West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
8:03 PM: Thanks for the tips and photos – there’s a car fire on NB 99 in south of the stadium zone.
No details, including whether anyone has been hurt.
8:45 PM: The two fire engines originally dispatched to the scene are still there, per SFD’s incident log. SDOT, meantime, says two northbound lanes are now open at the scene.
9:09 PM: SDOT says all lanes are open again. We’re checking with SFD about cause and injuries; if we don’t hear back tonight, we’ll add the update whenever we do.
11:44 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says the car was engulfed in flames when their engines arrived; the cause wasn’t immediately determined, but she does confirm that no injuries were reported.
6:14 PM: Thanks for the tips. Guardian One has been in the Westcrest Park area for a bit, but we don’t yet know what the search is for. Will update if/when we find out.
6:33 PM: Guardian One says via Twitter that they are helping police look for a missing child, described as wearing orange shorts, missing near 4th and Cambridge.
7:16 PM: SPD has yet to say anything about the search but someone just texted us to say it was her neighbor’s child and that he has been located.
Just out of the inbox, from Easy Street Records in The Junction:
We invite you to join us at Easy Street tonight at 7 pm for a humble celebration of the music and life of Chris Cornell, who tragically left us this week.
And since today marks the release of the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of the soundtrack to the movie that grunge built, Singles, we will be playing the soundtrack while showing the movie on the small screens and giving away some really cool prizes. We’ll also be spinning Soundgarden/Audioslave/Solo Chris/Singles tracks, serving up dollar Oly beers, and most importantly, remembering and honoring one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll.
We’ll miss you, Chris Cornell. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, as well as all of his bandmates and friends.
4:32 PM: Thanks to the texter who reports a crash involving a motorcycle rider in Fauntleroy. Seattle Fire units are logged as responding to a crash in the 4300 block of Brace Point Drive. We’re told they’re in the westbound lane. A witness tells us the rider is sitting up, alert, and talking with medics. But avoid the area if you can.
4:37 PM: All SFD units have now cleared the scene.
(WSDOT photo)
It’s been a month and a half since the Highway 99 tunneling machine finished digging. Besides roadbuilding and other work underground, the task of breaking the machine into pieces continues. Here’s the latest from WSDOT.
In the disassembly pit near Seattle Center, work is continuing around the clock – cutting, lifting and removing heavy pieces of the SR 99 tunneling machine. As of yesterday, eight small spokes and the bulk of five larger spokes have been taken out of the disassembly pit. More than 50 percent of the iconic cutterhead has now been removed.
Crews are also working inside the tunnel to remove the tunneling machine and other pieces of the tunneling operation no longer needed now that the tunneling portion is complete. Seattle Tunnel Partners is removing conveyor system components which had been used to carry the dirt underneath Seattle out to waiting barges. Temporary utilities, hydraulic lines and hoses are also coming out. And STP has started disassembling the back end of the trailing cars that carried all the equipment for tunnel-building. In all, eight thousand tons of equipment will eventually be removed from Seattle’s new tunnel to clear the path for building the rest of the double-deck road inside.
See five more photos accompanying this update on the WSDOT website. The most-recent schedule projects that the tunnel should open to traffic in early 2019, with demolition of what remains of the Alaskan Way Viaduct to follow.
A couple times this week, we’ve heard from West Seattleites with discolored (“brown”) tap water. First Gatewood, today Arbor Heights (thanks for the report, and for the photo above). The potential causes are numerous; no water breaks in either case so far as we have heard, so we thought we would remind you of what to do if it happens to you – First thing, call Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800. Usually it’ll turn out to be something simple like firefighters testing hydrants in your area. Here’s what you’ll usually be asked to do – but don’t wait to report it, even if you do suspect it’s something routine – SPU has told us over and over again that they want to know.
Highlights for the rest of your Friday:
DISTRICT TRACK AND FIELD MEET: Go cheer for local high-school standouts this afternoon/evening at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)
WINE TASTING @ VISCON CELLARS: 5-9 pm, start your weekend with a stop at the Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tasting room. (5910 California SW)
ALKI DAZE: First night of a weekend-long bicycle-centered celebration organized by Alki resident Guy Olson. Meet and greet at 6 pm at Alki Bike and Board in The Admiral District; ride to Alki at 7:30; bonfire follows. Full details here.
STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS: West Seattle High School‘s boys-soccer team plays Gig Harbor 6 pm tonight at Memorial Stadium downtown, in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. (401 5th Ave. N.)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: 6:30 pm, free concert featuring the WSCO Intermediate Orchestra and Wind Symphony at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium – here’s a preview WSCO shared from rehearsal, with musicians led by conductor Mike Jauregui:
Program details in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Thistle)
SIGGIE THE VINTAGE MAN: “Solo acoustic performer in the Americana style who sings 85% covers and 15% originals,” C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
SWEET, SWEET MUSIC: 7:30 pm concert and dessert at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)
THERE’S MORE … just check out our complete-calendar page!
Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems in The Junction for photos and first word that the West Seattle Junction Association‘s famed flower baskets are going up right now!
As we have been reporting, you’ll find something new by most baskets this year – a plaque for the local business/organization/individual that “adopted” the basket. (Including us!)
P.S. One good way to get a close-up look – go volunteer in The Junction tomorrow for Spring Clean! Not too late. Here’s how.
The spring postseason continues for high-school athletes, and the district track and field championships are set today and Saturday at Southwest Athletic Complex. Thanks to Kristin for sharing Chief Sealth International High School track coach Lorna Considine‘s announcement of the CSIHS participants:
Please congratulate the following students who have advanced to the District Track Meet this Friday and Saturday at SWAC: Mia Hyde, Eve Elmore, Imani Carey, Chloe Myers, Jessica Nelson, Quinn Wiley, Keyaira Corbray, Jasmine Smith, Elijah Jackson, Brandyn Gibson.
Also congratulations to:
2017 METRO CHAMPION QUINN WILEY in the 300 Meter Hurdles
2017 METRO CHAMPION ELIJAH JACKSON in the Long Jump and High Jump
SWAC is at 2801 SW Thistle, across the street from CSIHS.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY: The former “Bike to Work Day” is now “Bike Everywhere Day” and you’ll find West Seattle Bike Connections and friends by the low bridge.
Thanks for the photo!
SUNDAY REMINDER: If you’re not running/walking in Sunday morning’s West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB) – don’t forget that Alki SW will be closed to traffic for a few hours along the route (which goes from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park and back) starting at 8 am. (Though online registration is over, you can still sign up Saturday at West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW, WSB sponsor] or Sunday before the race.)
It’s Bike Everywhere Day – and a busy route between West Seattle and downtown has some improvements in place, Scott Morgan tells us:
I wanted to send a big thank-you to Lisa Herbold, who has helped to improve East Marginal Way for all the West Seattle Bikers who use it. I brought up the issue of trucks parking in the bike lane last November which happens multiple times a week as they wait for the Port to open their gates in the mornings. She has persistently worked with Chris Eaves at SDOT to add delineator posts to this stretch. The desire is that these posts will be a small reminder that the bike lane are for bikes and not parking trucks.
I’ve included pictures from my commute (Wednesday – above) and one from last week (below).
It’s a route where many have long advocated for improvements, and more are on the way.
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