WEST SEATTLE WEATHER/TRAFFIC: More bridge spinouts; plenty of road ponding

If you have to drive on this soggy afternon, a few words of warning:

4:23 PM: That’s a reader photo from another crash near the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge a couple hours ago. It’s not the only one we’ve heard of since the rain began in earnest – no major injuries reported but as discussed amply here in recent months, it seems to be a relatively frequent trouble spot. Meantime, a Flood Advisory remains in effect, warning of, among other things, urban ponding:

That’s one example – a big “pond” we photographed this morning (after a reader tip) just west of Delridge/Sylvan/Orchard. Often this is the result of a clogged drain – still lots of leaves coming off trees – so you can report it to Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800.

11:18 PM: Another crash toward the west end of the westbound bridge a short time ago. The circumstances of this one might have further complications, though, as police have told dispatchers that both cars were unoccupied.

wetone December 5, 2023 (5:12 pm)

There was a spin out yesterday afternoon by Welcome to WS sign. Truck ended up in bushes. Very dangerous section of roadway at transition of new pavement and original especially when wet. Any fuel or oil spilled/dripped in lane uphill runs down really intensifying situation. I’m surprised there hasn’t been legal action against the city involving that section of roadway. There are many solutions to help, some being pretty simple such as blasting or grinding original roadway at transition. Luckily no has been seriously injured yet.

KSJ December 7, 2023 (4:41 pm)

This section, at the west end of the bridge as you corner the high rise is defiantly defective. I drive a front wheel SUV and have fished tailed/skidded in the exact same spot multiple times…mostly when pavement is wet, but other times as well…even when going 30mph. I take that corner very carefully now, mostly watching out for other cars. My husband has large 4WD SUV and has also skidded in that spot. Be careful on that corner and watch out for other cars skidding out there as well very dangerous spot if road.

Odd son December 5, 2023 (5:31 pm)

There was a green truck spun out yesterday at the Walking on Logs pull out around 3:00. Truck was all the way on the grass. Tow truck was on scene.

Seattlite December 5, 2023 (5:46 pm)

If you don’t know how to drive in rain or on slick streets, then don’t because you’re putting other drivers and pedistrians in danger. If you need to drive, do not speed; do not tailgate.

Dewayne December 5, 2023 (7:36 pm)

ABSOLUTELY….

Jethro Marx December 5, 2023 (6:00 pm)

Was there recent work done directly adjacent to the Sylvan Way ‘urban pond?’ There were large stormwater fittings and whatnot on the grassy area towards Home Depot for a good while, long enough to be tagged at least. I thought they were installed as part of a project to address the long-running drainage issues in the area.

LyndaB December 5, 2023 (8:51 pm)

From what I heard, it didn’t work out with the contractor that was selected. I don’t recall the specifics. It’s been a long while since I spoke with the person who knew about that project.

Larry Lamb December 5, 2023 (6:07 pm)

The bridge is fine, the knucklehead drivers are causing the problems. Too many people drive like they’re trying out for the fast and the furious. IMHO

Odd son December 5, 2023 (7:22 pm)

I saw someone doing that yesterday, west bound. White truck came off 99 South to WS Bridge at a high rate a speed then cut across the lanes in one motion to get in the left lane. It was raining and I am guessing the truck was going 65+. 🤦‍♂️

Brad Kelln December 5, 2023 (6:22 pm)

I lost control of my vehicle in the same area last night. Fortunately I didn’t get in an accident. I was traveling below the speed limit and I have new tires on the vehicle. I reported the issue to Find It, Fix It. It really seems like SDOT could figure out a way to provide better traction in that area.

heartless December 5, 2023 (6:49 pm)

Sure will be nice when we can simply avoid the roads and take the light rail.

WS Res December 5, 2023 (9:38 pm)

SERIOUSLY. This is perfect weather for leaving the car at home if at all possible.

EA December 5, 2023 (6:54 pm)

The problem is they stopped short about 100′ when they added those traction grooves around the curve just before re-opening the bridge. I always wondered, “why did they stop before we are out of the turn”? You hit the smooth section while still in the turn and wheeeeee!!

Lucian December 5, 2023 (10:36 pm)

Just as a note: don’t forget that it’s often possible to clear those ‘urban ponds’ by hand, if you don’t mind getting wet; the grates are often just covered with loose leaves that you can just pull out and toss aside. Cleared one this morning myself on 26th, partly inspired by another commenter here on the WSB.

Slippery when wet December 5, 2023 (10:47 pm)

The problem is not simple surface traction. There is a small bump in that turn that adds to people losing tire grip. When you combine the physics of the bump with the turn and the rain, most any car is at risk at any speed over the posted 30 mph. An expensive fix is to shave or grind out the bump. A cheap fix is to just go 30 when it’s wet like the sign says. SDOT should mix some mechanical engineers with their civil engineers.

wsEthicist December 6, 2023 (12:47 am)

I always let off the accelerator to go over that bump, if I didn’t know about it or maintained speed I’m sure I’d lose control too.

NeighborLady December 6, 2023 (12:49 am)

My car lost traction in that spot coming off the bridge tonight. Possibly I didn’t lose complete control because I wasn’t speeding (unlike my usual heavy foot TBH), but who knows, maybe I just got lucky. There is definitely something wrong there.

Sherman Olsen December 6, 2023 (8:57 am)

There are actually two bumps at that corner. I have observed that nearly every vehicle that leaves the roadway there is a truck with a solid rear axle, and I think there is something about how the two bumps compress and then launch the axle at just the wrong point in the turn, and where the paving changes. It’s not just speed. I hardly notice a thing in my front drive car, but even going much slower in my 4Runner can cause a wiggle and traction control to kick in. It is unusually and unexpectedly dangerous and should be fixed.

bolo December 7, 2023 (12:20 pm)

Yes, agreed that the crashed vehicles there are mostly trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Higher center of gravity makes them less stable. Drivers of trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps need to stop driving them like sports cars, no matter how they are marketed.

Do NOT Win a Darwin Award December 6, 2023 (6:30 pm)

My 11-year-old daughter often laughs at the stupidity of warning signs. I tell her that the stupid warning sign is there because enough idiots have made the warning sign necessary. I don’t feel too bad for bad drivers. I moved to Seattle from Southern California. I was shocked by how much my car insurance went up. The insurance guy shrugged his shoulders and said Washington drivers are bad drivers. True statement since 2008 and beyond.

Lisa December 7, 2023 (5:07 pm)

Not everyone who loses control in that spot is speeding. We have driven over that section BELOW the speed limit and have still slightly lost control. Luckily there were no other cars around, otherwise we could have easily crashed into someone. It is an issue that needs to be fixed! I’ve filed a report on the city’s website and hope others will do the same to bring attention to this.

Mohammad Khorasani December 9, 2023 (9:04 am)

That section of the road is defective even in dry weather. There is too many surface type changes especially for it being a curve/turn. The city needs to redo that surface. Honestly I am very disappointed that we had the bridge closed for 2 years and they didn’t fix many potholes, surface issues, etc while they had it closed. Such poor management for the millions of tax dollars we pay as a resident of West Seattle. The city treats this section of the city as an afterthought. Our own street I live on is crumbling and in 25 years I have lived on this street I have never seen a single person from the city to come and even look even though we have reported the issue multiple times.

Sorry, comment time is over.