8:00 AM: The 99 tunnel is closed both ways because of a power outage.
8:20 AM: WSDOT has no estimate for reopening.
9:09 AM: Don’t even try to head toward downtown (unless it’s by bike or Water Taxi). One reader tried and finally gave up after little progress: “All roads leading in are at a standstill.”
9:23 AM: We haven’t heard a cause for the outage but for the record, here’s its footprint, from the City Light outage map, where it’s listed as 167 customers despite the outage zone’s extensive sprawl:
9:49 AM: Note that 99 access is closed far before the tunnel – for example, the ramp from the eastbound, West Seattle Bridge, and also to the south, SDOT just tweeted: “NB SR 99 is closed north of S Idaho St. All vehicles must exit at S Spokane St.” The main problem for the tunnel, per an AlertSeattle message, is that the outage is affecting its ventilation.
9:56 AM: City Light map shows most of the outage has just been resolved. We’re watching to see how soon the tunnel will reopen and will continue updating here until resolved.
10:30 AM: Still closed.
10:47 AM: WSDOT has just announced that the tunnel has reopened.
11:51 AM: We are following up on some questions raised by this. For the simple one – what caused the outage – SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang says it was “a wire that came down at 4th S and S Hanford this morning.”
1:05 PM: We also asked WSDOT about why the tunnel didn’t have backup systems. Spokesperson RB McKeon said, “There is redundancy in the system and we would normally receive power from the north end. That switch gear has failed and although our emergency generators kicked on, they are not designed to run the ventilation and some of the other systems.” McKeon added that “… we are also in touch with the manufacturer of our switch gear and have asked them for an assessment and recommendations. We are not aware of any other occasion where this has occurred.”
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, November 20, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast for today: Chance of more rain, then cloudy, eventually clearing, high in the low 50s. Sunrise will be at 7:22 am; sunset will be at 4:27 pm.
SPEED BUMP FOLLOWUP
(WSB photo, 62nd Avenue SW)
After a reader report that the latest wave of Alki speed bumps were finally all done, we went over to confirm; the view above is a speed hump (the type without a break in the middle – those are speed cushions) on 62nd SW.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – The Triangle Route is on a three-boat schedule, with M/V Cathlamet, M/V Kittitas, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where; ferry alerts will update with any changes.
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes.
Water Taxi – regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the view looking west. Also note, maritime-opening info is again available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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