TRAFFIC WATCH: Thursday 9/3 notes – UPDATES

10:45 AM: Reader texted to say a protest march was blocking SB 99 by the stadiums. WSDOT says it’s cleared but – be aware.

11:10 AM: Reader tweeted to say police are blocking SB 16th at Holden and “it’s getting messy.”
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Original:

6:07 AM: It’s Thursday, the 164th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK

*Along much of Delridge Way, the project that’s paving the way for RapidRide H Line continues. Here’s the newest bulletin detailing where work is focused this week.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s that camera:

Going through South Park? Don’t speed.

Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.

You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

TRANSIT

Metro – No recent changes – still reduced service and distancing – details here.

Water Taxi – Still on its “winter” schedule, with the 773 and 775 shuttles running – see the schedule here. (No service on Labor Day.)

Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

21 Replies to "TRAFFIC WATCH: Thursday 9/3 notes - UPDATES"

  • Noise September 3, 2020 (9:40 am)

    Has anyone noticed the extreme uptick in train horns, at all hours, but especially between around 9pm and 5am? The T5 modernization will address future trains there, but not those currently operating. What can we do to reduce the grating, toxic noise pollution disrupting the area?

    • Joe Z September 3, 2020 (10:59 am)

      I think this is just related to weather. Strong temperature inversions lately are causing the sound to duct under the inversion layer. Once the rainy season starts the noise will go away. 

      • jack September 3, 2020 (5:00 pm)

        Great point.  I live in the flat area of Alki.  Being a peninsula, and  the barrier of a 300ft Admiral hill behind me,  it is mostly pin drop quiet and I hear the waves depending on the wind and tides.  But if the atmosphere is just right, I can hear the trains as if I lived on East Admiral.  

        • WSB September 3, 2020 (5:03 pm)

          Sound carries quite a distance. This morning, and many mornings, audible here just uphill from Lincoln Park!

    • AB83 September 3, 2020 (11:10 am)

      You could always move

    • Sixbuck September 3, 2020 (11:23 am)

      Wear earplugs

    • KBear September 3, 2020 (11:48 am)

      Train horns are a vital safety feature. That’s not the same as “noise pollution”, which is unnecessary noise. The tracks along West Marginal Way are packed with dozens of crossings, at which sounding the horn is required by law. Your comfort is not worth jeopardizing other people’s safety, nor is it worth the billions of dollars it would cost to relocate all those businesses or build grade-separated crossings. Also, some of those businesses are served by the railroad, so they need to be by the tracks.

      • Sheals September 4, 2020 (11:05 am)

        It seems a simple suggestion to contact BNSF to ask if there was a recent change in their practices regarding train horns late at night would have been most helpful. The lengthy response about how train horns are a vital safety feature is reminiscent of mansplaining with no solution offered.

    • The King September 3, 2020 (2:38 pm)

      Wait until the light rail is here. I worked near the first tracks built in Tukwila for a while and it was craaaazy loud. Then the whole shop stopped working one night when the track grinders came through with sparks flying twenty feet in the air on both sides of the front, it looks like a one ton truck that drives on the track itself, on the front axle are grinder wheels, I’m assuming for traction of the light rail. Those only came after the neighborhoods lost their minds over the noise so it could assist in noise reduction. Fun stuff. 

  • psps September 3, 2020 (10:50 am)

    I like the train horns

  • Rick September 3, 2020 (11:46 am)

    I just take my hearing aids out.

  • PP September 3, 2020 (11:59 am)

    Was sitting in traffic at the Chelan 5-way (of course) and the train passing was just giving short toots as it passed. Wasn’t too bad instead of the long BLASTS that get your attention from 1/2 mile away. I think the engineers have some discretion.

  • Denden September 3, 2020 (12:34 pm)

    The train horns have been there for a million years. I like train horns. The ferry cars have lined up on Fauntleroy Way for a million years. You could always move.Plaines fly over West Seattle for a million years. Wear earplugs.

  • Scott September 3, 2020 (1:36 pm)

    I wish we had more trains and more horns…I love them…kinda romantic really.

  • smittytheclown September 3, 2020 (1:41 pm)

    It’s a West Seattle thing.  Depends on weather and foliage.  Also, this time of year most people leave a window cracked.

  • Sarchka September 3, 2020 (2:55 pm)

    For the love of God the protests need to STOP blocking highways.  It is NOT safe and it is NOT advancing the cause (whatever cause these particular protestors were promoting – not sure which; it’s not mentioned on any other news source to my knowledge.  So much for that!).  People are just trying to get to their jobs.  

    • WSB September 3, 2020 (5:07 pm)

      I am fairly sure it was the Everyday March’s Morning March (Instagram shows their meeting place today was just off 99, on Occidental), sibling group to the Evening March that’s been here more than half a dozen times. – TR

    • KBear September 3, 2020 (8:28 pm)

      Sarchka, when and where could people protest that would be more convenient for you? And are you really concerned for their safety? Because if you were, you’d be more supportive of their cause. 

  • dcn September 3, 2020 (2:56 pm)

    I like train horns too. I grew up with that sound in Illinois. 

  • Mj September 3, 2020 (5:50 pm)

    Add Sea Lion barking to the back ground noise!

  • Noise September 3, 2020 (8:58 pm)

    It’s so cute that folks like the noise and think excessive horns relative to the baseline is okay. Some of us who have lived here our whole lives have noticed a difference. Some of us work, have children kept awake, and are just asking questions about a specific change over the last six months, including during foggy and rainy spring days. In other cities a simple train crossing bar negates the horns. 

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