TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:57 AM: If for some reason you are reading this from north of downtown, getting ready to head this way – whatever you do, stay off I-5; southbound 5 is blocked by a truck crash/fire in the heart of downtown.

(Thanks to Bruce for the photo)
NORTHBOUND I-5 is moving along, though.

8:32 AM: However, commenters warn below, it’s ugly getting out of West Seattle this morning, just the same, even though the main downtown trouble is for people going in the opposite direction.

9:18 AM: If you are heading back into West Seattle on 99, the southbound side is extra-busy, no doubt because of the southbound I-5 situation. Also a few advance notes for this weekend:

DELRIDGE/HOLDEN CLOSED: Reminder about the intersection closure Friday night till Monday morning.

520 CLOSED: Friday night till Monday morning; WSDOT details here.

Fed up May 29, 2013 (8:07 am)

It’s like that movie Groundhog Day. Bridge backed up past 35th.

Ben May 29, 2013 (8:20 am)

Traffic from WS to downtown is far worse than usual today. The traffic displays on EB Fauntleroy all show high 20-minutes times, Fauntleroy is gridlock, cars are filling up the bus lane on Avalon, the C bus I’m on (6067) is packed to the gills. Is this possibly a ripple effect of the SB I-5 blockage? Not sure how that would happen but it’s worse than I’ve seen in a while.

Neighbor May 29, 2013 (8:26 am)

Seriously over crowded C line bus. So crowded up front final stop was asked to try another door. Months have gone by yet still if you catch the C after the junction, you will have to squeeze on.

Ben May 29, 2013 (8:57 am)

To apply some quantifiable rigor, today my C bus travel time from Morgan Junction to 2nd and Seneca was 34 minutes, which is 31% (8 minutes) longer than my rush-hour average of 26 minutes (n=146).

trickycoolj May 29, 2013 (10:36 am)

There was a sizable amount of cars coming NB from SR599 turning left onto SR509 to go across the 1st Ave bridge this morning. Usually Tracy Taylor on King5 tells NB I-5 drivers to take that route into downtown when there’s problems around Boeing Field. I’m sure they clogged up 99, 1st and 4th to the point it caused backflow onto the high bridge. I found myself going through South Park and taking the side road to the itty bitty Boeing bridge to get to work on East Marginal today… it’s been a frequent route the last few weeks. Hopefully when school gets out for summer we’ll get a little bit of relief.

Smitty May 29, 2013 (10:45 am)

The bus only lane eastbound on the WSB needs to END after the exit to 99!

9 out of 10 busses use 99 and not 1st avenue south. That short additional advantage is meaningless.

Opening that lane to all traffic would do absolute wonders for everyone.

fiz May 29, 2013 (12:32 pm)

Right on, Smitty.

whacked May 29, 2013 (1:38 pm)

Don’t know if this is kosher, but here is my blog — just for fun, but you all are welcome to add comments and rants — that’s what it is for — so we can all let off a little steam re: our ongoing bridge saga…
http://westseattlebridge.blogspot.com/

beaglenut May 29, 2013 (1:45 pm)

WS commuter traffic is a total joke now. I can hardly justify living here anymore. Seriously…

enough May 29, 2013 (2:22 pm)

Agree with Smitty and beagle.

Was the I 5 incident this morning affecting the WS bridge? If so, why/how? Those going south on I 5 from the bridge entered after the I 5 accident under the convention center. Since I 5 north was not affected, the bridge traffic getting to I 5 north shouldn’t have been any worse than usual but it was.

WSB May 29, 2013 (2:27 pm)

No lookie-loo slowdown?

G May 29, 2013 (7:11 pm)

I guess a cruel equilibrium will be reached when those who can adjust, stay, and those who can’t, leave. Nothing new, this is as old as human history. I’m resigned to the fact that WS isn’t and will never again be what it was fifteen, ten – even five – years ago. Some good, some bad. C’est la vie.

Sorry, comment time is over.