TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday, with (short-lived) snow, without Water Taxi

6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, February 22nd.

WEATHER

Light snow possible, high in the mid-to-upper 30s. (7:31 AM UPDATE: We are seeing some snow. 9:31 AM UPDATE: Not much, though; the sun’s now out.)

SCHOOL’S OUT

But not for all – for example, our area’s three Catholic schools are all back in session today after 4-day Presidents Day weekends.

TRANSIT TODAY

7:15 AM UPDATE: No Water Taxi until 10:30 am because of weather.

Metro is on its regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, so check notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts. (Here’s our report on Tuesday’s briefing, including the acknowledgment that they’re still short-staffed.)

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on a 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.

SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.

High Bridge – the camera at the top:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – looking east to west:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.

11 Replies to "TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday, with (short-lived) snow, without Water Taxi"

  • newnative February 22, 2023 (8:15 am)

    It’s been snowing steadily once you cross the Bridge for a while now. Sticking too. 

  • seanate February 22, 2023 (8:27 am)

    This morning when the low bridge tried to close, the trucks to the Port were gridlocked across the entire span, preventing the bridge from opening.  Although the lights were red, the operators could not lower the arms, so cars going eastbound just ignored the red light and crossed anyways.  I crossed the high bridge and had to backtrack towards my office on Harbor Island, but the back roads were also blocked by trucks.  Took me a while to find a way in.  The City needs to hold the Port and the terminal operators (SSA) responsible for this.  They could easily add a que system for the trucks to prevent blocking critical roadways (and waterways, which have priority).  It’s been 30 minutes already, and the low bridge is still blocked by trucks and unable to open.  If there was any type of emergency right now, there is no way vehicles could cross that bridge or move through the gridlocked trucks surrounding surface streets near Harbor Island.  I suspect the westbound high bridge is the same, it’s probably backed up all the way to I-5.   

    • Harborislandworker February 22, 2023 (9:34 am)

      Seanate…last week I witnessed multiple semi trucks crossing the double yellow line in to oncoming traffic. Because the low bridge was so backed up for vehicles, trying to enter T5 I was stuck on the bridge for at least a half an hour. 

    • Arpigeonpoint February 22, 2023 (10:11 am)

      Can confirm. Traffic was completely stopped all the way back to I-5 by a line of trucks at 8:30.

    • miws February 22, 2023 (10:25 am)

      For those affected by, in some way, by the backing up of the trucks on the swing bridge, maybe they could contact the Coast Guard and complain about this incident. They are not very willing to give the slightest concessions to land vehicle traffic as far as not allowing bridge openings during peak hours. Maybe this can be the catalyst for the Port actually taking responsibility and doing something. —Mike

      • Anne February 22, 2023 (2:03 pm)

        They haven’t & shouldn’t give concessions to  land vehicle traffic period.  Would not be surprised that CG has already heard from  plenty of  marine traffic  if they couldn’t get through. 

  • sam-c February 22, 2023 (8:51 am)

    Regarding schools, as your traffic report notes, the Catholic school at 35th & Myrtle (OLG) is back in session.   We saw the school zone traffic camera taking photos of people going over 20mph, southbound, on 35th.  However, the yellow warning lights were not blinking, to alert people of the 20mph school zone speed limit.  

  • 22blades February 22, 2023 (8:59 am)

    Agree! Traffic management & impacting the community  with responsible practices goes hand in hand with being a good neighbor. This is an  especially good time to staff the area with off duty LEO’s to keep bridges, onramps & access streets open. Port of Seattle & SSA; let me help you… https://www.seafinest.com/

  • Gill & Alex February 22, 2023 (9:55 am)

    And we got almost 1/4 inch of snow here in White Center!

  • Odd son February 22, 2023 (10:27 am)

    It is a longstanding issue that needs to be addressed. The Port traffic has been a mess in many ways for many years. I remember westbound bridge traffic backing up with semis back to I5. This was a few years before the bridge closed.  So anyone trying to get on the bridge westbound from the 1st ave on-ramp was blocked by a wall of semis. 

    • WSB February 22, 2023 (11:17 am)

      We already reported on what’s happening with the trucks currently. The decisionmaker in this case is the terminal operator, SSA Marine. They’re opening the terminals an hour later. Also there is something new I have yet to check into, a requirement for appointments when drivers are returning empty containers to T-5.

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