TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch; schools out early

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No trouble on the routes through/out of West Seattle so far. One note for this afternoon – Seattle Public Schools are out two hours early, so you’ll see school buses, biking/walking kids, and other dismissal-time traffic sooner than usual.

Speaking of time – 2 am this Sunday, clocks “fall back” an hour.

7:48 AM: Thanks to Jana for first word of a crash on the bridge – multiple ensuing sources say it’s in the left lane, near the crest of the eastbound high-rise. And this is backing things up into the approaches, multiple commenters say. Here’s the camera showing Fauntleroy headed eastbound toward the bridge:

8:02 AM: If the Water Taxi is an option, here’s the view from the dock a short time ago, thanks to Lise Thivierge:

The camera that usually faces west to show the eastbound bridge WOULD show the crash if it were pointed that way, but every time we check it, it’s pointed somewhere else:

8:24 AM: Commenter CB has gone through the crash zone and reports from the other side that it appears cleaned up, and that once you’re actually on the bridge, things move fast.

stb October 30, 2013 (7:42 am)

Don’t know what’s going on but major clog on Fauntleroy. Backing up fast.

DonaLuisa October 30, 2013 (7:44 am)

Delayed at Fauntleroy and Alaska. Any idea what might be causing gridlock?

Greta October 30, 2013 (7:45 am)

There were 3 cars plus a cop car on the left side of the bridge going North. Looked like a series of rear end accidents.

Sara S October 30, 2013 (7:45 am)

Not sure how there can be no problems.. It’s been 25 minutes and counting from trader joe’s trying to get onto the bridge. Waiting through each light several times. Much worse this morning than usual. :(

schwaggy October 30, 2013 (7:46 am)

I see a police car blocking the left lane heading East on the Bridge. Is that why traffic is backed up to 40th?

Blinkyjoe October 30, 2013 (7:48 am)

There was a 4 car accident that gummed things up on the eastbound high bridge at 7:05 ish this morning. Then the lineup to NB I-5 seemed VERY slow this morning as well. I think I need to start leaving a few minutes earlier.

Belvedere resident October 30, 2013 (7:48 am)

Traffic is really backed up on bridge eastbound. Can’t tell why.

WSB October 30, 2013 (7:49 am)

JUST got word of a crash in the left lane toward the crest, added to traffic watch. It wasn’t on the 911 log since no one is hurt, and our usual portfolio of monitored sources didn’t show it.

Andy October 30, 2013 (7:49 am)

Been on Admiral 25 minutes and can see from here that the bridge is gridlocked

Lindsey October 30, 2013 (7:50 am)

What is the traffic back up for WS bridge? It’s taken me 30 minutes to get from California/Fauntleroy to TacoTime.

Sara S October 30, 2013 (7:55 am)

It is so weird that the bridge cam looks nothing like this commute feels. Where is all that empty road??

WSB October 30, 2013 (8:10 am)

Sara – the problem seems to be that the bridge-cam view is right AFTER the crash. I just added the other bridge cam to the traffic watch but it’s been pointing in a variety of OTHER angles so, so far, it hasn’t been much help.

Stuart October 30, 2013 (7:56 am)

40 mins from Fauntleroy to delridge on ramp

D October 30, 2013 (7:56 am)

Lower bridge is closed for traffic too.

DonaLuisa October 30, 2013 (7:59 am)

Thanks for Update guess the lower bridge is also closed

Dan October 30, 2013 (8:06 am)

Whats the deal with traffic this morning? It’s backed up way down 35th!!

Louise October 30, 2013 (8:06 am)

Admiral way is backed up to top of hill; you’ll be stopped before you even get to the viewpoint. Yuck!

C-B October 30, 2013 (8:09 am)

Hang tough everyone! I just went over the bridge (via bus) & it appears the accident that occurred is now cleaned up – once you get on the bridge things start moving again. REALLYdreadful traffic getting TO the bridge, but you’ll be moving again soon. Safe commuting!

NW October 30, 2013 (8:17 am)

DOES TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC INCREASE THE CHANCE OF SLAMMING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU AND RUINING PEOPLE’S DAY BY MISSING THAT APPOINTMENT ARRIVING LATE TO WORK AND BEING UNDER STRESS.? is it worth it?

Eugene October 30, 2013 (8:18 am)

Looks like yet another 90 minute bus ride to get downtown. Light rail, anyone?

East Coast Cynic October 30, 2013 (8:24 am)

Re: the left lane of the bridge

Whenever I have to go I-5N (fortunately not in the rush hour), I tend to wait till after the crest when the bride road is running flat. It gets very hairy in the left lane–too many people driving too fast at or near the uphill slope of the crest and the downhill slope.

We could leave our homes a few minutes early to help ourselves a bit, but when the crashes occur, and have been doing so with more frequency, the early departure benefits go out the window and highlights the need not only for careful driving, but for improved transportation infrastructure for our peninsula in response to the increased volume of traffic.

Ugh October 30, 2013 (8:27 am)

Caught the bus at 7:40 am in front of the Kenny. Turning on to bridge at 8:26.

WSLiz October 30, 2013 (8:45 am)

I live just off Avalon and whenever traffic gets backed up, we have long lines of cars coming down off Admiral and coming out by Luna Park. Most of them are trying to turn left and get over to the right hand turn lane. I know the sign only says “right lane must turn right” but the left lane is half the width of a car and has a picture of a bicycle in it. That means only bikes can turn left. Everyone else is just taking an illegal turn to try to cut to the front of the line and then acting like those of us following the rules are the a-holes for not letting them go first when we’ve taken 20 minutes to get 2 blocks. Next time there is a traffic problem I would LOVE if a police officer could just stand there writing expensive tickets for all of those cars who think their convenience is a sufficient reason to break the rules and make the problem so much worse for everyone behind them.

Enough October 30, 2013 (8:49 am)

Bumper to bumper 35th to I 5, moving slowly.

Chanel October 30, 2013 (8:58 am)

Dropping 2 kids off at 2 different schools..from Highland Park area to WSHS and over to Pathfinder..was a total nightmare this morning. Every last side street and short cut was pure gridlock. Could be worse..at least all of us commenting are safe and not the ones to have their day ruined by an accident.

D I D October 30, 2013 (9:18 am)

@ WSLiz – Right on! Suggest you contact SPD Traffic Enforcement division and let them know now so it is on their front burner. Then the next time the WS bridge backs up let them know to send out the the Aggressive Driving Officers or the MotorCycle Cops . Who knows, maybe they will actually do something and ticket the A_s h_l_s. I don’t commute that route otherwise I would be all over it.

BMC October 30, 2013 (9:19 am)

I left near Belvidere Pk, took the outside land down Admiral, the alley, Avalon, Genesee, right onto 25th, Delridge, up toward 16th Ave Firestation – too backed up, bypassed thru side streets, left onto Holden, too backed up, south thru side streets, east on Elmgrove, N on 9th, then finally Highland Pk and SOUTH 99! all to avoid the Bridge and I-5.

BMC October 30, 2013 (9:19 am)

Does the lower Spokane Bridge close every Wednesday morning? Seem like there is something scheduled then???

helridge October 30, 2013 (9:20 am)

At 7:45, after passing the wreck on the bridge, the viaduct was nearly empty and there was not one single car in line for 1-5 North…it was kinda creepy, especially with the beautiful sunrise to boot!

WSAsh October 30, 2013 (9:29 am)

40 minute wait for the 21/37 bus stop under the WS Bridge this morning. OneBusAway was no help at all, as it kept saying the buses arrived on time and there were definitely no buses showing up. Technology fail!

schwaggy October 30, 2013 (9:34 am)

I’m so tired of morning accidents completely clogging the exit from the largest neighborhood in the city. We need Light Rail, Subway, Monorail – Whatever – started now!
At this rate, the next generation of West Seattleites will get to benefit and the rest of us will suffer as long as we choose to live here.
Please submit the Sound Transit survey if you haven’t.
http://soundtransit.publicinvolvement.net/

anonymous October 30, 2013 (10:14 am)

Okay seriously, something needs to change with the lower bridge always opening during the morning rush hour. It’s the only bridge allowed to open during the morning rush hour and it makes no sense. If it stayed open for cars from 7-9 that would help out traffic a lot. Especially on days like today where there was traffic on the upper bridge.

adot October 30, 2013 (11:52 am)

Remember, you aren’t in traffic, you are traffic.

schwaggy October 30, 2013 (12:10 pm)

@adot – and…? What’s your point? We pay our taxes for infrastructure and on gas. I’ll buy in to plans for BETTER mass transit. None of this “Rapid Ride” cr*p. I don’t give a hoot if I’m part of the problem. My money can also be used to be part of the solution.

D October 30, 2013 (12:11 pm)

WSliz and D I D – there is no prohibition against turning left at Avalon. No sign that says no left turn. Yes, let’s call the cops to stop one more alternative point of access to the bridge so that it makes the other lanes that much more dense.

By the way, I’ve commuted that way every day for ten years, and I’ve NEVER seen a bicyclist turn left there.

Changes like that left turn “bike lane”, arguably making a left turn illegal or at least discouraging it, and the removal of a left turn lane near the gym onto Delridge, removing another lane of accesss to the bridge to accomodate trucks at Nucor, are two of many reasons why I’m voting out McGinn. I see every morning like this how his decisions have directly lowered the quality of my life. Call it minor, call it a bike versus car thing, I don’t care. I spend more time sitting in traffic because of him, and that is time away from doing things I love, being productive, and spending time with my family.

enough October 30, 2013 (1:03 pm)

Schwaggy – I agree. adot and amalia say things like this but I’m not sure why. There are limited options: car and bus = traffic. Water taxi only holds so many people. Bikes are an option for some .. maybe they are saying half of the drivers should get on a bike? Or maybe stop voting down mass transit while the city goes ahead full bore with density.

Olly October 30, 2013 (1:04 pm)

Thanks again to everyone who doesn’t carpool. Yeah yeah, “this excuse”, “that excuse”… My 6 mile commute downtown took over an hour this morning. Really, thanks.

Smitty October 30, 2013 (4:53 pm)

We have enough pavement to move this volume of traffic, they just need to make one of the lanes on the westbound WSB reversible. It can be done.

Olly October 30, 2013 (7:50 pm)

Better yet – make an HOV lane. Would be quite funny to see all the single occupant excuse makers magically find a travel buddy all of a sudden. I still can’t fathom how West Seattleites aren’t up in arms about this. I feel like I’m the only one it bothers.

Kona October 30, 2013 (8:57 pm)

It was a hour to get off West Seattle streets to the Bridge and nothing on the traffic issues on news radio. Plus they closed the low bridge? Not sure why that decision was made. It was a mess.

WSB October 30, 2013 (9:04 pm)

The low bridge closes relatively frequently during the commute. We’ve covered it over the years – requests to put the commute time periods off-limits have been rejected.

Sorry, comment time is over.