TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; 1st Ave. S. ramps reopen

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:20 AM: We start with a problem that we’re told has the 1st Avenue South offramp from the bridge closed currently – Seattle Fire is investigating a reported natural-gas leak. Spokane Street is closed on the surface in the area, too:

Natural gas line leak 55 S Spokane St. Building evacuated. S Spokane St closed between 1st Av to E 'Marginal Wy.

— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) June 17, 2014

One of WSDOT’s cameras shows the offramp blocked on the westbound side of the bridge:

Our IRT is helping block the ramp from WB West Seattle Bridge to 1st Ave. due to possible gas leak. pic.twitter.com/IbHtJvOCqu

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) June 17, 2014

6:42 AM: We have now confirmed the 1st Avenue South offramps are closed from BOTH sides of the bridge – eastbound AND westbound.

6:51 AM: WSDOT reports the westbound offramp has reopened. Eastbound ramp to 1st S. still closed.

7:29 AM: SFD says the eastbound ramp is reopening.

Meantime:

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: ICYMI, the tunnel-machine repair plan, animation and all, is now public. And there’s another Sound Transit survey to take!

P.S. Looking for the travel times you see on the city’s lighted signboards? They’re also on the right side of the SDOT Travelers’ Information Map, always findable from the link atop the WSB Traffic page.

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5:12 PM: There’s a crash/police situation at the north end of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, right before East Marginal, and a big backup reported on 509 as a result. They’re calling for tows.

Paul June 17, 2014 (6:43 am)

We could smell the gas from the bus.

Paul June 17, 2014 (6:51 am)

Our 21 detoured to 4th and went back to 1st on Horton.

Jeffro June 17, 2014 (7:12 am)

I’ve been smelling that natural gas smell approaching the bridge southbound literally for months, definitely at least since October. I kept meaning to ask here but always forgot to. I don’t drive that way too often, but nearly every time there was that smell.

Ben June 17, 2014 (7:29 am)

The EB exit to 1st still closed as of a few minutes ago when the 116 I’m on passed it by to take the 4th Ave exit, then turned right on Spokane street and pulled a u-turn to get back to 1st.

supernova72 June 17, 2014 (7:32 am)

Thanks for the warning on 1st ave offramp closed. 4th ave offramp was already getting backed up at 7am. Cheers.

SunriseHeights June 17, 2014 (7:33 am)

The 21 just exited the bridge via 1st Ave exit. TV crews set up in the corners of 1st & Spokane.

Maggie June 17, 2014 (7:52 am)

Eastbound 1st Ave exit is OPEN! :)

sam-c June 17, 2014 (8:31 am)

what’s ICYMI?

Scott June 17, 2014 (8:35 am)

@Jeffro — I’ve been smelling the same, right when exiting onto the bridge from I-5 S in the evenings. Came here to see if anyone else had noticed that.

Wes C. Addle June 17, 2014 (8:54 am)

sam-c

AG June 17, 2014 (10:19 am)

I’d been smelling that for months as I went over the bridge some evenings, too, but had no idea it was the chemicals used to scent natural gas, aka “natural gas smell.” I thought it was some sort of factory smell or someone riding their clutch on the bridge, and since it wasn’t 24/7, I didn’t question my assumption. The intensity of the smell this morning was dramatically stronger, however. Positive result: I now know that particular smell is natural gas. Good to know.

WSB June 17, 2014 (10:39 am)

For those who think this might be something they’ve noticed previously: What happened today was a specific, one-time problem, according to Puget Sound Energy, which tweeted: “Pallet loaded with goods at warehouse fell off forklift this morning, snapping a gas meter off a pipe.” If you smell what might be a gas leak, you can report it to 911, and SFD will check it out. If you notice some other strong and/or recurring stink – you can report it to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, as it would potentially qualify for an odor nuisance; this is where we point people who e-mail us to ask about such things – it might help them track down something recurring, if they can triangulate from multiple complaints:
.
http://www.pscleanair.org/contact/complaint.aspx

NW June 17, 2014 (11:07 am)

Along Sw Spokane St. On the north side and west of 1st ave is a small gas station I see taxis filing up there and have smelled gas here before while passing by

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