West Seattle traffic-alert update: Dump truck & spilled dirt cleared after blocking eastbound ramp from Harbor/Avalon for 3 hours

3:32 PM: Thanks to the texter (2062936302 any time!) who sent this photo of a dump-truck problem where Harbor Avenue meets the bridge. They note – as the photo shows – that vehicles are “squeezing by” to the right of the spill; we haven’t heard an emergency dispatch on this yet, but if you’re headed that way, be forewarned. And just as we finish typing this, we’re getting a Metro alert that RapidRide C Line and Route 21 are rerouted off Avalon because of this.

4:34 PM: Metro says the reroutes are still in effect. We’re going to go see how cleanup is going.

5:10 PM: Avoid Avalon northbound for a while longer. Truck has been righted, dirt is being scooped up, but the Avalon/Harbor onramp toward the eastbound bridge remains blocked and traffic is backing up intermittently. The outbound buses are detouring onto Yancy.

6:46 PM: Metro has just texted that the 21 and C Line are back on their regular routes, indicating the ramp has reopened after 3+ hours. This isn’t the first truck to get in trouble at this spot – we found a few other incidents in the archives, like this one.

sam-c February 23, 2015 (3:33 pm)

thanks- was wondering why I saw a RR going on Andover, and heard a helicopter. Of course, WSB has the answers.

GoGo February 23, 2015 (3:48 pm)

Does anyone know where the C Line has been re-routed to? My friend needs to catch it and usually does so on Avalon.

WSB February 23, 2015 (3:50 pm)

GoGo, the C Line alert text says “use stop on SW Alaska west of Fauntleroy” which seems a little far. The 21 alert says “use stop on 35th SW south of Avalon.”

GoGo February 23, 2015 (3:52 pm)

Thx!!

Russ W. February 23, 2015 (4:41 pm)

Any impact on the bike trail that comes up to meet Harbor Ave?

WSB February 23, 2015 (4:42 pm)

That’s on the other side of lower Spokane, but I’ll look to be sure, will be there shortly.

Sue February 23, 2015 (4:42 pm)

I’m on a C now that just went the normal route w/o problem (passed accident site at 4:40)

Diane February 23, 2015 (4:42 pm)

oh jeez Metro; both RR stops at SW Alaska are east of Fauntleroy; and that would be a helluva hike to catch the bus for anyone waiting all the way down on Avalon; thank god I am not stuck at a bus stop right now; so aren’t the 35th/Avalon bus stops open?

Sue February 23, 2015 (4:46 pm)

I realized that right after posting. Sorry! Yes, it’s still blocking the other way

Diane February 23, 2015 (4:49 pm)

my 4:30 metro email alert, “Use stops on 35th Av SW south of SW Avalon Way, until further notice.”; that’s better than all the way up in the junction area

WSB February 23, 2015 (5:08 pm)

I just drove through and there is a Metro supervisor w temp stop sign just south of Yancy, which is where the buses are detouring. For Russ, the inbound trail on north side of Spokane is unaffected except that entire area is kind of a mess.

Wendell February 23, 2015 (4:51 pm)

If that’s one of the many dump trucks that are swinging around the Fauntleroy and Avalon job-site, I’m not surprised that one of those cowboys finally rolled one over.

Patrick February 23, 2015 (4:58 pm)

Truck is righted, just a pile of dirt to clean up.

NONE.... February 24, 2015 (6:16 pm)

This driver was cut off and swerved to miss the car in front of him, being cut off.. Risking his own life. So before you start talking s–t about us cowboys, find the facts……

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