TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday watch, as low-bridge camera ticketing continues

5:53 AM: It’s Tuesday, January 12th, the 295th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

LOW-BRIDGE CAMERA ENFORCEMENT: Today is the second day the enforcement cameras on the low bridge are in use, photographing vehicles so that $75 tickets can be sent to owners of unauthorized vehicles crossing between 5 am and 9 pm.

Who’s authorized and who’s not? See our story from Sunday night.

ROAD (ETC.) WORK

Delridge project – SW Thistle is now closed between Delridge and 20th. Here’s what else is planned this week.

Arbor Heights projectGas-line replacement work on SW 104th is scheduled to continue.

California and MyrtleThe sewer-repair project continues – if driving/riding on California, watch out for the bumps; a bicycle rider went to the hospital after hitting one of them Monday.

1st Avenue South Bridge – No specific dates yet, but the state now says those southbound lane closures for repair work won’t happen before February.

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way is back in alignment:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

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.

TRANSIT

Metro – On regular schedule – if you’re not subscribed to alerts, you can watch @kcmetrobus on Twitter for them

Water Taxi – On regular schedule (note the WT will not run next Monday, January 18th, for the King Day holiday)

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

16 Replies to "TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday watch, as low-bridge camera ticketing continues"

  • CarDriver January 12, 2021 (7:03 am)

    I’ve read it’s 14 day’s after the infraction that the ticket is mailed. I wonder if someone goes across multiple times if they’ll get individual tickets or one BIG one.

  • GF January 12, 2021 (7:36 am)

    I wonder how many tickets are being issued by the cameras and is the money generated earmarked for anything specific? 

    • WSB January 12, 2021 (9:58 am)

      I have had the inquiry out to SDOT since yesterday asking how soon the initial info on ticket # and traffic volume will be available. Also would expect some of that at tomorrow’s Community Task Force meeting.,

  • citykid January 12, 2021 (10:38 am)

    @cardriver they get multiple.  I had my plates stolen and put on a stolen same make and color car, with the individuals speeding around town.  I was collecting the bills and had to send my police report for each infraction.  Good news is they got caught and put a way for a bit -for that and another crime.  Anyway I have non-reversible plate bolts on now, highly recommend.

  • CarDriver January 12, 2021 (10:57 am)

    GF. I asked, and got a response from SDOT. Half the fine-$37.50 goes to Olympia. Seattle keeps the other half. The money is(supposed to)used to pay for installation, maintenance and monitoring of the camera’s. They expect to just break even. If there is a profit it’s supposed to go to mobility options for disabled people.   

  • BridgeSucks January 12, 2021 (11:42 am)

    Really wish it was closed 7am to 7pm. 9pm is so late and food delivery from across the bridge is guaranteed to be cold now. Awesome!

    • peoplesuck January 12, 2021 (12:10 pm)

      Food delivery from across the bridge? What a privilege, and something absolutely at the bottom of the list of important things when it concerns the bridge. 

      • BridgeSucks January 12, 2021 (4:40 pm)

        Yeah, I suppose it is a privilege to support local restaurants during the pandemic that happen to be across the bridge. I’m sure you do your part. 

        • AMD January 12, 2021 (5:39 pm)

          We have restaurants on this side of the bridge too, if you want to support *local* restaurants…

          • BridgeSucks January 12, 2021 (11:17 pm)

            Wasn’t aware that *local* restaurants only pertained to those within 5 miles of me. Maybe consider that after 10 months of pandemic that I’ve probably eaten all over the junction and white center, but also want to support some of my favorite restaurants that are further out which haven’t closed down yet. 

  • they January 12, 2021 (4:00 pm)

    The California ave bumps are more like driving over railroad ties with little to no ramps. This ones a head scratcher…

    • Jen January 16, 2021 (2:35 pm)

      Hi They. It was my wife who had the bicycle accident on Monday. Would you be willing to connect? Thanks.

  • He January 12, 2021 (7:31 pm)

    There is a loophole for the lower bridge if you are heading east. At the Chelan intersection take a left and use the bridge that connects to the lower bridge that takes you to the terminal gate. 

    • alki_2008 January 13, 2021 (1:50 am)

      That one has new signs too, stating that it’s photo enforced.

      I really hope SDOT improves the signage for people coming from SODO. I had a contractor come over on Saturday after a service call on Beacon Hill. He said he didn’t see any signs.

      • zark00` January 13, 2021 (2:54 pm)

        @ ALKI_2008 – In the Community Task Force Meeting they spent a good bit of time praising each other for the wonderful, amazing, work they have done ‘educating everyone on the bridge restrictions’ – they literally think they hit a home run, everyone knows exactly what the plan is, when everything is live, when the bridge can and can’t be used.  They closed the book on it as it is a 100% win – they nailed it (in their own minds).

      • He January 14, 2021 (12:24 pm)

        Dang… is that so. Welp 

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