Alert: Major wastewater-truck traffic on Alki starting tonight

| Utilities | West Seattle news

Almost lost amid all the other news, till the county just called with an update: Tonight’s the night that they’ve started to use pump trucks to move sewage flow from the 53rd Ave construction site (first warning posted here last week), so that it can briefly bypass the regular pipes. County spokesperson Martha Tuttle says, “It’s a bit more chaotic than we expected.” 15 trucks are operating right now – probably fewer later as the flow slows. Here’s the route the trucks are taking.

Trucks traveling to the West Seattle Pump Station will follow Alki Avenue Southwest to Harbor Avenue Southwest. Trucks traveling to the Alki Stormwater Treatment Plant will follow this route: Alki Avenue Southwest to 63rd Avenue Southwest to Beach Drive Southwest to 64th Avenue Southwest to Southwest Wilton Court.

The trucks involved are similar to the rigs involved in this afternoon’s Avalon rescue – “Vactors.” We just talked to another worker at the scene – she says traffic is down to one lane for the duration of this (24 to 36 hours, so possibly all the way till Friday morning); the pedestrian walkway on the water side is closed for a few blocks, so flaggers are helping people get to the other side of the street to use the sidewalk there. The county also stresses that if you have a major problem, please call their 24-hour construction hotline – it’s linked to a pager so you need to leave name/number – 206-205-5656.

Mary July 16, 2008 (8:51 pm)

Tonight when I came home at 6pm, there were 10 pump trucks parked along Admiral Way, just east of Lander St/Place…. All of which were idling waiting to go somewhere. I am sure glad I dont live there as the diesel smell was awful. They should not be allowed to idle in such large numbers.

DALYDBL July 16, 2008 (10:33 pm)

Dear Wind,
Please blow NE for the next 36 hours.
Sincerely,
West Seattlite

Radically Rank! Stupendous Stench! I decided to go on a nice sunset drive tonight. Windows down, smiles on. As I was turning left from California onto Admiral, I said…PHEW! What reeks of sewage? Where could THAT be coming from?!?!? When I got down to Alki, I discovered that I was stuck, idling in what seemed like a fog of fecal matter. Luckily the visual reward of the sunset was worth the disgusting atmosphere, but I won’t be making that mistake again tomorrow. What a rotten project, I feel sorry for the homeowners in that area (and the people working on it) and hope it doesn’t last past Friday! Icky! What a shame to have the best spot in Seattle in such a nasty state during the high point of the time it can be fully enjoyed.

Deal with it July 17, 2008 (6:58 am)

I live right by this project, and it has screwed up parking, traffic flow, and bus stops. It is a real inconvenience. But… WSB commenters: quit whining. I bet the trucks are idling because they’re moving in and out in quick succession, because everybody in this part of West Seattle keeps flushing their toilets. And yes, poop stinks. Please call SPU if you know of a way that a major sewage pump be replaced without some smell escaping. They’d love to hear about it.

I had to wait a minute on Alki Ave. last night while the trucks were swapped last night. Somehow, I survived.

sleepy July 17, 2008 (7:59 am)

Are they going to be doing this again tonight? I live on 63rd and those trucks are very noisy.

WSB July 17, 2008 (8:13 am)

It was scheduled to last 24 to 36 hours. A little bit later this morning we will be checking with the county folks we talked to last night, to get an update on how much longer.

mg July 17, 2008 (9:44 am)

When I spoke to a flagger/stop sign person last night at midnight he said that they were anticipating the work to last 36-48 hours.

at least there’s not going to be a lot of beeping (from trucks in reverse) like there was last week.

acemotel July 17, 2008 (11:36 am)

All this could be avoided if people would only stop eating.

People don’t like to think about it, but the sh*t has to go somewhere. I am very happy the county is maintaining the infrastructure.

WSB July 17, 2008 (11:39 am)

I just posted an update from the county:
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=9064
They’re now saying the duration will wind up being closer to 24 hours.

DALYDBL July 17, 2008 (6:46 pm)

Dear “Deal With it”,

How can you ask me and others not to whine when it is exactly what you are doing? I’m really tired of people trying to police other people in this blog, it is ridiculous and a waste of time. I like hearing what everyone has to say, it gives me a bit of community perspective. To all of the personal police & troll wannabes, please don’t spoil it. Would you be this cruel to a neighbor’s face? I hope not.

Peace.