West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
As it did during last month’s closure, the 35th/Avalon intersection has reopened early again. SDOT just announced via Twitter that the work’s done and the intersection is open.
If you’re heading through North Delridge shortly, heads-up about a crash at Delridge/Dakota. A caller says a Seattle City Light truck is involved, but traffic is getting by. No SFD callout, which suggests no injuries.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning.
AVALON/35TH INTERSECTION CLOSURE: Starts at 9 am today, could last until early Monday (the first one, however, ended early, so we’ll be checking progress by Sunday pm). Find Metro changes here – for routes 21, 50 and 55, the RapidRide C Line, and the West Seattle Water Taxi Shuttle Route 773.
TOWER CRANE INSTALLATION: This was scheduled to have started early today – tower-crane installation for the 4722 Fauntleroy/4721 38th SW project; developers says staging is planned on the east side of the site, NOT on Fauntleroy.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning. Crash reported at Fauntleroy/Juneau.
SEAHAWKS HOME GAME TONIGHT: 5:20 pm kickoff vs. the Rams. This means the West Seattle Water Taxi runs later.
AVALON/35TH INTERSECTION CLOSURE STARTS TOMORROW: 9 am Friday, weather permitting, SDOT starts the next three-day closure. The bus info is out now too – reroutes listed here – for Metro routes 21, 50 and 55, the RapidRide C Line and the West Seattle Water Taxi Shuttle Route 773.
TOWER CRANE INSTALLATION TOMORROW: Starting early Friday, for the 4722 Fauntleroy/4721 38th SW project, but developers says staging will NOT be on Fauntleroy.
ICYMI – BUS-LANE-BACKUP PLAN: More details last night on what SDOT is pursuing to fix the Bus-Lane Backup on NB 99 – here’s our report.
7:35 AM: Crash reported at 16th/Holden.
4:26 PM: If you’re getting ready to head this way via the high bridge, heads up – there’s a two-car crash on the westbound side, near the Delridge offramp. The outside lane is partly blocked.
4:33 PM: This is now described as two separate crash scenes, related, no one hurt.
5:14 PM: All clear.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:11 AM: Good morning. WSDOT says a vehicle is stalled on the NB 99 exit ramp to Dearborn, blocking the right bus lane.
Looking ahead:
INTERSECTION CLOSURE: The next Avalon/35th intersection closure is scheduled to start 9 am Friday (October 4th) and last all weekend, weather permitting.
ALSO FRIDAY: The 4722 Fauntleroy/4721 38th tower crane is going up; a spokesperson for the developer tells WSB the staging will be on 38th, not Fauntleroy.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:20 AM: Good morning! Welcome to October.
FERRY FARES: Increased as of today.
REMINDER: The next Avalon/35th intersection closure is scheduled to start 9 am Friday (October 4th) and last all weekend, weather permitting.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:29 AM: Good morning! No incidents/alerts reported so far.
5:51 PM: SDOT reports West Marginal Way SW is closed both ways in the 4500 block – that’s north of the Duwamish Longhouse – because of a crash. No major injuries are reported but apparently a pole was hit.
6:58 PM: SDOT says the road has reopened.
7:55 PM: Readers say via text and comment that it’s still closed. So for now best to avoid the area.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:20 AM: Good morning!
TRANSIT NOTE: The 7:05 am Route 55 didn’t run, per Metro.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners‘ final homestand continues, 7:10 tonight vs. Oakland, so the West Seattle Water Taxi runs into the late evening.
Texter says a tree is down in the southbound lanes of Admiral on the hill north of the West Seattle Bridge.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning!
AVALON PAVING TONIGHT: If weather permits, SDOT plans a second night of overnight paving on Avalon.
STADIUM ZONE: Another Mariners home game vs. Houston, 7:10 tonight, so the West Seattle Water Taxi runs into the late evening.
7:46 AM: WSDOT reports a crash blocking the right lane on NB 509 at West Marginal Way.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning!
PAVING TONIGHT: If the weather permits, SDOT plans overnight paving on Avalon tonight.
STADIUM ZONE: Mariners’ home game vs. Houston, 7:10 tonight, so the West Seattle Water Taxi runs later.
7:27 AM: Per radio dispatch, police are responnding to a crash reported on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge from Fauntleroy.
7:33 AM: SDOT’s been panning the nearest camera but hasn’t found that crash yet; now they’re saying it might be on the westbound side instead. Eastbound flow from the Fauntleroy end looks normal.
7:57 AM: There’s an oil slick on the westbound bridge in that area so beware if you’re inbound – the westbound bridge will be CLOSED at Admiral while that’s cleaned up.
8:11 AM: SDOT camera image showing westbound bridge blocked/detoured at Admiral:
8:32 AM: Now some of the fluid is reported to be getting into the EASTBOUND inside lane, so police are planning to block off that lane. Avoid the Fauntleroy entrance to the EB bridge if you want to steer clear of potential ensuing backups.
9:04 AM: Cleanup continues.
10:01 AM: Not clear yet.
10:09 AM: The eastbound lane closure is about to be lifted, per radio exchange.
UPDATE: We were away from the desk but per Twitter, the westbound side reopened shortly after noon. As for who’s to blame, SPD tells us the oil was from the first one-car crash.
SDOT says it’s NOT paving on Avalon tonight after all. The update:
Due to wet weather, paving on SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to 35th Ave SW (Zones A-C) has been cancelled for tonight, Monday, September 23.
Paving is tentatively scheduled to take place overnight on Tuesday, September 24 and Wednesday, September 25. This work is very weather dependent, and we will continue to provide updates on our paving schedule if dates change due to rain.
(WSB photo)
12:15 PM: The emergency response for what’s reported as a flipped-car crash is blocking SW Holden near 13th SW in Highland Park. Avoid the area. We’re on the way to find out more.
12:25 PM: Photo added. Two vehicles involved; no one hurt. Tow truck’s on scene, so street will likely reopen soon.
12:40 PM: Officers at the scene just told dispatchers that Holden has reopened both ways.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Welcome to fall, which arrived six hours ago. Some notes:
METRO’S SERVICE CHANGE: First weekday since this took effect on Saturday. Here’s our roundup of West Seattle changes.
NEW ISLAND AT FAUNTLEROY/ALASKA: As shown here last night.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Fall quarter classes start today at SSC (WSB sponsor), so be ready for more traffic on 16th SW.
Thanks to the texter who alerted us to this: Another of the “near-term improvements” announced two months ago for Fauntleroy Way SW in The Triangle has just been installed, and this one might catch some drivers by surprise (we saw that happen just as we were walking up to get photos): It’s what was described in the July announcement as a “new hardscape traffic island to tighten intersection and provide guidance to traffic turning right.” We tweeted a bit of video while there:
Intersection revision: New island at Fauntleroy/Alaska. pic.twitter.com/66IdhFKsz0
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 22, 2019
This and the other changes detailed by SDOT here (PDF) are meant as a stopgap until the full Fauntleroy Boulevard project’s fate is determined by light-rail-routing decisions.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning! Last Friday before fall (which officially begins early Monday).
METRO SERVICE CHANGE TOMORROW: Here’s what’s changing for West Seattle routes.
ORCA HALF ON SUNDAY: 1,300 people are running in the Orca Half, from Lincoln Park to Don Armeni, on Sunday. No road closures, but runners will be in the “parking lanes” at some points. Also, if you know anyone coming from outside West Seattle, note that there’s a special 7:30 am Water Taxi sailing from downtown.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning! Here’s the biggest traffic news:
UPDATE: S Dearborn St between SR 99 and 1st Ave S has reopened. pic.twitter.com/iWIj4kWaN0
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) September 18, 2019
WSDOT announced yesterday that the demolition of a section of Alaskan Way Viaduct there had gone faster than expected and it would reopen early. But NB buses’ reroute is expected to continue through Saturday as scheduled.
Just in from WSDOT, that video and this update:
Demolition crews made quick work removing the section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct above South Dearborn Street, one of the structure’s last remaining sections. As a result, the intersection of South Dearborn Street and First Avenue South will reopen Wednesday, Sept. 18 by 6 a.m. – much earlier than initially planned. By tomorrow morning First Avenue South will once again have two lanes in each direction and northbound Railroad Way South will also reopen. The video shows the work that took less than a week to complete.
What’s next?
Starting at 4 a.m. tomorrow morning, Alaskan Way will be narrowed to one lane in each direction near Marion Street so demolition teams can take down the one remaining span of viaduct along Seattle’s waterfront.
Later this week, crews will stripe a bus-only lane on northbound SR 99 between South Spokane Street and South Dearborn Street. This lane existed during SR 99 tunnel construction and helps ensure reliable trips for King County Metro buses carrying about 30,000 passengers a day into downtown. The bus lane is scheduled to be in place by Sunday, Sept. 22 but the work is weather dependent. King County Metro’s northbound buses will remain on temporary reroute until start of service on Sunday, Sept. 22.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:54 AM: Good morning! No alerts or incidents so far this morning.
7:49 AM: Crash reported at 31st/Raymond.
10:47 AM: Crash is blocking the E3 busway in SODO and Metro says Route 50 might experience delays as a result.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning!
DEARBORN CLOSURE CONTINUES: The closure of Dearborn at 1st for demolition of a remaining section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to continue all week. If you are traveling on NB 99 and exiting just before the tunnel, you continue onto Alaskan Way; NB buses are rerouted too. Also note that 1st Avenue is narrowed near the demolition zone.
1:04 PM: No SDOT alert on this yet but via the scanner we’ve heard about West Seattle Bridge trouble from/to the Fauntleroy end – jersey barriers knocked out of place, affecting both directions. There’s also a backup reported toward the east end of the bridge after a crash near the exit to southbound I-5.
1:39 PM: Now SFD and SPD are responding to a one-vehicle crash reported on the westbound bridge at the Delridge exit.
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