TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Crash on eastbound West Seattle Bridge cleared after 1 1/2 hours

(Traffic-cam view of crash scene)

3:44 PM: Thanks to the texter who just let us know about this – 911 shows a fire dispatch as of a few minutes ago too: There’s a crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, “over Avalon” as the texter described it. They say it’s affecting traffic both ways because the crash “took out a median.” So if you’re heading east sometime soon – getting onto the bridge from Delridge might be a better bet.

3:54 PM: Added a traffic-cam view of the crash scene, above.

4:12 PM: Traffic is still getting by, one lane each way. We’ve added a street-level view sent by Mark.

5:05 PM: Texters say traffic was stopped for about 15 minutes but is now moving again.

5:14 PM: Especially in the eastbound direction, we highly recommend avoiding this section of the bridge until it’s completely clear. It appears the wrecked car is on the tow truck now but it might still be stop-and-go until it’s gone and repairs are completed. Here’s the live camera image.

5:19 PM: The scene has JUST cleared after an hour and a half.

schwaggy September 10, 2016 (4:06 pm)

Maybe now they’ll replace that Soviet-era median sooner (I see some are marked with an X).

WSB September 10, 2016 (4:08 pm)

This section certainly has been knocked out more than once. There was the vehicle that got stuck ATOP it some weeks back, for example, and I know we’ve reported on other knocked-the-barrier-out situations in recent years. Will put on a followup list to ask SDOT. – TR
- schwaggy September 10, 2016 (6:57 pm)
  
  Thanks! I actually think the median is one of the ugliest things coming on the WS. Not sure what could be put in but surly there’s better options these days.
  - wsn00b September 11, 2016 (9:24 am)
    
    The Soviet-era median isn’t the ugliest thing coming into West Seattle. The third world garbage packed and overgrown weeds ridden stretch of the Bridge leading up to the intersection with 35th is pretty beautiful too.
    
    Since this can’t be fixed (or messed up further) by paint, SDOT will probably ask for another 10 million dollar levy to remove weeds and fix the median. :)

watertowerjoey September 10, 2016 (4:30 pm)

What section/region? We need to start using this invaluable dewey decimal numbering system!

Aaron September 10, 2016 (4:57 pm)

As of 4:56pm, eastbound is at a dead stand still, if this happened 2 hours ago it should have been cleared by now. This is ridiculous.

WSB September 10, 2016 (5:04 pm)

It wasn’t two hours ago. It was a little over one hour before your comment. Re: the standstill, first they have to tow the wrecked vehicle out, then repair the barrier.

AD September 10, 2016 (4:57 pm)

Stand still now….

Peebz September 10, 2016 (4:58 pm)

StuckOnTheBridge September 10, 2016 (4:59 pm)

Traffic cam shows a police car blocking both eastbound lanes now.

Stephanie September 10, 2016 (5:00 pm)

Not letting anyone by now. Been sitting under the pedestrian overpass for 15 min. with engine’s off.

Elle Nell September 10, 2016 (5:03 pm)

We are sitting here on the bridge.. Tracy, can you give any info..? Does not seem to be moving

Elle Nell September 10, 2016 (5:05 pm)

Moving now, or course😃

StuckOnTheBridge September 10, 2016 (5:07 pm)

Moving again. @WSB, can you suggest to SPD that the next time they need to reduce from one lane open to no lanes open that they do so at the light?

WSB September 10, 2016 (5:12 pm)

Looking at the overview from the webcam, it might be stopped again eastbound. It appears the crashed car is on the tow truck ~~but the tow truck is facing against traffic~~. Because of the streetlight in the way, can’t tell if the barrier has been repaired.

http://www.seattle.gov/trafficcams/images/WS_Bridge_West.jpg
- WSB September 10, 2016 (5:18 pm)
  
  JUST cleared.

Free speech September 10, 2016 (5:52 pm)

What was silly cars coming west could see lanes closed going as fast as possible to merge at the last moment by the accident

guess they are so special can’t wait like everyone else

Pops September 10, 2016 (6:08 pm)

Yeah I hate it when people do that. I think I’ll start cutting in line at Safeway.
- AMD September 10, 2016 (6:27 pm)
  
  You joke, but I’ve had (more than once even) someone just walk up in front of me, say “I only have one thing” and just plop it down on the belt without a second glance.
  - Pops September 10, 2016 (7:10 pm)
    
    Lol
chemist September 10, 2016 (6:15 pm)

I think that’s called a “zipper merge” by some.

Julia September 10, 2016 (6:26 pm)

Zipper merger is supposed to be more efficient. I’ve seen highway signs explaining it, maybe in Oregon?

sarah September 10, 2016 (7:24 pm)

I say leave no empty space in a lane. Merging half a mile before an obstruction is just plain inefficient. Causes more delays. More Americans need to learn the zipper merge. “It’s all about the merge!”

Kc September 10, 2016 (7:27 pm)

I see after spending a bunch of money on the “section” signs that were installed to help first responders locate an incident I see on the 911 dispatch log they list the address as eastbound west seattle freeway at admiral way seems they found it ok by not use the section number and no one here as referred to it either

west seattle freeway was renamed west seattle bridge awhile ago so people would lower their speeds by calling it a bridge and yet the first responders still found the incident tomorrow you can check the response time from dispatch to arrival

I would bet it is in the 4 to 6 min range

another fine use of wasted SDOT Funds

WSB September 10, 2016 (7:32 pm)

The “zones” are not for the SFD 911 log. They’re for the SPD 911 dispatchers to use in communication. Whether they’re using them or not, don’t know, but the online log is something that is related to the automated dispatch (“Betty,” as the voice of the automated dispatch is nicknamed) and it’s never to date used the zones. The “Freeway” thing hasn’t been programmed out of it yet either. Meantime, we have a couple more incidents to report right now, look for a separate item shortly!

CAM September 10, 2016 (7:37 pm)

Merging early before an accident leaves a lane open for emergency responders to get to the accident more quickly, which is probably more important than traffic moving faster.

Mike September 11, 2016 (7:58 am)

actually, no. When traffic merges faster it does just that…goes faster. What happens when people merge far back and sit blocking an entire lane is they do just that, block an entire lane, which blocks first responders. What people need to do when first responders show up is GET TO THE RIGHT. The other day on I5 I watched an ambulance blaring its sirens and honking because people are so special they don’t want to get out of the way. If people had used the zipper method and actually allowed other drivers to merge in to get traffic flowing, it would have allowed the ambulance to access the accident scene quickly. That day took me 1hr and 20min to go 4.5 miles, because people can’t figure out that you allow people to merge and don’t block traffic. My favorite was the lady that sat blocking the offramp from I5 south to get onto the West Seattle bridge because she drove all the way up the right lane and only before the Y did she then try to merge left. Which then all the other super fantastic drivers got mad and blocked her from merging, causing a 30 car backup behind me because she blocked every one of us. It’s this self righteous attitude people have. It’s pathetic.

Sorry, comment time is over.