TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Tuesday watch, with another pothole alert

8:14 AM: Texter says there’s a massive puddle over NB Fauntleroy by the ferry dock.

Earlier:

6:01 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

Rainy, windy, warmer, according to the forecast – which predicts a high in the 50s.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on their regular schedules.

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.

Ferries: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

658th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. As of early today, SDOT cameras were back up:

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.)

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

South Park Bridge:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

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

POTHOLE ALERT

We featured a few on Monday. Then this one came in – westbound Spokane under the bridge near 26th, sent by Mitchell:

Here’s evidence of the toll it’s taken:

Mitchell said, “I’ve watched it blow out 10 hub caps and pop 3 tires including my own!” They’ve been reported. Here’s our story from last week on how to report potholes (and how to check first if they’ve already been reported).

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

Jort January 11, 2022 (10:05 am)

Another reminder to keep your speeds down if you want to avoid pothole damage. Many drivers have vision problems and see the numbers “25” instead as “40.” Try 25 and perhaps you’ll have a better chance to avoid damaging your vehicle. As a special bonus you will be following the law.

935 January 11, 2022 (10:28 am)

Roads impassable due to snow. FAIL

Destroyed by freeze/thaw. FAIL

Where are our transportation dollars going??

Lagartija Nick January 11, 2022 (11:38 am)

Yep, they’re so incompetent at SDOT they can’t even stop it from snowing and freezing. WHAT ARE WE PAYING THEM FOR?!?! /s
Jort January 11, 2022 (12:07 pm)

OOooooo … just want to clarify a little bit for you. The roads were not destroyed by “freeze/thaw FAIL” as you contend. They were destroyed because thousands of pounds of metal (mostly carrying single occupants) drove over the roads thousands of times, damaging them. Cars cause an unbelievable amount of damage to roadways, especially ones that have been frozen and re-frozen. But the roads don’t just damage themselves! People driving their cars do that. It’s part of the cost of having roads, and it’s a cost that is unsustainable and foolish to maintain. Take a look at the dedicated bike paths, next time, and you’ll see that they do not have big “potholes” because bikes are an inherently safe, low-impact form of transportation that does not require the astronomical, gargantuan budgets of roadways meant for cars. If the potholes are bugging you, and if you care about responsible use of taxpayer dollars, I strongly encourage you to get an e-bike instead!
- 935 January 11, 2022 (1:59 pm)
  
  Thanks for the laugh Jort!! I always love reading your posts!
- StopCuttingDownTrees January 11, 2022 (5:59 pm)
  
  Your theory is inaccurate. We have a closed business next to my workplace with a parking lot that’s been fenced-in for over 2 years. It was flawless up until a few weeks ago. Nobody has driven on that parking lot for over 670 days and now it’s full of cracks and potholes. Street condition is a matter of maintenance and neglect, not simply traffic volume.

Derek January 11, 2022 (10:35 am)

Are you going to cover the transit Senate bill? https://seattletransitblog.com/2022/01/11/sb-5528-gives-transit-power-back-to-voters/. Very important for the WSB/Lightrail

WSB January 11, 2022 (11:55 am)

If that’s the tax authorization bill, I did receive something about that today and am looking into it.

Pessoa January 11, 2022 (12:23 pm)

These absurdly expensive transportation projects like the Link extension will become dinosaurs as workplace habits change and more work from home, or at local hubs. But, you will have that shiny train to admire and feel good about. Emotions, not rationality, clouds judgement and drives much of people’s decision making.

Jort January 11, 2022 (1:47 pm)

lol. “Absurdly expensive,” yeah, we think trains are sooooooo SHINY that we’ve spent fractions of a fractions of a fraction of a percent of the total amount expended building automobile infrastructure over the last 100 years. It’s all because the trains are SHINY! And we like to admire the SHININESS! Good thing automobile infrastructure has only ever been based in “rational” “judgement” and that the car culture expansionist mindset had absolutely no emotions in it, whatsoever, just pure logic and 100 percent Vulcan-level reason. Zero emotion, since the cars can’t be nearly as SHINY as the choo-choo trains. So shiny! omg take my money Mr. Train!
Lagartija Nick January 11, 2022 (1:57 pm)

Prognosticators have been telling us all of that is ‘just around the corner’ for well over 50 years now. I’m still waiting for my flying car and personal jet pack. Beyond the fact that there are whole industries that will always require a physical presence, mass transit isn’t just for commuting to a job. It’s also for going out to restaurants and bars, seeing shows, shopping, errands etc, etc, etc. You know all that capitalistic economic activity that you libertarians claim to support. Rational people understand that we will always need to efficiently move people from point A to B for all manner of reasons. The emotionally clouded think people in the future will NEVER want to leave their house for any reason whatsoever.
- Jort January 11, 2022 (9:19 pm)
  
  Not to mention that there are literally thousands of examples of rail-based transportation serving communities more efficiently and sustainably from across the entire planet’s worth of humanity. Only in America is the “libertarian” (sic) mindset so slavishly devoted to the fantasy of the single occupancy vehicle as the only possible “rational” (sic) transportation option.

Lola January 11, 2022 (1:08 pm)

Jort, FYI. Not everyone can ride a bike. I will tell that to my 83 year old Mother-In-Law the next time she needs a ride to the Dr. Sorry but Jort thinks you should ride a bike instead. Sorry Everyone But when it is pouring down rain you need to Ride Your Bike to where you need to get to go even if it is UP-Hill!!!!!

CarDriver January 11, 2022 (2:17 pm)

So Jort educate us. I take it only cars cause potholes?? Guess trucks and busses are lighter-and NEVER exceed posted speed limits.

ITotallyAgreeWithYou January 11, 2022 (9:39 pm)

This was shared on Nextdoor- thought I’d pass it along: “To everyone having damaged cars and tires from potholes right now, the city of Seattle has a reimbursement program.
https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/FAS/FilingADamageClaim/Seattle-claim-for-damages-form.pdf “

Sorry, comment time is over.