TRAFFIC ALERT: Truck crash blocking 1st Avenue SB just before bridge onramp

(Added: SDOT image)

4:20 PM: If you’re about to head this way from downtown – avoid 1st Avenue S. Per tipsters as well as SPD dispatch, a truck is blocking both southbound lanes just north of the West Seattle Bridge ramp, apparently after hitting a utility pole.

5:09 PM: Still backed up. See the almost-live camera image here.

6:31 PM: Scene’s not clear yet but the live video version of that camera shows more traffic being routed around it.

8:03 PM: The camera shows that entire block of 1st closed off now, and NB traffic coming off the westbound bridge being detoured too.

10:36 PM: We’re still monitoring the live video feed from the scene. It’s without power now and City Light is working in at least one bucket truck. The block is still closed to traffic.

1:13 AM: No change. We’re going off-watch for a while but you can check the camera link to see if it’s reopened.

6:54 AM: SDOT tweeted around 5:30 that it was open again.

skeeter January 16, 2020 (4:34 pm)

helicopter overhead this very second!

East coast cynic January 16, 2020 (4:46 pm)

Now I know why my 21X has been stalled on 1st ave s and s walker for 10-15 minutes 😣. The Columbia exit can’t open soon enough. And as we know, it will be far from soon.

JasonG January 16, 2020 (4:53 pm)

I’m on the C-Line; they just rerouted us north on 1st Ave to T-Mobile Park, then around and south onto 4th Ave.

newnative January 16, 2020 (4:54 pm)

I hope my bus takes the overpass to 99

Karen January 16, 2020 (5:03 pm)

Ugh. We are a 120 stuck at 1st and Lander.: (

Matt P January 16, 2020 (5:03 pm)

What a disaster. On the 116 and we got rerouted off 1st at Holman to 4th and back to 1st on Horton which isn’t moving. Going to be an extra hour ride today. They should have rerouted to 99 or the lower bridge.

Matt P January 16, 2020 (5:12 pm)

Now we went up occidental to Forest and back stuck on 1st. Made a loop for no particular reason.
PedroTheLion January 16, 2020 (5:20 pm)

I’m on the C line right next to the 120 on first. Metro needs to figure out: (a) how to reroute the busses in this type of situation; and (b) how to communicate that message to the drivers. This is some poor planning and execution on the part of Metro. No wonder people are loathe to give up their cars and take the bus.
- TiredofGovernmentGreed January 16, 2020 (6:08 pm)
  
  Almost a full year after the 99 tunnel opened and SDOT and Metro have not finished the on-ramp from downtown to our $3.1B tunnel. So we are stuck in street traffic sitting on a bus. Some people in Government should be fired.
- Seriously Anmoyed Bus Passenger January 16, 2020 (6:12 pm)
  
  I couldn’t agree more. This accident was reported on by the blog at 4:20. I’m now (6:08) sitting in traffic on 1st on the 125 that I boarded at 5:30. During that hour plus duration Metro should have rerouted all buses going down 1st ave instead of contributing to the traffic nightmare and making passengers miss thing like their 7 year old’s performance at school. So annoyed.

Laura January 16, 2020 (5:09 pm)

I’m on a 57 that turned from Holgate onto 1st at 4:42. At 5:07 we just passed the Home Depot. I heard our driver on their communicator but we’re not rerouting. Must be too far south. I’m trying to use this perfect opportunity to practice my patience. But I need a LOT more practice.

Kate January 16, 2020 (5:15 pm)

On the 21 and they let us through on 1st though it’s down to one lane. On the bridge now.

Earlybird January 16, 2020 (5:18 pm)

Why on earth did the busses not reroute to 99?? 1st is at a dead standstill. I’ve been on a 125 for almost an hour.

WS Observer January 16, 2020 (5:22 pm)

On the 21 here, currently stuck near the stadium trying to turn onto 1st. Doesn’t seem like there’s any official reroute, or maybe the drivers haven’t been told? In either case. Complete gridlock, similar to after a Hawks game.

SDS January 16, 2020 (5:32 pm)

Car driver here…I’ve been home for hours, dinners cooking while I’m waiting for it to get done I’m relaxing reading the blog. Life is good.

heyalki January 16, 2020 (6:02 pm)

Don’t be a jerk
WSB January 16, 2020 (6:03 pm)

Cars are stuck in this too. I would hope NOT to be hearing from people in cars unless they’re passengers. Thanks to all the bus riders who share traffic/transit info because you CAN, safely and legally. Sorry to hear about everyone stuck in the backup; we’re monitoring but haven’t heard/seen any updates on when this will clear. The “live” camera link above is the newest “info” available … TR

Riverview Resident January 16, 2020 (5:40 pm)

Been stuck on the 120 for :50 so far. Picked it up at last stop on Second Ave. and just passed Lander. This is ridiculous there is no reroute. The driver didn’t even know what was going on. No communication from Metro.

AMD January 16, 2020 (5:47 pm)

My bus driver seems to have given up. We’ve been sitting here on Holgate for 20 minutes while bus after bus passes us and makes the turn.

AMD January 16, 2020 (6:09 pm)

Update: my bus driver finally said F this, made a right turn from the left lane, re-routed himself and now I’m almost home. Hats off to you, sir! Metro: DO BETTER! It’s bad enough there’s no reroute, but your afternoon commute tweets said it was just normal backups WELL after this accident and traffic were known.

Eileen January 16, 2020 (5:49 pm)

On a C. Line crawling at Holgate

Beth January 16, 2020 (5:51 pm)

Still very very slow. On the C just hanging out. 😜

Busrider on 55 January 16, 2020 (5:54 pm)

Stuck on 55 for half hour to go 2 blocks

Will S. January 16, 2020 (5:58 pm)

What I like best about Seattle is the quality of life, said the guy missing his child’s kindergarten performance because people don’t know how to drive (and also there’s no train)

Elle Nell January 16, 2020 (6:50 pm)

Welcome to Seattle! This is the new improved, amazing city and can you guess why it’s like this???

West Seattle Coug January 16, 2020 (6:07 pm)

56 just turned right on Holgate even though sign on 4th said to use 4th due to accident.i told our driver about it much earlier but he’s sticking to his route. Thanks Metro!!

Anne January 16, 2020 (6:10 pm)

It’s still stopped traffic/ very slow on the 56 towards Alki

Bus rider January 16, 2020 (6:14 pm)

If the Columbia Street busway were open as scheduled, this would not be a problem for some WS buses.

Eva January 16, 2020 (6:29 pm)

Sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on 1st Ave S. on the 120. Seems ridiculous that the buses aren’t on a reroute.

Theresa January 16, 2020 (6:39 pm)

Let’s hope no one was hurt. That truck driver is having an even worse evening than us right now..

WSB January 16, 2020 (6:53 pm)

No SFD response, so no injury.

Lee January 16, 2020 (7:15 pm)

It’s really pretty incredible how many traffic engineers and transit management experts read and comment on this blog! Took a while longer than usual to get there, but it was a safe ride home on the 55 with a driver who made some amusing comments about some other drivers who weren’t handling the backup quite as calmly. Grateful to Metro, especially when stuff like this happens.

Eric1 January 16, 2020 (8:38 pm)

LOL Lee. What I think what people are saying is that they wish there was at least one traffic engineer or a transit management expert WORKING for Metro. Unfortunately, there appear to be none (at least on duty). I would hope that they have some on staff but they probably work 8 AM to 4 PM and aren’t around when there are commute issues (early or late). FWIW, I was caught in the commute on the bus and I thought that I was simply unlucky enough to be held up by an accident that just happened and Metro hadn’t adjusted the routes yet. I get home and find out the accident was 2 hours old when I caught the bus. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that communication and adaptive management aren’t Metro’s strong suits.

Tired hungry stuck January 16, 2020 (7:36 pm)

7:30 and we’re still stuck, only without the traffic back up – driver said he had to get supervisor permission to go another way which is baffling with the situation & 1st ave being closed off for hours.

sam-c January 16, 2020 (7:54 pm)

Wow- Had a meeting at 5th and Columbia this afternoon. Was going to take a bus back home (to West Seattle), but instead caught a car ride (back to the office in West Seattle) I thought traffic was sluggish (a ~25 minute ride vs a 10 minute ride) getting back to WS via I-5 and the West Seattle bridge, but apparently was a lot faster than these other alternatives. Hope everyone is home ok finally.

Hoku January 17, 2020 (12:01 am)

Attempted to go south along 1st Ave S tonight at 10:30pm. There were at least 4 traffic signal lights completely out (not even flashing red), all street lights out and approx 2/3 of storefronts dark (beginning north at Home Depot/Starbucks – 1st Ave S was closed from Hanford south – don’t know how far south). No signs about closure until Hanford. Traffic light outages do not mean go forward as fast as you can. No working traffic lights at intersection = 4-way stop.

Aaron January 17, 2020 (5:16 am)

First ave is still closed

WSB January 17, 2020 (7:02 am)

Thank you. SDOT tweeted just after 5:30 that it had reopned.

Lola January 17, 2020 (1:24 pm)

I sure feel sorry for the bus riders who have to go this route. I know why I do not take the bus any longer. It is just too chancy what with the buses that do not come then we have all of the traffic, and then the people who get into crashes. Too many people out on the road anymore who do not know what they are doing or just do not care. I try to be vigilant while driving, and anymore it is not worth it if someone is driving crazy, just need to move away from them. Thank you WS Blog for all you do in your reporting.

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