WS Bridge Tips…anyone?

[k]

I have to get to work near Pioneer Square everday. Taking the WS Bridge to 1st is the quickest option, but it’s a mess 3 out of 5 days a week. There’s NEVER enough time to get over and get off the bridge. Most of the time it forces traffic into the bus lane. Out of necessity, not of want to break the law. Yesterday, madame motorcycle policewoman pulled several of us over, calling us “children who can’t act like adults and follow rules or she would give us 110 reasons to follow them”. Her immediate request was for us all to get out of the bus lane. Had we done that, accidents would have occurred and chaos. Please someone, what is the trick to negotiating our beloved bridge??? HELP???

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[MissK]

You could always drive underneath the bridge? I think along Spokane? Or you could get on 99 and get off on the Seneca exit? Depends what time you leave your house. If its between 8am-9am you pretty much have to suffer the commute. The cops are really rude and yes the woman motorcycle cop is a royal pain. She has riden along side my car and motioned for me to slow down. WHAT!! I was going the speed limit. I think she just is taking he power she has too far. By any means STAY OUT OF THE BUSLANES!! Unless you want to put up with the coppers.

Good Luck on the commute.

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[Bonnie]

Take the bus?

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[MissK]

LOL!! Yes that is the smartest idea. If you are just going to Pioneer Square the bus is the best and cheapest way to go.

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[Sue]

Where are these motorcycle cops when my bus is held up from getting into the bus lane? I’ve never seen anyone try and clear the way for the bus to go through.

I live on Fauntleroy, but if I need to go to the viaduct, I get on a Delridge. That way I don’t have to do that crossover. I take Avalon to Genessee to Delridge and get on there. You’re already in the lane for 99 and no changing required. Delridge can be backed up sometimes, but I’d rather wait there to get on than do that dance of trying to get right while they all try to get left.

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[Ken]

Bus and or Water Taxi if available.

However if you leave early enough, neither bridge is a problem.

The rule of thumb for the Delridge ramp is, reach it by 6:45 or add a half hour to the trip time. Reach it by 7:30 or add a possible hour.

But Pioneer Square is just about the easiest and most efficient bus commute in town if the “Children” will stay out of the bus lane on the bridge….

:)

If you must drive, and you don’t get up early, and you cannot be intimidated by teamsters driving overweight trucks on bad pavement, then the local secret route is…

Lower bridge to East Marginal way. Take a left unless the trucks are lined up in the turn lane, if lined up, go straight through on the right lane, take the first left turnaround and get back to East Marginal turn right toward the docks. go to the next light, take a right avoiding the overweight truck created sinkhole/puddle onto Hanford. Go to the light at 1st, turn left, and proceed to Pioneer Square. There are several paths through between East Marginal/Alaskan way to first ave and due to the train traffic, one should become familiar with the various alternatives.

However be aware. The Spokane street viaduct is designed to bypass the variables you are gambling with once you commit to the lower bridge.

Trains, drawbridges and even backups in either the loading or unloading at several of the terminals can suddenly bugger all plans and schedules. I have been stuck on the lower bridge for over and hour once when the terminal 7 line spilled out onto the bridge and halted all traffic. Every traffic enforcement entity denied responsibility for the problem and an off duty game warden stuck next to me finally turned on his light, drove up the wrong lane and forced the teamsters to clear the bridge.

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[Author]

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