TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates, & road work

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:10 AM: More warm, bright sunshine today. Perfect for road work, too, and remember that repaving work is scheduled today and tomorrow on California SW, south of The Junction, between Dawson (the west leg, per the No Parking signs) and Findlay. Then this weekend, the Delridge/Thistle intersection has a planned closure, Friday night until Monday morning, as the Delridge repaving project continues – details and detours here.

8:01 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Erica for the tip – there’s a crash on the eastbound bridge just before the 99 exit, currently blocking two lanes, so if you haven’t left yet, wait a while.

8:33 AM UPDATE: The bridge crash has been cleared.

8:45 AM: However – maybe because of diversion from the bridge – commenter Trickycoolj says Highland Park Way hill is backed up.

Bus rider April 25, 2013 (7:47 am)

Multiple vehicle collision with SFD on scene on high rise bridge blocking bus lane now.

The Original MB April 25, 2013 (7:56 am)

Live view? What the heck happened in the 10 minutes since I crossed and it was clear?! That looks like a significant accident.

WSB April 25, 2013 (8:00 am)

Just got word of a crash blocking a couple eastbound lanes. Am updating.

Eugene April 25, 2013 (8:00 am)

The camera is showing what looks like an accident in the bus lane?

The Original MB April 25, 2013 (8:11 am)

It’s always awesome when you ask a question someone already answered, but it hadn’t showed up (for me at least) yet ;) Yikes, hope everyone is ok! Glad I got across just before this happened. Watched a Vanpool almost hit someone in that same lane on my way, close call. The rain comes out, we forget how to drive. The sun comes out, we forget how to drive. Yada yada :/

EP April 25, 2013 (8:17 am)

Glad I got through right before this! There were a lot of late lane changes in and out of the bus lanes today though. It would be good to see more enforcement of this bus lane some… Folks aren’t expecting cars to dart across this lane. Hope everyone’s safe!

Kenny April 25, 2013 (8:20 am)

Based on the cars, it looks like some jerk was in the bus only lane trying to cut over and probably hit someone

WSB April 25, 2013 (8:33 am)

Clear now, per camera and per tweet from SDOT. Thanks to everyone for the updates.

JS April 25, 2013 (8:34 am)

Witnessed this. Was about 10 cars in front and watching my side-view mirror (bacause many cars were using the Bus Lane to cut line. SUV-type coming down hill in Bus Lane (illegally) to bypass all the traffic. Car in 99 North lane turns out in front of SUV (to either block them or to also illegally use the Bus Lane). Crash. SUV goes up on one wheel then spins 45 degrees and blocks Bus Lane. Car goes 45 degrees and blocks 99 North lane.

Trickycoolj April 25, 2013 (8:37 am)

Austin/16th/Holden is really backed up right now. More than usual.

Kelly April 25, 2013 (8:38 am)

I was taking my son to school and wife to work and saw it happen. A Cadillac Escalade was driving in the bus lane and sideswiped a Honda/Acura then into another vehicle in front of that. I just came home and saw one eastbound lane open with 2 cars from the accident still on scene (the Escalade was gone). Traffic is backed up as far as I could see toward Fauntleroy and up Delridge and about halfway up Admiral. The seven minutes it takes to get to Highland Park and go over the 1st Ave S Bridge will be a lot less than the time you spend sitting there waiting for traffic to clear.

P.S. Unless you are a bus, stay out of the bus lane!!!

Trickycoolj April 25, 2013 (8:40 am)

Likewise Holden/highland park hill is backed up to 16th.

Trickycoolj April 25, 2013 (10:05 am)

@kelly the 7 extra minutes to take 1st ave bridge may be a wash for those that work downtown but for those of us that work on the southern stretch of E Marginal by Boeing Field our normal commute is only 12 min to begin with. Throw in all the diverted high bridge traffic and it more than doubled my commute. Took twice as long just to turn out of High Point and I was not thrilled to see all the diverted cars blasting through the WS Elem school zone which was flashing.

enough April 25, 2013 (10:16 am)

I filled out a request for enforcement of the bus lane on the SPD website this morning. I encourage my neighbors to do the same. 3 people were killed near this area around 2006 and I’m afraid there will be another fatality and/or accident. Make your lane changes legally before the bus lane starts.. then stay out of the bus lane! No cutting across or using it to get down to the 1st Ave area more quickly.

http://www.seattle.gov/police/contact_form.htm

SJ2 April 25, 2013 (10:45 am)

It seems like every Thursday traffic is a lot worse than any other day of the week and if there is going to be an accident it will be on Thursday. This is just weird to me.