TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

6:54 AM: We start with an alert about northbound I-5 – it’s backed up for miles because of a deadly motorcycle crash at Mercer, where three lanes are currently blocked.

7:18 AM: State Patrol has no ETA on how long the I-5 lane closures will continue. Alternate routes are backed up too so anything northbound from here is going to take longer. Meantime, just heard word of a crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge by the 99 exit, though it might already have cleared to the shoulder.

7:59 AM: Most of those I-5 lanes have reopened but a long NB backup continues.

23 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch"

  • smittytheclown March 14, 2019 (7:47 am)

    6:45am the tunnel was slow for no apparent reason.  First time for me it’s been that slow in the morning.  People becoming more aggressive and changing lanes a lot inside……..adding to the brake tapping ala the old viaduct.I’m ready for the tolls to help thin the herd!  :~)

    • Linda March 14, 2019 (12:46 pm)

      That no apparent reason is a result of a fatality, causing delays in the network of other streets. Brake tapping is just the WA passive aggressive way of driving…you’ll get used to it. Tolling will help thin the herd; federally funded train system approval in the 70s would too! 

      • smittytheclown March 14, 2019 (1:17 pm)

        Oh no!  Missed that, obviously..So sad….thank you

  • Mindy March 14, 2019 (7:49 am)

    7:05 water taxi was Spirit of Kingston today. Know anything about it? I’m not complaining…any day that starts with a boat ride is a good day for me!

  • Bus 56 commuter March 14, 2019 (8:16 am)

    Has anyone been in contact with Metro lately? The new route exiting Dearborn is getting longer and longer each day. For example, it took 4 lights for our bus to get through. Additionally, all traffic down 1st through Pioneer Square is awful. There’s no updates on the 99 project and if this is being evaluated. The old route for buses only seemed much faster. 

    • Audrey March 14, 2019 (11:44 am)

      I sent them a comment via their website a week or two ago regarding the Dearborn->1st-> Cherry routing, which they responded that they are forwarding to their routing department to further evaluate. It is really is significantly worse than before, especially if a car is stopped/parked on 1st Ave where there it is only 2 lanes wide and no separate street parking. I recommend sending them a note as well – the more feedback the better.https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/contact-us.aspx#comment

    • Nw March 14, 2019 (1:05 pm)

      Try and take an alternate bus route that feeds into light rail or takes 4th ave into the city center. 

    • Mok4315 March 14, 2019 (2:51 pm)

      A fatality accident had traffic backed up this morning. It occurred on i5 and a bunch of people re-routed to 99. I catch the bus twice a week to downtown in the mornings, and it usually isn’t bad at all. 

  • 56 bus commuter March 14, 2019 (8:43 am)

    Has anyone been in contact with Metro lately? The Dearborn exit is taking longer and longer each day. For example, it took 4 lights for our bus to get through. Additionally, driving through Pioneer Square is not efficient and even more traffic. We need bus lanes only or some versioning of that. Any updates would be great as there’s no information on their site addressing monitorinv traffic now that new exit is open. 

  • Azimuth March 14, 2019 (8:51 am)

    There’s the old morning drive. I missed you!

  • newnative March 14, 2019 (9:02 am)

    It was really slow-going on the bus, it took over an hour for me to get to work. The bridge wasn’t so bad but it got really backed up on 99, then in Pioneer Square. Then the (D)Rapidride was really late, with a broken back door. Pioneer Square is not a great detour when traffic is jammed. 

  • Sukie March 14, 2019 (9:11 am)

    If you can leave later, I’d recommend it. I’m sitting on the 21 bus that left Gatewood around 8:15am and just reached the stadiums. 

  • sw March 14, 2019 (9:32 am)

    To the LYFT driver in the silver Lincoln sedan on the WS Bridge:  rush hour morning traffic is not the place or time to be playing your ukulele.

    • Kurt March 14, 2019 (9:52 am)

      Agreed! A bass or electric guitar is much more appropriate instrument for rush hour traffic!

      • Rick March 14, 2019 (12:05 pm)

        Switch to brass. A tuba! Always like those. Try playing “Flight of the bumblebee” on one.

    • Linda March 14, 2019 (12:48 pm)

      HAHA! Hopefully you didn’t type this while driving. 

    • KM March 14, 2019 (3:20 pm)

      Defo report them!

  • Lyft Driver (not ukelele playing) March 14, 2019 (10:36 am)

    When stuck in traffic, we need to keep our passengers entertained! Who doesn’t love some ukelele tunes at rush hour?

    • sw March 14, 2019 (12:46 pm)

      If he wasn’t driving his car with his knees, I’d probably feel better about it.

      • sam-c March 14, 2019 (2:40 pm)

        I’m assuming you were watching from a high perch in a bus, to take your eyes off the road long enough to gather this much info about a car driver?

        • sw March 14, 2019 (8:57 pm)

          A guy was driving on the bridge using his knees, playing a ukulele and your primary concern is if I’m texting while driving?  Smh. For the record, I posted my comment once I got to work. 

          • Pete March 14, 2019 (9:39 pm)

            You are mad the ukelele guy, you are mad at Linda for a joke. Unless you have never broken a single driving law ever…chill out. Tomorrow is another day. 

  • WSB March 14, 2019 (3:09 pm)

    We did mention the deadly crash when we first published this just before 7 am (see above) – we always check NB 5 into downtown as well as local roads, as a problem on I-5 downtown can certainly have ramifications for the WS outbound commute. BTW the victim was a 52-year-old man from Arlington. – TR

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