TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Friday notes, including East Marginal crash

7:33 AM: From SDOT: “Collision on East Marginal Way S at Diagonal Ave S blocking all NB & SB lanes between S Idaho St & S Dawson St.”

8:30 AM: Still closed.

9:40 AM: Still closed. It’s a driver-versus-pole crash.

NOON: SDOT tweeted at 11:22 am that the scene was clear.

===========

6:12 AM: Good morning. The forecast is for one last day of sunshine before some weekend rain.

ROAD WORK UPDATES

Delridge project – The Delridge/Orchard work and north-end Delridge paving are finished; the west side of Delridge/Barton/Henderson and the east side of Delridge/Thistle are still closed. Here is this week’s plan, with the next update due later today

SW Yancy – Still closed west of 28th SW.

FERRIES/BUSES

Regular schedules today.(Watch @kcmetrobus for word of any bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.)

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

439th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: 21st week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)

Here’s a low-bridge view:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

Are bridges opening for boats or barges? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed. (Note: It’s been broken for a day – you can find 1st Avenue South Bridge openings on @wsdot_traffic.)

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

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

20 Replies to "TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Friday notes, including East Marginal crash"

  • sam-c June 4, 2021 (7:52 am)

    “East Marginal Way”- is that the same thing as 99?  Any idea on what that will be cleared?

  • Chris June 4, 2021 (9:09 am)

    I was caught in that at what must have been the very beginning of this mess – about 7:20. My daughter is REALLY stuck in it now, and hour and a half later. The traffic getting in and out of West Seattle has gotten exponentially worse the past few weeks and still no work being done on the bridge 439 days after it was shut down. I find that unbelievable and completely unacceptable.  

    • Wseattlite June 4, 2021 (10:48 am)

      Completely agree that the handling of the bridge repair has been totally unacceptable.  It has been a tool to create a soap opera type drama with the unveiling of whether they are going to repair or replace to further political agendas, creation of committees to somehow represent any category of person that an individual  might consider themselves in to discuss ad nauseam topics not very related to bridge repair, and highjacking the entire closure to push agendas not related to fixing a bridge.  It is unbelievable that such incompetence is allowed to continue on status quo.

  • Franci Pease June 4, 2021 (9:57 am)

    I too was caught in it about the same time as I left Gatewood at 7:20.  It took over an hour to get to SLU.  Glad I left when I did.Have to say very disappointed in some of my fellow travelers – going down the shoulder of the raod between the NB 509 and the SB 509 on ramps – to only force their way back into the traffic heading to the South Park bridge.  Folks we are all in this together – lets not be cutting each other off.  Completely unacceptable.

  • bolo June 4, 2021 (10:25 am)

    “…still no work being done on the bridge 439 days after it was shut down.”
    Is that really true?

  • Okay Bella June 4, 2021 (10:33 am)

    2 hours and 15 minutes from the Junction to the Space Needle this morning. Trucks and other jerk entitleds repeatedly cutting into an obvious line of waiting cars. Meanwhile no light rail options for a dozen more years and no bridge progress. Who to call?

  • Joe Z June 4, 2021 (10:39 am)

    The only difference with the high bridge is that you had a nice view while you were stuck in traffic after an accident jammed things up. 

  • KT June 4, 2021 (10:43 am)

    Left the Junction at 9am.  Crossed the 1st Ave bridge at 10:30a.  Does anyone in Seattle city government really care about West Seattle?

    • heyalki June 4, 2021 (11:59 am)

      Nope. 

    • Jort June 4, 2021 (4:17 pm)

      You are asking the city to fix an unsolvable problem. There is no solution for your commute if you continue to choose to drive. There are solutions once you give up your car addiction and take a bus or bike. It’s not hard to do. Adapt.

  • Joebob June 4, 2021 (12:00 pm)

    So do you really think complaining on here is a way to get your point across. Have you tried other options in getting out of WS ? Because you need to know, yes there are ways. You also know that the “Bridge” is out is getting old by you people. You know what is going on. But you still complain. I have lived in WS for 25+ years and never used that stupid bridge anyway. There are many other ways out of here people, just open your eyes a little bit more and you will find. It would also help if you guys you put your cell phones away and actually drive. I see almost every car, drive with phone in hand, looking down at your phones. In the mean time everyone goes no where.Plan ahead, it has been how many days ? Forgetful people

    • Carole June 4, 2021 (3:47 pm)

      To go north or east there are 3 main chokepoints out of WS: W Marginal Way, Holden down to W Marginal Way and Roxbury/Olson to 509. If you have a pass for the low bridge you have a 4th. Everything else requires going further south to backtrack to north or east.  

      • Yes Carol June 4, 2021 (7:09 pm)

        Exactly,  takes less time to do that than sit in traffic.  Leave earlier,  or later.  Change your habits. 

        • Carole June 6, 2021 (12:23 am)

          The point is all 3 converge at Highland/Marginal, so all 3 were affected by the crash and resulting back up, as were cars coming north on 509 or 599. Traffic flow is unpredictable and back ups aren’t happening only in am or pm commute periods.  Doesn’t matter when you leave.  Check out traffic at 12am or 2pm or 3pm – long lines trying to get in and out, stuck at Highland/ Marginal. Fortunately I don’t have to commute east or north on a regular basis; on the rare occasions I do need to go that way I allow 1.5-2 hrs, which is nuts for a 10-15 mile drive.  It can take an hour+ just to get to pill hill no matter the time of day.

  • drM June 4, 2021 (12:02 pm)

    Ever heard of working 24/7? Yes, it’s possible, and there are *work lights* that will allow this. As to the cost, what about the cost of $$ lost in productivity?Each time we have made suggestions here, the naysayers pipe up to say, it is not possible. (Eg, Temp Car Ferry from West Seattle to the city). Why not?  We should have an “all of the above” approach.

    • Reed June 4, 2021 (6:18 pm)

      Self-centered West Seattleites occasionally need reminded that we only make up about 12% of Seattle’s total population, and our issues/priorities may not reflect larger issues/priorities in the view of city government and other 88% of Seattle residents. Translation: the world does not revolve around us and the city shouldn’t (by any rational measure) dump unlimited funds and resources into a problem that affects a minor percentage of Seattle’s total population. We need to get over ourselves.

  • reed June 4, 2021 (1:55 pm)

    40 minutes from north admiral to Fremont, leaving at 7:30

  • MARIANNE June 4, 2021 (5:43 pm)

    I sure wish the carpool lane on the 1st Ave S Bridge/509 was converted to all traffic.  I know the few who carpool wouldn’t be happy, but it would help to make up for the increased traffic on this new route out of West Seattle.  Took me an hour to get to work in Wallingford this morning and I live in the Top Hat area.  Not sure how Reed made it from N. Admiral to Fremont in 40 minutes.

    • Reed June 4, 2021 (6:11 pm)

      Bicycle and a good attitude.

    • HC June 4, 2021 (9:57 pm)

      I’ve suggested this more than once to Lisa Herbold.  It’s a no brainer, in my opinion.

Sorry, comment time is over.