West Seattle, Washington
03 Tuesday
After a couple of notes about traffic troubles in the low-bridge vicinity right now, we dug up this Metro alert about overnight work:
Overnight on Thursday, August 25, from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM Friday morning, Metro routes 21 and the RapidRide C Line will be affected by the closure of westbound SW Spokane St between Delridge Way SW and SW Avalon Way, due to construction.
During this time, routes 21 and the Rapid Ride C Line heading toward West Seattle will travel instead via Delridge Way SW and SW Genesee St. All regular and temporary posted bus stops along the revised routing will be served.
The last time there was a closure like this, it was related to bridge work, but nothing was mentioned during today’s tour.
Thanks for the tips. A few people mentioned those No Parking signs in the north Lincoln Park lot and across the street, along the east side of Fauntleroy Way. The restrictions are for 5 am to 9 pm Saturday; the info sheet attached to some of the signage attributes this to Object & Animal, a production company whose website shows a lot of high-profile commercial and music-video work. We don’t know yet what the project is, but just be aware that Lincoln Park will be more parking-challenged than usual on Saturday.
7:16 PM: Thanks for the tip. Emergency responders are at the scene – and still heading toward it – of a crash on NB Highway 509 just south of the 1st Avenue S. Bridge. It’s blocking the right lane, according to WSDOT Traffic. If you’re heading that way, allow extra time.
7:41 PM: Even more-serious backup, per WSDOT:
UPDATE: We have a collision on northbound SR 509 at the SR 99 interchange in south #Seattle. Three right lanes are blocked at this time, and the HOV lane is open to all. Emergency crews on scene. Expect lengthy delays! pic.twitter.com/hrPkaNhFAa
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 26, 2022
8:40 PM: Crash scene is clear, We’re asking SFD about injuries.
10:23 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells us:
Crews treated three patients involved in a five-vehicle collision:
34-year-old female who is in stable condition. Transported to a hospital by AMR.
31-year-old male who is in stable condition. Transported to a hospital by AMR.
59-year-old female with no reported injuries.
Police are investigating a shooting this afternoon on the southeast edge of West Seattle. They responded to the 7800 block of Detroit SW [map] just after 4:30 pm and found a 32-year-old man who had been shot in the leg. SFD medics arrived and took him to Harborview Medical Center; his wound is not believed to be life-threatening. Police say witnesses report “an altercation between the victim and the suspect that escalated into the shooting,” followed by the shooter getting away in a “dark-colored sedan,” no other descriptive information provided.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the second time in a little over two weeks, we were back up on the 2 1/2-years-closed West Seattle Bridge today,
Last time, SDOT and repair contractor Kraemer North America hosted WSB and The Seattle Times. This time, it was an open-invitation tour for media from around the metro area.
First, let’s get this out of the way: SDOT says they’re still on track to reopen the bridge Sunday, September 18th, the date announced two weeks ago. When on September 18th? Bridge project director Heather Marx says they haven’t finalized all the logistics yet but probably sometime “early in the morning” that Sunday, they’ll just open the gates and let traffic flow on. No, she reiterated, the bridge will not be reopened in phases – when they open it, the plan to open all lanes.
Even now, work is “winding down.” The carbon-fiber wrapping – part of strengthening the bridge – was finished yesterday. That means Kraemer NA will be able to go ahead with removing the remaining beneath-the-bridge suspended platforms this weekend (the first two came down last Saturday, as covered here). That’ll probably span both days this weekend because the logistics involve the railroad tracks under the bridge, explained Kraemer’s bridge project manager Adam Dour. Also remaining: About 40 yards of concrete work, including filling the holes that were used for suspending and moving the platforms.
Despite concrete drivers’ recent rejection of a contract offer, they’ve had no supply challenges, Marx said. Meantime, a variety of other tasks are under way to get the bridge ready for use.
Today’s discussion also covered ground we covered in our report two weeks ago – including the load testing that’ll happen before the bridge gets final clearance for reopening, But keep in mind, 80 percent of the weight on the bridge, even when open, is generated by the bridge itself, And Marx stressed that their monitoring continues to show the bridge reacting exactly as predicted. She gave a 15-minute briefing/Q&A at the start of the tour, along with Kraemer’s Dour and bridge engineer of record Greg Banks from consultants WSP – here’s our video of that in its entirety;
While “demobilization” on the bridge is necessary before it can be reopened safely to traffic, days if not weeks of work will remain on the routes leading to and from the bridge – removing detour signs, for example, will be a priority – so that the neighborhoods that have borne the burden of extra traffic these past two and a half years will have a chance, finally, at relief.
It’s been many months since the last general community meeting with Southwest Precinct police leadership, under the auspices of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council. Just got word that the meetings will be revived, starting next month. The anouncement is from the precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner:
Due to a few significant incidents locally, the SW Precinct would like to offer our community a change to speak directly with our Command Staff, share concerns and ask questions.
We hope you can join us next month for our SW Precinct Crime Prevention Council Meeting.
This meeting will be held on Monday, September 19th, at 6 pm.
Here is our tentative agenda, and meeting link:
6 pm- 6:10 pm: Introductions of SPD Personnel
6:10 pm- 6:20 pm: Crime and Safety Update from Captain Rivera and/or Operations Lieutenant Kim
6:20 pm- 6:50 pm: Q&A
6:50 pm- 7 pm: Closing Comments and Next Meeting’s Date
You can attend online or by phone – the online link via Microsoft Teams is here; the phone number for participating that way is 206-686-8357,,642368087# – phone conference ID 642 368 087#.
Thanks for the tips. Seattle Public Utilities‘ water-outage map (screengrab above) shows more than 60 customers out in the Lowman Beach area and northward along Beach Drive. Other areas may be affected – we got a secondhand report of an apartment complex in Morgan Junction, several blocks east of the mapped outage zone, that briefly lost service. We’re checking with SPU to find out more.
A state grant is covering the cost of free transit for everyone in the region who’s 18 or younger, starting one week from today (Thursday, September 1st), and a media briefing was held this morning to ensure everyone knows. The free rides are available on every transit service in the region – King County Metro buses and water taxis, Access paratransit and on-demand services, Sound Transit buses and Link light rail, Seattle Streetcar, Pierce Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Snoqualmie Valley Transit. Youth don’t need a special pass to ride fare-free, as explained in today’s announcement:
With the launch of the program, young riders can use current classic blue youth and student ORCA cards, show their student identification, or simply board and ride free. New black ORCA cards will also be available soon and distributed through schools and customer services. Any of these options will work, with more innovations on the horizon in 2023 including the ability to “tap” a smartphone or a “smart” sticker on a student ID.
You can find out more on the Free Youth Transit Pass webpage. One more change coming up – today’s briefing also included this reminder: “On Sept. 1, King County Metro will join Sound Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Everett Transit in offering $1 ORCA LIFT fares for riders who qualify based on their income.”
Three reader reports, starting with two businesses hit by crime:
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: From Susanna at Niederberger Contracting (WSB sponsor):
Just letting neighbors know that the catalytic converter of our Chevy Dump Truck was stolen sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at 42nd Ave and Palm. Got in the truck Wednesday am and heard the tell tall sound of a stolen catalytic converter. We filed a police report.
UPDATE: Incident # is 2022-918699.
BUSINESS SIGN VANDALIZED: Nikki at Beauty Therapy Collective reports that someone vandalized the portion of her sign belonging to one of the newest small businesses to open in her building at 42nd/Oregon, Reiki Reflect.
She adds, “She’s doing business by appointment only and only been here for a month. Starting a business is not easy … this will be expensive to remake the sign.” She’s hoping someone might have a tip as to who’s responsible.
Also just got word of this:
CAR BREAK-IN: From Brandy:
Our son’s car was parked on Hinds by Spiro’s last night between 10 pm-12 am and the two backpacks in the trunk with wallets were stolen.
We have had the talk about not leaving valuables in the car. It is a hard lesson to learn.
If you have any camera footage or happen to find a tropical flower print Vans backpack with a brown leather wallet and/or a big gray backpack and a large green fanny pack, please let us know.
SPD incident # is 2022-225064.
9:58 AM: Missed this in real time but noting for the record that there was a house fire in North Delridge early this morning. SFD dispatched a “full response” around 2:20 am to the 4500 block of 23rd SW, which is (updated) south of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. SFD says the fire “involved the garage and extended to the home”; no one was hurt. We’re asking SFD about the cause.
3:12 PM: Thanks to neighbor Danny for the photo of the aftermath. SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB that investigators have ruled the fire’s cause “undetermined” so far.
(Wednesday night sunset, photographed by Mike Burns)
Here’s the list for today/tonight – there’s more on our West Seattle Event Calendar:
WADING POOLS, SPRAYPARK OPEN: The city plans to open the still-operating wading pools, including< Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm. Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale will be open as usual, 11 am-8 pm.
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm, go swimming in the saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
POLITICAL POP-UP: A Postcards to Voters pop-up, 5:30-7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
ULTIMATE AT FAIRMOUNT: 6 pm, Thursday night summertime Ultimate pickup games are back at Fairmount Playfield (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW).
BOARD GAME NIGHT: Go play at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), starting at 6:30 pm.
PINBALL TOURNAMENT: Tonight only, NWPC Pinball Tournament at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW). Registration starts at 7 pm, closes at 7:25 pm, tournament starts at 7:30 pm SHARP.
BENBOW GOES COUNTRY: Thursday “Nashville Nights“ continue at the Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), 9 pm. 21+.
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, August 25th.
WEATHER
Sunny again today, and the high could be in the 90s. (Wednesday’s high was 87, one degree short of the record for that date, and ten degrees above normal.)
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF continues the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
ROAD WORK
Spot repaving work continues on California SW in North Admiral.
WEEKEND PREVIEW
Reminder that two street-closing events are planned Saturday – Admiral Junction Funktion, noon-9 pm on California north of Admiral Way, and Lowrider Block Party, noon-6 pm on 17th SW between Delridge and Roxbury.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
886th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 24 days until the day SDOT expects to reopen it – September 18th. (We’re going up to the bridge work zone again today, so watch for updates later.)
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use until the high bridge reopens; 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.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way (may be malfunctioning):
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here, many with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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