:16 AM: Got a tip of a possible picket line at Terminal 18 on Harbor Island; the tipster wanted to get the word out in case that leads to truck backups.

West Seattle road work: Detour for Spokane St. paving

New details this afternoon about the paving work planned this weekend on SW Spokane St. under the West Seattle Bridge – previewed in our daily traffic update back on Monday. From SDOT:

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will pave lower Southwest Spokane Street from Chelan Avenue Southwest to 26th Avenue Southwest this weekend. They will work on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

Traffic on Southwest Spokane Street will be detoured between Chelan Avenue Southwest and Southwest Avalon Way using Southwest Genesee Street. Police Officers will be located at each end of the detour to assist traffic. The adjacent trail will not be affected.

For information on bus service, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops, see Metro Online, www.kingcounty.gov/metro or call (206) 553-3000.

This weekend’s other major road work is a state project, closing the ramp from the West Seattle Bridge to southbound I-5, around the clock from late Friday night until early Monday morning.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
No problems on the routes heading out of West Seattle right now, but there is a crash in the Alki area:

That’s a reader photo from the scene at 60th and Admiral, where the call went out as a “medic response,” meaning at least one person was reported as injured; we have someone headed that way to find out more and to see how traffic is affected.

7:08 AM: Our crew has arrived at the scene and says the crash is at the southwest corner of 60th/Admiral, in the eastbound lanes, but should be cleared before too long.

8:39 AM: Postscript on that crash – police at the scene say one person was taken to the hospital. Meantime, “Fed Up” in comments says the eastbound bridge is currently backed up from I-5 to 35th SW.

Seattle May Day updates: PM commute and beyond

4:41 PM: Just in case you’re wondering before you leave work, the short version: No problems reported so far. The planned march to raise awareness about immigration issues is heading into downtown, and the SPD Twitter feed is tracking it.

6:16 PM UPDATE: The march and rally have been problem-free compared to last year’s May Day. But transit has been jampacked and that’s affecting people’s commutes in terms of simply getting out of downtown.

(Photo by @paulbalcerak via Twitter)
While headed into downtown to cover the Bicycle Advisory Board meeting, we noticed 2nd Avenue was partly blocked off just north of Marion, for a rally. We’ve since heard via Twitter that 2nd was starting to reopen – which means the buses shifted onto 3rd will be able to return. However, two “un-permitted” marches are gathering elsewhere – one at Broadway and Pike on Capitol Hill.

6:55 PM: To track Capitol Hill happenings, watch this thread on CapitolHillSeattle.com.

7:56 PM: As discussed in comments, things are getting somewhat rough in Westlake area. SPD has tweeted that at least two people were taken into custody.

10:59 PM: You’ve probably seen the TV-news coverage by now, after protesters from the “un-permitted” events clashed with police. A WSB’er sent us this clip looking down at part of the scene as a flashbang-type device, believed to have been deployed by police, went off:

Police have just briefed reporters downtown. Via Twitter, SPD says 8 officers were hurt, 18 people arrested tonight.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday notes

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to a brand-new month. For those who work in or travel to/through downtown, here’s the SPD update on a rally and march planned in the p.m. SDOT has also published info on the march, which starts in the Central District.

8:05 AM: Commenter RT mentioned the crash at East Marginal and Hanford, northeast of the low bridge (map). KING 5 reports that the bicyclist involved in that crash has died. No other details yet, but the scene will subsequently be closed for hours of investigation.

8:11 AM: According to Seattle Police, the victim is an “adult male.” We will be starting a separate story about the crash.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates, including boats

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Two boat-commute notes as the morning gets going: The West Seattle Water Taxi is back in service this morning after a short bout of trouble during Monday’s pm commute, and Washington State Ferries’ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is back to three boats – Klahowya isn’t fixed yet, but as of early this morning, it was replaced by Sealth.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday on the move

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
One note for starters today, if you are headed for the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry – the Klahowya is still expected to remain out of service until at least this evening. Keep watch on Washington State Ferries alerts here.

As we start a new week, just to let you know about the road work planned NEXT weekend – Saturday and Sunday (May 4-5), both directions of S. Spokane Street under the bridge will be closed 7 am-6 pm for paving work. And all weekend long, at the east end of the bridge, the ramp to southbound I-5 will be closed as part of the Special Bridge Repair project.

5:24 PM: Crash on southbound 99 is backing up West Seattle-bound (and beyond) traffic – thanks for everyone who’s sent tips on this. SFD has already cleared the scene, so we’re hoping that means the crash itself will clear soon.

Another West Seattle weekend traffic alert: City Light work

Here’s what the “No Parking” signs along Fauntleroy between Brandon and Graham are for – Seattle City Light will be out tomorrow, 7 am-8 pm, working on overhead lines along four blocks. It’s part of a system upgrade for an area that’s been operating on an old, low-capacity system, according to SCL – full details on the work and upgrades, here.