TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Tuesday notes, with South Park Bridge closed

6:05 AM: Good morning!

WEATHER

More rain in today’s forecast – some wind but not as much as the past two days.

CLOSURE

The South Park Bridge and a stretch of East Marginal Way, between 14th Ave South and South 86th Place, are still closed for power line/pole repairs. Here’s the nearest camera:

OTHER BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

584th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

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

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

Are movable bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed is down again. But 1st Ave. South Bridge openings are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

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

ROAD WORK – TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND

26th SW – Ongoing closure between Roxbury and Barton for RapidRide H Line prep work, at least a few more weeks, the county says.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Regular Metro schedule, except for the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones – on 26th and 15th SW in particular. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.

For ferries and Water Taxi: WSF is still on a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi remains on its new schedule (no weekend or off-peak shuttle buses).

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

Alki Dad October 26, 2021 (8:46 am)

Wow!! The newly installed center lane barrier on W Marginal Way, just north of the Highland Park intersection, had traffic trying to get into the turn lanes stretched all the way back to the AML truck yard on the west side of W Marginal Way this morning at 7am. I know some of this extra traffic is due to the South Park Bridge being out of commission, but it seems like for each smart thing the SDOT does during the high bridge outage then follow it up with something stupid.

Eddie October 26, 2021 (6:37 pm)

What exactly is the purpose of that new island? It sure seemed like it hammered traffic this morning. Almost 1 hour to 1st so. Bridge from Alaska Junction, normally 16-20.
- Car passenger October 26, 2021 (7:20 pm)
  
  I’m guessing the island is to stop drivers from using the center lane as a third traffic lane to the intersection.
  - Eddie October 26, 2021 (8:42 pm)
    
    But why? They’d be better off striping the lanes and using the capacity.
    - Auntie October 26, 2021 (8:55 pm)
      
      Perhaps to discourage queue-jumpers. Although I doubt that will stop them…

ML October 26, 2021 (9:09 am)

Traffic out of WS was horrendous this am, as early as 6:00. Sat in traffic so long I decided to turn around and work from home. Grateful I have the option, but feel bad for commuters this morning without that option.

Mari October 26, 2021 (9:43 am)

Is it normal for the SDOTbridges twitter to not update for several days? It seems whenever I check it, it hasn’t updated for 3-5 days.

Kim October 26, 2021 (9:56 am)

I am stuck on the I-90 to I-5 southbound ramp – 25 minutes and counting! Is there an accident or is this due to 14th ave bridge being closed??

Dierdre October 26, 2021 (12:45 pm)

Any updates on South Park Bridge closure? very much appreciated. I’ve checked SDOTTtraffic, realtime traffic/closures and SEACityLight, twitter etc. Not seeing any mentions of anything about it anywhere since yesterday. Trying to plan or cancel for tomorrow!

Dierdre October 26, 2021 (2:09 pm)

https://web6.seattle.gov/travelers

Found a link to a live cam that is actually working to at least see in real time that the South Park Bridge is still closed.
- WSB October 26, 2021 (2:51 pm)
  
  Yes, it is. SDOT/SCL told me they hope to have an update ‘soon’…
  - Deirdre October 26, 2021 (3:32 pm)
    
    Live video cam from South Park side is showing that it’s open and watched a few cars heading onto the bridge towards E Marginal Wy . Yay!
    - WSB October 26, 2021 (3:46 pm)
      
      Just got a tip that it’s reopened, and yes, the camera confirms.

Betsy Stalker October 26, 2021 (2:10 pm)

My 5 mile commute from Morgan Junction to work in Sodo was 2 hours long today. Was so mad I left a voicemail for Lisa Herbold. What is the holdup in getting the Southpark Brdge up and running? So done with this city! Ultimate frustration and no ability to work from home.

WSB October 26, 2021 (2:49 pm)

They’re still fixing the lines and poles, SCL and SDOT say.
bill October 26, 2021 (3:18 pm)

A person could walk five miles in two hours and be glad of the fresh air and outdoor experience. And before you lecture me about your rain allergy note that I biked to and from my dentist in Northgate today.
skeeter October 26, 2021 (5:38 pm)

Hi Betsy – you may want to consider biking or bussing. It’s way faster. And you’ll be making others have a shorter car commute with one less vehicle on the road. My commute is pretty similar to yours. Biking time is around 14 minutes. Or bussing time is between 12 and 27 minutes depending on how long I have to wait for the bus. Just an idea – I realize it doesn’t work for all and some people really need a car.

WSWFHer October 26, 2021 (2:45 pm)

This is why I gave up commuting years ago and only work for an employer that allows for telecommuting. I understand that a lot cannot and some may crave the social culture of being in the office, but I never realized what an impact it was on my mental health to sit on a bus or behind the wheel of a car for hours on end. My large employer has some groups that have had to go in this week and Slack has been exploding daily with people complaining about how long their commute from various parts of the city was. No thanks. I will just kick back and enjoy my coffee while I work and occasionally watch the rain fall.

Sorry, comment time is over.