West Seattle traffic-alert update: Crash closes Sylvan Way for 7+ hours

| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Thanks to @hommesea for tweeting that photo)
12:33 PM: Thanks to everybody who texted about this. A driver hit a utility pole on Sylvan Way just east of High Point, and the eastbound side of the road is closed, so if you’re trying to get from High Point to Delridge, you’ll have to go another way. The westbound (uphill) side is open. Police tell us nobody was hurt, but Seattle City Light is headed out to figure out if the pole has to be replaced.

P.S. SCL says this has left two customers without power.

1:31 PM UPDATE: In comments, Terri says it’s now closed both ways.

5:40 PM: Still closed at last report and Metro has been rerouting 128. We went by around half an hour ago – the closure is far from the actual crash scene so no way to tell what kind of progress they’re making.

8:30 PM: As Egan reported about 20 minutes ago in comments, it’s now open again. Thanks to everyone for the updates.

Terri November 1, 2014 (1:29 pm)

Westbound s now also closed.

WSB November 1, 2014 (1:31 pm)

Thanks. Appreciate the update, as we won’t be able to go back and look for an hour and a half or so – closures often expand for towing and/or repairs.

smokeycretin9 November 1, 2014 (2:04 pm)

Pesky poles keep jumping out in front of cars when you least expect it

Egan Fo November 1, 2014 (2:31 pm)

As of 2:30pm, the road is still closed in both directions.

Kari November 1, 2014 (4:02 pm)

It is still closed

Diane November 1, 2014 (5:06 pm)

I got metro email ~4:30pm saying bus still on re-route; is it still closed?

trickycoolj November 1, 2014 (5:15 pm)

5:15 PM still closed

Debbie November 1, 2014 (5:15 pm)

Still closed! 😁

WSB November 1, 2014 (5:39 pm)

Thanks, Debbie & Tricky, for the latest update. I ran by around 5 while out on errands and noticed that but the firsthand reports are invaluable.
.
WSH – I don’t know what it is about that stretch. The curve, maybe? It’s also where some mysterious heavy object fell on the windshield of our Element a couple years ago, still never figured out what it was, and we were too spooked to go back and look for the object … lest it have been somehow hurled …

West Seattle Hipster November 1, 2014 (5:26 pm)

Did a brief search of the WSB archives using “sylvan way crash” as the keywords and there seems to be quite a few crashes on this stretch of road.

Kaw November 1, 2014 (6:30 pm)

There are so many crashes there because people drive at ridiculously fast speeds. I drive it everyday and it is an easy curve to maneuver if driving the speed limit.

WSB November 1, 2014 (6:44 pm)

Please note, we don’t have any information on the circumstances of this afternoon’s crash. As of about 15 minutes ago, still closed, by the way – I went by again.

Egan Fo November 1, 2014 (6:47 pm)

Hey, as soon as it’s back open I’ll post here. I live in Sylvan Ridge adjacent to Sylvan Way. All streetlights are still out and that’s most likely why the road remains closed.

The road has lots of accidents due to the speed of cars and lack of a decent shoulder on either side of the road halfway down the hill.

WSB November 1, 2014 (6:48 pm)

Thank you.

trickycoolj November 1, 2014 (6:59 pm)

The side of Sylvan has a significant drop off especially after big rainfalls like we had late this week it’s just eroding the hill next to the road. If you catch a tire in it going down hill around the curve, it would be easy to be frightened and over correct. I really wish they could cut out a better shoulder on that hill but I don’t see it ever being a priority for SDOT. Glad there weren’t too serious of injuries this time. Been an active few weeks around Sylvan/Morgan lately.

Alice November 1, 2014 (7:38 pm)

Still closed both ways right uphill from Home Depot. 7:40pm

Egan Fo November 1, 2014 (7:52 pm)

Still closed folks.

y November 1, 2014 (8:08 pm)

The worst driving in WS takes place between Highland Park and High Point.

Egan Fo November 1, 2014 (8:11 pm)

Streetlights are back on and Sylvan Way is finally open.

WSB November 1, 2014 (8:29 pm)

Thanks! We just drove through, too.

pupsarebest November 1, 2014 (9:38 pm)

Really?
7+ hours closure for a one-car accident with no injuries?
Seriously pathetic.
If you are able to determine the reasons for such lunacy, please let us know, WSB.

WSB November 1, 2014 (9:55 pm)

A power pole had to be replaced. We drove through after it reopened in the 8 pm hour and you can see the old pole on the ground.