Traffic alert: Westbound West Seattle Bridge now open again

7:33 PM ORIGINAL REPORT: From the scanner: A crash has blocked the westbound West Seattle Bridge – and there is apparently some activity on the lower bridge related to what happened on the high bridge. More details as we get them. 7:46 PM: From @kylevermeulen via Twitter – “Traffic east of 99 (is) forced to exit and go down to the lower bridge. 99S to (the bridge) is unaffected and flowing.” However, if you’re trying to get to the westbound bridge from I-5 (either direction) or Columbian Way (Beacon Hill), sounds like SPD and/or WSP are working to close off those ramps till the crash scene is clear.

8 PM: To further clarify: You can get to the westbound bridge from 99, but not from I-5 or Columbian Way – the crash is apparently on the eastern half of the westbound bridge. No word on injuries – almost all the discussion’s been about the logistics of getting tow trucks to the scene to clear the affected vehicles.

8:41 PM: And, per the scanner, the bridge is reopening.

Lynn taylor December 1, 2010 (7:40 pm)

Traffic backed up on I-5 almost to downtown and on Spokane right up to start of high rise. We’re taking Michigan and First Ave Bridge to get home – wide open.

Jen December 1, 2010 (7:46 pm)

All westbound lanes still blocked. All traffic is being rerouted to the low bridge.

eyeye December 1, 2010 (7:57 pm)

SB 99 to WB highrise is unaffected. Im on a bus from downtown – low bridge area looks like a mess.

WSB December 1, 2010 (8:02 pm)

Thanks, just clarified that … and it seems that officers are closing the ramps from I-5 and Columbian Way mostly to get the tow trucks there safely (since they have to go onto the bridge going the wrong way!).

Sarah December 1, 2010 (8:07 pm)

Just took Michigan too. Faster than I would have thought. Highly recommended!

scrandall December 1, 2010 (8:21 pm)

Just took Michigan. One light at 4th Ave S then all the way to 1st Ave S and Cloverdale exit to Roxbury were a breeze.

Teo December 1, 2010 (8:42 pm)

It’s open now

Cali December 1, 2010 (9:07 pm)

We were right behind the accident. It was a three car accident. Everyone looked to be ok and it appeared as if one car, the most visibly damaged, had airbags deploy. One car was in the left lane, nearing center, and the two others were in the right lane. We were able to weave in between them with the other cars, but I am not surprised they closed it down. It was a bit of a mess.

Pha-la-la December 1, 2010 (10:25 pm)

Seattlelites just admit it: We do not have a clue how to manage traffic. We absolutely, positively suck at it. We need to suck it up and get someone WHO KNOWS from (gasp) SF or NYC and get ourselves together.

Tonight is the THIRD time in the last 3 months (not counting snow – that is a whole ‘nother issue) that I have been sitting in traffic wondering why? It is a weekday, 8pm and I am sitting in traffic when I should be in my West Seattle home eating my dinner. Oh, there is a problem on the upper bridge. Get off at 6th and go to lower bridge. STOP…ding ding ding…train. Go…follow detour. Gee Edgar Martinez is closed to Alaskan Way now? Why? Ok fine, take next street to Alaskan way and get in line.

We creep, it’s like being at Disneyland, without the Happy Guest part. No silver Subaru, I am not feeling enough compassion to let you cut in. Finally, lower West Seattle bridge appears like an oasis on the horizon. But, uh oh, lower bridge is, ding ding ding…opening? Why is lower bridge opening? Hasn’t anyone informed the lower bridge Controller that the upper bridge is kinda closed from I-5 and traffic is being diverted to lower bridge. Give ME the Controller’s phone number and I’ll call him/her. This is how you coordinate traffic. We need to bring the pieces TOGETHER so they work TOGETHER. (Note to Sorento Van in front of me: when the bridge is opening, TURN OFF YOUR ENGINE and your lights and take your foot OFF the brake.)

Time to get from 70-something floor of Columbia Tower to Metropolitan Market? 40 minutes. 40 minutes asking myself: why didn’t I take the viaduct? WEll because it was 8 o’clock at night. I-5 should be flowing. AND the trip would have been longer if I hadn’t managed to avoid a car that suddenly overheated on the street behind MM (It’s like a Seinfeld episode…I keep expecting to see Elaine and Kramer et al. in a car next to me.)

I am willing to admit we have a problem because we do. Empty busses go by continuously. During the snow storm, the (empty)light rail suddenly appeared from nowhere. Where did that come from? Where does it go? Certainly not to West Seattle.

SIDE RANT: Petco got completely screwed by the ‘light rail’ that I voted for and you voted for too. We voted for it, but we don’t have it. Meanwhile, when you buy a 40lb bag of pet food, it still helps to have parking NEARBY. But the city snatched the Petco parking lot for the ‘light rail’ that was supposed to be completed in 2010 (gee, that is NOW. I’ve been paying attention.) Then when the ‘light rail’ fell by the wayside (why?) the city sold the parking lot to some developer who put up condos. So now you circle the block, snag a place out front if you have parking karma or take your chances parking in the toyshop’s spot after hours or ask one of the wonderful Petco people to help you lug the bag up the street to your vehicle. They are quite accommodating. END SIDE RANT.

Still empty busses whoosh past everyone. They’re going somewhere in the bus lane quickly. But where and why are they empty? Because our bus system does not FLOW so we, the people, can reasonably utilize it. It takes an hour to get to Kirkland by bus. WHY? (It took my kid 4 hours to get home during the snow, but that is a whole ‘nuther issue.)

Where is our rapid transit? Where is our BART? SF began to build their BART in the 1960’s and opened it in 1972. Now it goes all over the place FAST. NYC, no one drives there but cabs and limos. Why? Because they have a rapid transit system. They also have cops who patrol the subway system (it’s a lot safer than you think if you haven’t been) and NYC cops do not give tickets for j-walking on a red. If you’re visiting from Seattle and wait for the light to turn green, you’ll get pushed along by the other pedestrians, all the while a nearby cop watches looking for REAL criminals (but that is a whole ‘nuther issue.)

We need to come together as a city and admit that we do not know how to solve our traffic mess. I just read something from our WA DOT that said our traffic flows faster now than 2 years ago. I do not believe this. It takes longer NOW to get out of West Seattle in the morning than it did 2 years ago (unless you know the backroad accesses. And several of these have been closed. Ahem.) I do not recall regularly sitting in traffic during non-rush hours 2 years ago.

We need to rally together on this issue because our elected officials, bless their hearts, just don’t want to/or can’t admit that there is a problem. It must be a political thing. I am not political, I just speak truth: we have a problem and our problem is US. We don’t know how to manage mass transit.

Our problem is not insurmountable. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We can get someone who already has solid, successful experience coordinating traffic for SF or NYC. I would take the bus or light rail IF it would get me where I needed to get in a decent amount of time AND if it was reliable AND if it ran late at night. You would too. Sometimes you have to work late (after 8pm.) Why shouldn’t mass transit be available 24 hours, convenient, and safe? This IS possible.

Admit it Seattle: we don’t know how to manage traffic and we need to hire someone from outside our Emerald city who knows what to do to solve our problem. I will take the bus/light rail (but not that bathtub ferry thing – which brings up another issue: WHY DOESN’T THE VASHON ISLAND FERRY GO STRAIGHT TO THE COLMAN DOCK? THAT’S WHERE THE VASHON ISLANDERS ARE GOING IN THE MORNING -DOWNTOWN. They aren’t going to West Seattle. They are going downtown. I know because I drive along with them and see where they go. (But that, of course is a whole ‘nuther issue.)

Are you ready to admit it, Seattle? I am.

WSB December 1, 2010 (10:46 pm)

Pha-la-la wins comment of the day. Week. Month. Maybe year. Hope you are planning on going to the mayoral town hall tomorrow night. You could probably print this out ahead of time, then stand at a mike and read it aloud.

Paul December 1, 2010 (11:01 pm)

Pha-la-la I was in total agreement until you condoned jay walking

nighthawk December 1, 2010 (11:41 pm)

I got caught for a bit in the snarl from I-5 to the bridge. I was wondering like many others what was going on what this was. After waiting for an eternity I was able to get back out into traffic (lane to W. Seattle stopped and everything else whizzing past at 60) and take Michigan Ave over to 1st ave bridge.

I was thinking…We really need some of the variable speed signs and informational signs on the approach to W. Seattle from the north.

Pha-la-la you hit a number of nails on the head (a couple curve balls) but for the most part spot on.

samson December 2, 2010 (6:59 am)

I definitely root for Pha-la-la. I used to live in NJ and went to work in NYC. Bus, Rail and Train are the best over there with great security. here – what is happening – a little out of control. I say no more!

Go Pha-la-la!! Speak up with your words!!!

Lucky chick December 2, 2010 (8:28 am)

I used to ride my bike to work all winter and so didn’t care much what traffic did, but this year I’ve had enough of idiots in cars not caring if they kill me, so I’m driving. Bus? From W Sea to Kirkland? Don’t think so. Agree with Pha-la-la. Took me 5 hours to get from Sodo to W Sea in the snow, an hour last night. This will never be a “world-class” city. We are an oversized suburb.

Seriously, drivers, how hard is it to get from Point A to Point B with crashing into something?? Hang up, stop messing with the radio, put the coffee/makeup/Big Mac down, and PAY ATTENTION!!

Kelly December 2, 2010 (9:01 am)

Pha-la-la FTW!!!! Amen.

Krystal December 2, 2010 (9:19 am)

Pha-la-la FTW! SF is superior in its ability to transport people.

PaulG December 2, 2010 (9:21 am)

What he/she said!

ellenater December 2, 2010 (9:26 am)

Pha-la-la. I hope you are going to the town hall too…

I am from Portland where I just returned from and where I can easily take any train to get virtually anywhere in the city AND the suburbs. I can even get to the zoo on it. I have never understood Seattle AT ALL. And as a transplant I just keep scratching my head and wondering if I missed something. It is absolutely sickening that we do not have a rapid transit system already in place, but the fact that we don’t have even a plan for one… well that is just pure insanity.

Al December 2, 2010 (9:26 am)

Pha-la-la that’s exactly the state you get to before you start really, really becoming involved as a citizen in the politics of this city. We need more people like you. Send your info to relevant people (city council, metro, SDOT, Coast Guard, etc.) and start attending meetings and speak out!

Just a note about the traffic control…it’s not traffic control issue per say in many of these instances that involve crashes – it’s the result of drivers not driving for conditions, driving aggressively, not paying attention, in essence, being poor drivers. And the problem just keeps multiplying. More cars = more congestion = more driver aggression = less safe for everyone.

2wheels a-go-go December 2, 2010 (9:27 am)

Try riding a bike. You’ll never have problems getting home. My commute is 35 minutes from West Seattle to Queen Anne, every day, regardless of traffic, crashes, rain or even snow and ice. 35 minutes.

wsgolfer December 2, 2010 (9:43 am)

+1. Pha-la-la!

Please take TR up on her suggestion to bring this comment in its entirety to McGinn’s open mike thing tonight! That would be awesome!

sun*e December 2, 2010 (9:43 am)

Comment by Pha-la-la = the longest rant EVER but definitely worth the read and all so true! You go girl/guy!!!

SF December 2, 2010 (9:46 am)

I completely agree with Pha-la-la. We moved up here 10 years ago from Portland and couldn’t believe how bad the mass transit was here for being a big city.

KV December 2, 2010 (9:55 am)

Pha la la deserves much more than comment of the day. It was comment of the decade. I won’t bore you with what happened to me in the snow commute or the traffic I sit in on a regular basis. Perhaps s/he could be on the committee to hire a competent transportation director.

Lynn S December 2, 2010 (9:57 am)

Love the rant…BUT! I lived in SF 11 years. You took the bus because there was no place to park a car. Most residences did not have parking/garages. Street parking was difficult, and if you found a place near your flat you didn’t move it until you had to – which was at least once a week because there was weekly street cleaning and they would ticket you if your car was in the way. A professor at a local college did a study – at least 1/3 of the registered vehicles had to be on the road at all times because that was how many more cars there were than legal parking spaces. They didn’t ticket jaywalkers, but if you double-parked for one minute, there would be a ticket on your car. I never checked bus schedules because they were so regular it wasn’t necessary, and if they were late, well you didn’t really have a choice! I worked on Sundays, and often could walk a two-mile stretch to work without a bus passing me. There are no bridges within SF city limits, so detours are easy. SF is extremely compact and high density. You trade the ease of mass transit for the limitations of not being able to use your car. Grocery shopping was a challenge. Theft of grocery carts was such a problem the stores all had corrals around the store so you couldn’t take the carts out – even to the parking lot where your car was. While you shlepped a couple bags to the car, someone would swipe the bags you left behind! And there was no way you would get a clerk to help you carry your 40 pound bag of dog food anywhere! I loved SF, but you have to adapt to the conditions. I love Seattle, and I don’t think the geography, or the population density, are comparible. We need our own solutions.

Lynn S December 2, 2010 (10:03 am)

Oh, yeah, and BART was for the suburbs. There were few in-city stations for in-city commuting.

WSB December 2, 2010 (10:17 am)

Again, as noted earlier, the mayor and other city officials will be in WS ****tonight**** (6-8 pm at Youngstown Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way, mayor Q/A scheduled at 6:35), so whether you have comments on this topic or others, please be there. (And of course it doesn’t have to all be complaints – if there is something you want to applaud or praise, or just ask about, you’d be just as welcome.) Meantime, I have asked SDOT for comment on the issue of coordination in a situation like this – high bridge closure because of emergency, low bridge opening for vessel – and hope to have a followup later … TR

Columbia Tower December 2, 2010 (10:20 am)

Maybe I need to start commuting with Pha-la-la, I too work on the 70-something floor of the Columbia Tower and am sick of the commute these days.

ivan December 2, 2010 (10:39 am)

Ferries from Vashon don’t go to Colman Dock, except when emergencies shut the Fauntleroy Dock, because:

1) NOT everybody is going downtown. Ever hear of this place called Boeing?

2) Colman Dock couldn’t handle the extra traffic on any sustained basis.

3) The additional cost of ferry fuel to make a downtown run would be prohibitive in the long run.

So, “Pha-la-la,” while I’m sure you THINK you know it all, you don’t.

Tamea December 2, 2010 (10:47 am)

Pha La La I amm applauding you right this minute, in between typing. I totally agree! Lived here in the Seattle area for 20 years and have watched traffic get worse each year. It is absolutly redonkulous that you have to plan your life around traffic jams! Gold Star to you Pha La La!!!!

Sue December 2, 2010 (11:05 am)

Pha-la-la’s comment was worth every second it took to read it. Amen! As a native New Yorker, I generally don’t say that NY can do something better than here, because if I wanted to be living in NY, I would go back. I wanted to live in Seattle, so I accept certain things. But you are 100% right about this. Not that the NYC area is without traffic issues, but there are definite lessons to be learned. And traffic is definitely not improved here – I’ve been out here 6 years (4 in West Seattle) and it just keeps getting worse.

Carole December 2, 2010 (11:20 am)

I agree w/ pha-la-la. I am one who had the privilege of paying for the monorail FOUR times (most paid 3), and looked forward to its construction. I have traveled in the US and Europe – NYC, DC have wonderful mass transit. Even Athens has a subway system, and it is practically a third world country. Paris, Milan, London, Rome, Munich, etc. all have mass transit. If you have ever ridden on a mass transit system you would see how backward Seattle is in transportation planning.

Our light rail from airport to downtown is a start, but I never understand why it is at-grade through the CD (it slows down there) or why it completely by-passes Southcenter, a major destination for shoppers and employees.

As for biking, I work in Kent – I am supposed to BIKE from Kent? In heels and a skirt? In the rain? I bussed daily when I worked downtown, but had no option except the car when the job transferred to Kent, other than a 2 hour bus ride (plus any delays for missed transfers) each way.

marshall December 2, 2010 (12:12 pm)

pha la la gives a well written essay but i have been here since 1958 and have watched wa st dot and seattle miss the boat on roads and traffic
all along. dont let me start to rant on the punishment of living by 405 with the left lane campers– but golly jee wish beav–the dot brought in experts from texas a& m to help shove toll lanes down our throat. no bus or rail ever for me. i love my chevy. mvpaint

CandrewB December 2, 2010 (12:38 pm)

Carole, I paid four times as well. Remember when they said the 4-timers would be getting rebates from the profits of Monorail property liquidation? Still waiting for my check.

Diana December 2, 2010 (3:03 pm)

Pha-la-la, couldn’t agree with you more on EVERY account. I used to live in WS and worked in the SODO district. I lived in WS long before the new highrise bridge, and suffered through the traffic when there was only the one bridge–and I thought that was bad traffic! I used to be able to drive to WS during my lunch hour, walk along the beach and return to work within the hour. No more. It seems there is a train or construction always in the way now. Hope someone will be bringing Pha-La-Las notes to the meeting tonight and give your mayor an earful!

Cascadianone December 2, 2010 (3:39 pm)

Phil, just… wow. Yes to everything you said. Run for Mayor or anything else- you’ve got my vote brother!

k December 2, 2010 (7:06 pm)

I wish there was an “agree” button that I could push on
Pha-la-la’s post.

And I hope she/he did go to the meeting tonight and read this out loud.

whitestuart December 2, 2010 (7:15 pm)

3 Cheers for Pha- la- la! and let’s add 1 more RANT to the list- shall we? The new traffic sign on Fauntleroy that indicates the expected drive-time to I-5 NB & SB, 1st Ave and 99. Every morning, I check the ETA time on that sign, and time my drive across the bridge to the I-5 N on-ramp- and it is consistently DOUBLE the amount of time predicted!!! SO FRUSTRATING! TOday- at 7:20 am- the sign said 5 minutes! What is the point of this sign if it is SO INACCURATE?

MMB December 2, 2010 (9:45 pm)

Add me to the list of ranters who can’t believe that the low-level bridge is allowed to rise during rush hour and/or traffic emergencies. Surely there could be coordination of traffic through that waterway with the traffic patterns on the streets. I think I remember that the mayor or DOT had requested or negotiated for that at one point, but maritime needs take priority for some reason. Bleah.

2wheels a-go-go December 2, 2010 (9:46 pm)

@Carole:
.
First of all, you wouldn’t actually ride a bike wearing your skirt and heels. Carry your work clothes in a rainproof backpack or pannier bag on your bike; bike in your rain gear, change when you get there. It’s pretty simple. I and a few of my colleagues do it every day.
.
Secondly, I biked between North Admiral and Kent every day for a week when I was on jury duty last year. There is a bike path almost 100% of the way to Kent from West Seattle. Sure it’s long — about 20 miles, or about 90 minutes each way — but think of how much better you’ll look in that skirt and those heels when you get 3 hours of exercise every day instead of sitting on your arse, driving to and from work.

dolly December 2, 2010 (10:17 pm)

OMG!!! I just read Ph-la-la’s comment.
I too was caught in that mess last night. I too, managed to divert to 6th Ave. north to Holgate. Nope there was a train backing things up at 4th Ave. Let’s go to the E. Martinez overpass and to the waterfront. NO! not that way either. South on 1st Ave to Horton or Hanford. AH! Now we are making progress. NO! there is a freight train and it has just stopped on the tracks blocking the way. U-Turn, no one to watch me, back to 1st and south to the First Ave. bridge then up through Highland Park and Delridge.
Finally we reach North Admiral an hour after leaving the Central District. If this was not so pathetic, it would be funny.
But we don’t want no stinkin’ Monorail. We don’t want no stinkin’ Rapid Ride. We don’t want to rebuild the Viaduct as a real thru-way. We love our gridlock, isn’t that the (West) Seattle way?

WSB December 3, 2010 (10:18 am)

If the person who attempted to comment by insulting the entirety of West Seattle would care to resubmit with their point made minus insults, which are against the rules even if not aimed at a specific person by name, you had a few good points, although one of them will be addressed in a followup we’ll be publishing shortly … TR

LB December 3, 2010 (1:43 pm)

Well said, Pha-la-la. It also takes 1 hour via two buses to get from West Seattle to the Eastgate Park & Ride in Bellevue. It seems like the city wants us to use transit. However if we’re not traveling to a few specific areas they make it as time-consuming and inconvenient as possible–given the refusal to build Park & Rides or expecting people to walk 3/4 of a mile to use light rail, etc. I don’t mind walking but when you’re adding a 15-20 minute walk onto each end of your commute it starts to make less sense. And some people are unable to walk that far.
Of course, driving isn’t much faster. The part about being stuck in traffic in non-rush hours was especially true. If I leave the house at 7 AM, the Bridge to I-5 is already backed up all the way to Delridge. If I leave work at 7 PM I-90 is backed all the way past Mercer Island, and the exit to I-5 south is backed all the way up on I-90 to the tunnel. If I actually make it to I-5, the West Seattle exit is usually backed up a mile. Most of the time the low bridge route is just as bad. Exactly what time do we need to travel to avoid huge traffic jams? Before 6 AM and after 8 PM?

wsnative December 4, 2010 (2:48 am)

Could not agree more with Ph-la-la’s comments – Irritation/frustration about recent traffic fiasco totally justified. Would welcome logical explanation for reason rail/water traffic seemingly HAS to pass during peak commute times.

See guys – I really do think that traffic issues affecting West Seattle are important and justified but really, whining about how long it took us to get home in the snow a couple weeks ago – we could be in Buffalo NY!

Sorry, comment time is over.