ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: First Thursday of 2021

6:07 AM: It’s Thursday, January 7th, the 290th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD (ETC.) WORK

Delridge project – Here are the toplines for this week. (The Thistle closure hadn’t happened as of Wednesday midday, but lanes were reduced on the west side of the intersection.)

California and Myrtle – Lane closures and a big middle-of-street tank are part of a sewer-repair project.

TRANSIT

Metro – On regular schedule

Water Taxi – On regular schedule

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

West Marginal Way (substitute camera since the one at Highland Park Way has been out of alignment):

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am, with camera enforcement starting 1/11/21) low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River, the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:

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

Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for the other detour-route neighborhoods, like Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge.)

To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

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

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

CarDriver January 7, 2021 (7:02 am)

WSB. Is SDOT still on track to activate the low bridge ticket camera’s Monday?

reed January 7, 2021 (9:58 am)

Fingers crossed that they are.
psps January 7, 2021 (12:13 pm)

The cameras will actually encourage me to use the low bridge outside its open hours. It will be nice not to have to work late into the night because I can’t reasonably get over until after 9 PM. I won’t have to stop for the cop and, thus, waste time to a client’s location, it won’t affect my driving record, and I’ll just add the ticket amount to the client’s bill (they’re willing to pay it.) So this is very good news for me!
- Auntie January 7, 2021 (1:16 pm)
  
  well, aren’t you special!!

Jort January 7, 2021 (11:33 am)

The other afternoon I was riding the bus back from downtown and was just so overjoyed and delighted to see police forcing drivers to turn around so that they couldn’t cross the bridge. It was such a warm, wonderful sight. This should not surprise anybody, but some of these drivers were trying to BARGAIN with the police to let them through! “It’s OK if I do it, right?!” NOPE. They were turned around and sent on the longer way home. I would have preferred ticketing, of course, or perhaps permanent confiscation of the vehicles and permanent revocation of driving privileges, but watching dozens of self-entitled automobile enthusiasts have their day ruined because they couldn’t illegally take a shortcut was really a moment to cherish and warm my heart during these dark times.

bill January 7, 2021 (11:07 pm)

I see this pretty frequently from my bike. After nine months of restrictions this can’t be a surprise for any drivers. The pity is the cops could be enforcing safe driving on West Marginal instead. (Explainer for car drivers: The speed limit is 30. The center turn lane is not a general traffic lane. You are required to stop on red at the pedestrian crossing.)

CarDriver January 7, 2021 (1:46 pm)

PSPS. You’re not the only one. Have heard MANY anecdotal comments from businesses that will charge the homeowner/client the extra $150 for coming to WS.

Auntie January 7, 2021 (5:32 pm)

So, once again, it is those with plenty of money availing themselves of something that many of us cannot afford. Because I cannot afford $75 (much less $150 round trip), I will continue to fight the traffic and wait for the bridge to go up and down, while those who are entitled zip across the lower bridge. And I’ll bet if the upper bridge were to open for emergency vehicles only, you would consider getting to your appointments an emergency and use that, too. I’m sure my comments run off you like water off a duck’s back because, as I said, you are special.

Auntie January 7, 2021 (5:33 pm)

Maybe the tickets should be increased with frequency. First one or two, $75. After that, add $25 each time. Although if you have plenty of money, even that would not be a deterrent.

bill January 7, 2021 (10:56 pm)

Doubling the fine for each subsequent infraction would get the special peoples’ attention.

CarDriver January 7, 2021 (6:48 pm)

Auntie. I’ve gone through the Chelan intersection a lot. I’ve watched SPD in action. They let ANY “work” vehicle through. Now, SDOT with their camera’s will ticket most, if not all of these service provider’s. I’ve heard MANY say they can’t afford to sit in traffic so they’ll either add the $150 into their bid or they won’t come at all. They aren’t special. They simply know they’re not making any income sitting in traffic.

Sorry, comment time is over.