(WSDOT traffic cam closest to the truck wreck – refresh page for newest view)

10:50 AM: We’ve been covering this in morning-traffic watch, but it’s a bigger problem now and so we’re breaking it out here: I-5 is CLOSED in both directions north of the West Seattle Bridge because of a tanker-truck crash in the collector-distributor lanes near I-90. The truck went on its side, trapping its driver for a while; he is out now and does not have major injuries, but the truck is reported to have some kind of a leak, and that’s why the shutdown is happening. So avoid I-5 TFN, whether you’re headed southbound or northbound. This is backing up the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct, too.

(SDOT traffic cam looking east over east end of WS Bridge – refresh page for newest view)
Updates to come.

11:06 AM: This is also affecting I-90, both the eastbound access and westbound exiting in the stadium zones, so if you’re headed here from the eastside, be aware of that too. WSDOT says the tanker truck is full of butane.

11:25 AM: The photo above is from the Washington State Patrol. Per scanner, whether there’s a leak or not is now in question, but they do need to offload the cargo before the truck can be righted, and SFD says that could take a few hours. Also note, apparently I-5 northbound traffic from south of here is being diverted onto the West Seattle Bridge, so you could see some confused people trying to figure out how to get to where they’re going.

11:41 AM: Handy summary from WSDOT:

12:17 PM: No major change in this situation so far – both directions of I-5 are still closed. But there’s a new problem we’re covering separately – a mechanical problem on the dock has Washington State Ferries out of service to and from Fauntleroy TFN.

12:45 PM: Good news – the Fauntleroy terminal is back in service. Still no estimate on how much longer the I-5 closure will last.

12:53 PM: Add to the closures because of the tanker crash – “Northbound Airport Way S now closed at S Lander St. due to the incident on I-5,” per SDOT. The offloading truck, meantime, is reported to be on its way.

1:09 PM: New update from WSDOT:

2:06 PM: Per scanner, they’re getting close to starting the offloading of the tanker that went onto its side. Once that happens, we’ll launch a separate afternoon update.

2:45 PM: And the transfer has begun; so has our afternoon report, here.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:30 AM: Good morning! It’s been busy already. First, as reported here, 2,000+ homes/businesses from Puget Ridge to White Center lost power for at least an hour starting around 4:30. Right now, the last remaining pocket is in the Greenbridge area of WC, southwest of 8th/Roxbury. Weather also is a factor this morning – some of the higher areas have seen snow/sleet/mix showers, though nothing major is expected.

Reminders: Seattle Public Schools are back in session today after the weeklong mid-winter break … The Alaskan Way Viaduct has inspection closures next weekend (March 4-5).

Otherwise – no incidents reported currently, in or from West Seattle.

6:47 AM: We went out to make sure the 8th/Roxbury light is working (it IS) and encountered a serious snow shower.

In Greenbridge, some’s on the road and sidewalks. Be extra-careful!

7:11 AM: We’ve just been through Arbor Heights and Sunrise Heights. Bit of snow on the ground in spots but roads are just damp.

7:19 AM Some traffic disruption on 35th at Graham – tower crane is arriving at Upton Flats. More on that later.

7:33 AM Now in South Admiral. Slush on sidewalks, some on streets.

8 AM: Alki sea level – nothing. But as commenters point out, suburbs have been hit too. So allow yourself extra time if you have yet to head out.

8:30 AM: Another shower is moving through – slushy rain back at HQ, where we’re about 300 feet up, east of Lincoln Park. No snow on the ground here. The National Weather Service promises this won’t be an all-day thing:

10:23 AM: If you are headed back this way from downtown or points north, avoid SB I-5. There’s a rescue response right now involving a tanker truck that’s reported to be on its side in the I-5/I-90 area. The driver, a 60-year-old man, is reported to be OK, but trapped in the truck, so they’re working to get him out.

10:44 AM: Authorities were seeking to close I-5 both ways because of this, after detecting a leak, but we have not seen formal confirmation of that yet from WSDOT. Nonetheless, we’d advise avoiding I-5 through downtown, either way, TFN. The driver, meantime, is reported to have been rescued from the truck.

11:48 AM: We’re covering the aforementioned situation separately here. Meantime, a crash is causing some trouble at Admiral/Spokane beneath the bridge: