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West Seattle news 52110 results

FOLLOWUP: Alki Beach’s new restroom building finally opens
December 1, 2021 10:58 am
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

A short time ago, Seattle Parks workers took down the fence and finally opened the long-complete comfort-station replacement at 57th SW and Alki Avenue SW. We’ve been trying for two weeks to get a status update and were most recently told last night by Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin that this was the latest hangup: “We are working on new technology for automatic locking doors to better address onslaught of vandalism currently occurring at restrooms throughout the city’s park system.” Then this morning she sent word that the restroom building (aka comfort station) would open this morning. This comes three months after Parks had told us the new building was “very close to opening,” Before that, there was an estimated opening date in late July, as they awaited structural-steel materials. Construction of the $638,000 three-stall comfort station began in late January, which in turn was about a year behind the original (pre-pandemic) schedule. This building replaced an old two-stall brick building that had accessibility challenges.

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District 1 Community Network, ferry terminal advisory group, donation drive, more for your West Seattle Wednesday
December 1, 2021 9:45 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photographed by Rosalie Miller at Schmitz Park, a “species of mature slime mold called Comatricha”)

Here’s what’s up for the hours ahead – from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:

KIWANIS ONLINE AUCTION: You can help the service club continue its work with local kids by bidding on items including local gift cards. Browse and bid by going here.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: Visit the Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) lobby 8 am-8 pm daily to see the donated, decorated trees.

WSHS WINTER CARE-PACKAGE DONATION DRIVE: Today, 3-5 pm outside West Seattle High School‘s north entrance (3000 California SW) is your second opportunity to drop off donated items for this student-led, student-benefiting drive.

FAUNTLEROY FERRY TERMINAL COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP: 6 pm online, it’s the next meeting of this advisory group convened as Washington State Ferries plans our area’s next (post-bridge) big transportation project, replacement of the Fauntleroy ferry dock/terminal. Go here for the link to register. See the agenda here.

DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: 7 pm online, this coalition of West Seattle and South Park community advocates has its monthly meeting. Topics include disaster preparedness, the Street Sinks program, and a presentation by the South Delridge Salvation Army center. Here’s how to attend:

Zoom information – Meeting link is
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85042114712?pwd=QytHcnNTZmRYZXBzSStxNldnaGFOdz09
Meeting ID: 850 4211 4712
Passcode: 165919 (only needed if you manually enter the meeting number)

Call-in-only info:
Phone number: 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 850 4211 4712
Passcode: 165919

OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups, 8:30 pm performances at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).

Something for our calendar/Holiday Guide? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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ORCAS: Whales off West Seattle
December 1, 2021 8:08 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

8:08 AM: Orcas are southbound in the Fauntleroy ferry lanes, per Kersti Muul.

10 AM: Kersti’s latest update in a comment below is that they appear to be headed back northbound – so that should put them in view from here again if they continue this way.

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Wednesday watch
December 1, 2021 6:05 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:05 AM Good morning and welcome to December!

WEATHER

Mostly cloudy, with rain possible, and temps in the mid-to-upper 50s likely.

ROAD WORK

20th/Roxbury – Work continues on the SW side of the intersection.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

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

Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF is still running a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

618th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

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. South Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

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

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

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Threat suspect arrested again
November 30, 2021 9:58 pm
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three weeks ago, we reported on an arrest following a police standoff at the Cal-Mor Circle apartment building in Morgan Junction. The 44-year-old suspect was accused of two incidents at Junction businesses, first threatening bank staff unless they gave him money (which they didn’t), then threatening to kill a store employee who asked him to put on a mask. His case ended up referred to Seattle Mental Health Court, where it was dismissed because he was incompetent to stand trial. The judge ruled that the suspect was unlikely to have competency restored in the time allowed by state law for a non-felony charge. He got out of jail after 11 days.

We’re mentioning this tonight because the same man was arrested again early today, same place, again after police obtained a warrant, this time serving it with SWAT help. The suspect is accused of going into nearby West Seattle Thriftway late last night and getting into a confrontation with staff who had previously barred him from the stsore, eventually trying to steal an item and brandishing a two-foot chain when they tried to stop him. (That turned the incident into robbery.) With the help of security video, police identified the suspect and went to his apartment to arrest him, which they did just after midnight. This afternoon a judge found probable cause to hold him for investigation of second-degree robbery. But the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us that’s also what happened in September, when he was arrested for a similar shoplift-turned-robbery at the gas-station mini-mart south of Thriftway, In that case, probable cause also was found for holding him on suspicion of second-degree robbery – but the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office never got followup documents from SPD, so they were unable to charge him. Days later, Municipal Court charges were dismissed in Mental Health Court for the same reason as the case earlier this month – competency and inability to hold him long enough for restoration to be likely.

In this case, he’s due back in court tomorrow for a bail hearing.

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Starting our seasonal spotlights
November 30, 2021 8:06 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Every year, we invite you to share locations – with or without photos – of West Seattle light displays worth a trip to see. We share them nightly, and in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, through New Year’s Eve. We’re starting tonight with the first recommended display – which we also photographed last year: Ken Arkills‘ home at 39th/Trenton in Fauntlee Hills [map].

Ken’s brother Jim Arkills emailed us to ensure we knew Ken’s display is up and shining for another year. It’s on a corner, so there’s a lot to see, on both sides! That includes many characters, both animated and static. Here’s one inspired by a famous scene in the movie “Christmas Story”:

Fauntlee Hills has other brightly lit homes, as it does every year, but none quite this bright. And our photos only show a fraction of it all.

If you have – or have seen – lights we should showcase, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – with or without photos. Thank you!

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UPDATE: Another Brace Point power outage
November 30, 2021 5:50 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

5:50 PM: Thanks for the tip. Another power outage has hit Brace Point – 166 homes out since just after 2 pm, according to the Seattle City Light map. No cause listed yet, but this area’s had repeated underground cable failures, and SCL is working on replacements and upgrades over the next two-plus years.

7:31 PM: SCL now lists the cause as “equipment failure.”

1:02 AM: 72 homes are still mapped as out.

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YOU CAN HELP: Poogooder grows as 2nd year begins
November 30, 2021 4:57 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

While we mentioned Giving Tuesday in our daily preview list, we otherwise haven’t emphasized it since we try to provide opportunities for EVERY day to be Giving Day. But we do have a request for help from one community-based campaign – Poogooder, described by founder Lori Kothe as an “audacious idea to launch a community dog poo bin program to help end wayward dog poo for a happier, healthier community and planet”:

In our first year, Poogooder has grown to nearly 100 active dog poo bins in West Seattle stewarded like Little Free Libraries, with a growing steward waitlist (currently almost 50!). Poogooder has become an amazing phenomenon as we collectively work to reframe dog poo from problem to opportunity for good, but it takes a village. To-date, Poogooder has been funded personally by me plus many small donations, mostly through GoFundMe and Venmo.

People can “say thanks” via the Venmo QR code on the bin lids (Venmo @Poogooder), but we need a funding boost now to fulfill the waitlist and keep Poogooder going. Consider giving to Poogooder this #GivingTuesday to help meet our campaign goal by the end of the year, regularly donating via Venmo, and giving in other ways listed at Poogooder.com. Poogooder is not currently a registered non-profit so donations are not tax deductible, but all donations go directly to support the program, as it is currently 100% donation and volunteer driven. We’re exploring additional funding models such as grants and partnerships, and welcome ideas from anyone interested in helping Poogooder sustain and scale.

Beyond monetary donations, people can do some good today and every day by doing these three things:

1. Always pick up after your dogs and carry the bagged dog poo with you.
2. Never put dog poo in private garbage cans without explicit consent.
3. Remember to tie the bag and treat Poogooder bins and public garbage cans with care (dog poo NEVER goes in recycling, food & yard waste, or personal compost bins).

Poogooder is a community project where neighbors offer to maintain the bins and transfer the contents to their personal garbage for free, not a paid service, so please show stewards you care by not overflowing the bins, being sure your bag goes entirely in, and closing the lid to keep the rain out. If a bin is full, walk your bag home or check the active bin map at poogooder.com/active-bin-map for a nearby bin. We also need volunteers to help with the program and to sign up to be “bin buddies” to support stewards as needed. Join the movement and learn more at Poogooder.com.

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Another bone found at Alki – but not what it seemed to be, either
November 30, 2021 2:12 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

After seeing an SPD summary reporting another bone found at Alki – this time on Sunday, by someone swimming – we followed up on that discovery and the one a week earlier. In both cases, the finder(s) suspected the bones might be human, so they called police, who in turn took the bones to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. That office is part of Public Health-Seattle/King County, whose spokesperson Gabriel Spitzer tells WSB that “the bones found on Alki beach on 11/22 and 11/28 turned out to be non-human bones.” Spitzer adds, “We do appreciate residents bringing these to the attention of law enforcement, because it’s often difficult for people to spot the difference between human and non-human remains, and it’s better to be sure.”

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UPDATE: Arbor Heights crash
November 30, 2021 1:15 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

1:15 PM: Thanks to Lisa for the tip. Police and fire are at 35th SW and SW 106th [map] for a multiple-vehicle crash. No major injuries reported so far, as no medic unit has been sent. Avoid the intersection for a while.

1:53 PM: SFD has closed the call (we’re following up with them regarding injuries) and an update from Lisa shows a tow truck clearing the intersection.

6:07 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB that two women were treated at the scene and taken to a hospital via private ambulance, in stable condition: one 65 years old, one 27 years old.

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BIZNOTE: Café Mia closes in The Junction
November 30, 2021 11:57 am
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks for the tip. Another Junction restaurant closure – Café Mia at 4317 SW Oregon. Its namesake proprietor announced that last Sunday was the bistro’s final day of operation – in that location. She said she had decided to close as her lease neared its end, but that she plans to reopen elsewhere, “probably not” in West Seattle. Café Mia had been in the space for four years, best known for brunch. (P.S. If you’re wondering about the photo, the handwritten info on the door is the menu, not a farewell note.)

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8 for your West Seattle Tuesday
November 30, 2021 10:08 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo: Duwamish River, seen from the West Seattle Bridge on Monday afternoon)

From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead:

GIVING TUESDAY: Our Holiday Guide has an ongoing list of seasonal opportunities to donate money/items, so that’s one way you can get into the spirit of today’s annual give-a-thon!

LAST CALL – PUBLIC-SAFETY SURVEY: Your annual chance to share thoughts about various public-safety issues ends today.

LAST CALL – NAME A FERRY: Today’s also your last chance to vote on the finalists for naming the new hybrid-electric ferry to be built on Harbor Island.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: 8 am-8 pm daily through December 9th, visit the Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) lobby to see the decorated, donated trees that’ll be auctioned on the last night. (Get a preview in our coverage from last week.)

COMMENT ON PROPOSED KING COUNTY COUNCIL MAP: At 2 pm online, the proposed redrawn map for King County Council districts gets a public hearing. West Seattle remains in Council District 8, but borders to the south and north would shift. Go here to find out how to comment/participate.

HANUKKAH, NIGHT 3: No public West Seattle events until Sunday.

DEMONSTRATION: Scott continues leading weekly sign-waving for racial justice 4:30-6 pm Tuesdays at 16th/Holden – signs available if you don’t bring your own.

BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: 8 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).

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YOU CAN HELP: Here’s how to volunteer for West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays
November 30, 2021 9:00 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Hometown Holidays fun in the West Seattle Junction is just beginning, but with the biggest events coming up soon, the call is out for people who can give the gift of time: Volunteers! You can help with the Night Market and Tree Lighting on Thursday, or in a variety of other ways, says WSJA executive director Chris Mackay. Just go here, see what they’re looking for and when, and sign up for whatever interests you!

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Tuesday notes
November 30, 2021 6:04 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

6:04 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

More rain expected today,.

ROAD WORK

20th/Roxbury – Work continues on the SW side of the intersection.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

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

Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF is running a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

617th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

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.) No change for the holiday.

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. South Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

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

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

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FOLLOWUP: Here’s what we saw atop the West Seattle Bridge after today’s briefing
November 29, 2021 10:10 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

A little over one hour after today’s “final repairs have begun” briefing about the West Seattle Bridge (WSB coverage here), SDOT allowed media crews onto the bridge to photograph the work. It was our third visit in three months. SDOT has been saying that the first work would include hydroblasting attachment points for the work platforms, and that’s what was happening this afternoon.

Before the actual blasting, workers were measuring and marking:

These workers are with Rampart Hydro Services, a Pennsylvania-based company that describes itself as “the world’s leading hydrodemolition firm.” Their work will be done before the platforms go up next month (we’ve asked SDOT for a more specific date). Much of the rest of the $45 million dollar repairs will subsequently be happening beneath and inside the bridge.

As we reported in our coverage of this morning’s briefing, the city and contractor Kraemer North America agreed to a “substantial completion” date of the end of June, and SDOT says completion of work would be followed by up to two weeks of testing before reopening the bridge to traffic.

P.S. Adding two notes – more explanation on the repair work is here; next public update will be during the Community Task Force meeting on December 9th.

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West Seattle’s last freestanding Christian Science church is being sold
November 29, 2021 8:22 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

When the Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist, closed at what then became The Sanctuary at Admiral, it merged with the Fourteenth Church of Christ, Scientist, in Upper Fauntleroy. Now that church building too is being sold. The church at 3601 SW Barton is on an acre of land, listed for $2.3 million, and already has a sale pending, according to webpages featuring the listing, The description of the site notes that the new owner could “build 8 new homes” – since it’s zoned Single-Family 5000. The church phone number is disconnected, so we contacted a regional spokesperson for Christian Science to ask what happened to the church itself. According to the state website, it had shrunk to the smallest organized unit, a society, and the spokesperson tells us the Society based at that building is disbanding. West Seattle also had a Christian Science Reading Room until last year, in the Junction space that became home to Mystery Made. Back to the Fauntleroy church – no word yet on who’s buying it, as the sale hasn’t closed yet and the listing agent didn’t reply to our inquiry.

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CORONAVIRUS: Skipping one round of weekly updates
November 29, 2021 7:38 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

In case you noticed/wondered – we’re skipping this round of weekly pandemic updates because the long holiday weekend broke the data flow. Usually we’d publish countywide and local stats on Sunday nights, but last night the King County dashboards only had been updated through last Wednesday; on Mondays, we usually publish local breakouts from the Seattle Public Schools dashboard, but that too has less data than usual, since all schools were out Thursday-Friday (and elementary grades were without classes all week because of family conferences). We’ll get back on track next Sunday/Monday.

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UPDATE: ‘RV remediation’ planned for SW Andover
November 29, 2021 4:59 pm
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, MONDAY NIGHT: Last Wednesday afternoon, just before the long holiday weekend, “No Parking” signs went up along the stretch of SW Andover where more than a dozen RVs are usually parked along the south side of Nucor Steel (a source of growing concern for the plant, as reported here two months ago).

(WSB photo, Wednesday night)

The infosheet that accompanied the signs cited only “RV remediation,” Because of the holiday, we were not able to reach city departments until today to ask what that will involve. Seattle Public Utilities is the lead agency, so here’s what spokesperson Sabrina Register tells us:

Seattle Public Utilities’ RV Remediation Program works to reduce negative impacts to public health and safety by removing garbage and debris from roads, sidewalks, and the public right-of-way near RVs. This effort started initially as a pilot in November 2017 in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, program staff observed safety protocols and best practices based on guidance from health experts, including maintaining social distancing during cleanups of areas impacted by RVs. SPU staff passed out purple trash bags to assist people with cleaning around their vehicles and aimed to gain voluntary compliance from RV owners.

In October 2021, the program ramped up to engage RV occupants to voluntarily move their RVs, which allows crews to clean and remove garbage, waste and immobile, unoccupied vehicles that pose a major health and safety risk. 

Days prior to a clean, staff trained to support RV occupants connect with them to let them know about an upcoming remediation clean, so the occupants can prepare to move their vehicle on the morning of the clean. If an RV is occupied but inoperable, staff work through our community partners to try to assist that person, including help with a battery jump, fuel, or a spare tire. SPU’s goal is 100% compliance with RV relocation in order to remove garbage and debris, plus address any fluids or materials that could enter a storm drain. RVs that are abandoned, derelict or pose a public health risk may be towed on a case-by-case basis.

The RV Remediation clean taking place along the 2400-2600 blocks SW Andover will involve multiple City departments, including SPU, SDOT and SPR.

The “No Parking” signs that went up Wednesday (but were not in view this afternoon) were dated tomorrow through Sunday, so it’s not clear what day the work will happen; we’ll go by periodically but if you see it in progress, please let us know if you can – 206-293-6302 text or voice.

BACKSTORY: We first reported on the RV parking on Andover almost six years ago.

ADDED TUESDAY MORNING, 11:11 AM: Thanks to everyone who texted to say it appears the work is beginning. We went by and all we saw was one junk-hauling truck working right at the corner of Andover/28th, with a Parking Enforcement Officer there to direct traffic.

The truck was labeled South Elmgrove; a company by that name is listed online as a city contractor for junk pickup. We’ll be checking back in a few hours.

WEDNESDAY NOTE: We checked back at 3:30 pm Tuesday, no sign of further activity. Went by again just before 10 am today, and junk-hauling trucks are back but no other activity in view.

WEDNESDAY NOTE #2: A reader who works nearby saw at least one RV being towed. We went back over around 3:15 pm, no activity but there seemed to be a larger gap on the north side of Andover – 12 RVs total on Andover and 28th. Tonight another reader reports the RVs all have been tagged.

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FOLLOWUP: Near-record coho count as Fauntleroy Creek salmon-watching season wraps
November 29, 2021 2:59 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Spawning pair, photographed by Tom Trulin)

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

The longest salmon watch since counting of coho spawners in Fauntleroy Creek started in 1999 ended Sunday with a near-record 244 fish.

(Photo by Judy Pickens)

The seven-week watch began in mid October, and a month later watchers were about to call it a day when the count stood at 10 – a typical number for this small creek. Then high tides, an “atmospheric river” weather system, and perhaps barometric pressure brought in the most spawners since 2012, when the tally was 274.

Read More

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VIDEO: West Seattle Bridge briefing as ‘final repairs’ begin
November 29, 2021 11:05 am
|      62 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

11:05 AM: Just under way, livestreaming above, the mayor and SDOT are announcing the start of “final repairs” on the West Seattle Bridge, 20 months after it was abruptly closed for safety concerns. We’ll be reporting today’s updates in two parts – first, this online briefing; second, what we see and learn when media crews are escorted onto the bridge in a few hours (some of the work is already visible via this city webcam). We’ll add notes from this briefing every few minutes.

11:11 PM: Mayor Jenny Durkan thanked the “residents and businesses of West Seattle” and the Duwamish Valley for enduring the bridgelessness. She said it’s “exciting” that “we are closer than ever to reopening the bridge.” She described the project as “on time and on budget.” $19 million in federal funds and $9 million in port funding are assisting in covering the cost. “We know how much impact this has,” she reiterates. She describes the work as “extensive,” adding 91 tons and 46 miles of steel cable, two football fields of carbon-fiber polymer, among other things, to the bridge, which she says will be restored “to as close to new as possible.”

SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe got into the details. He says steel cables (post-tensioning strands) will be installed throughout the bridge, which will be wrapped in carbon-fiber polymer, with cracks being injected with epoxy. And “while we have contractors on the bridge” they’ll do “major maintenance” including replacing expansion joints, repaving, and replacing signs. He also noted the low bridge is getting carbon-fiber wrap and epoxy injections too.

11:22 AM: They’re in Q&A now. We asked about the projected completion date in the now-finalized agreement. End of June 2022, said Zimbabwe. Are there incentives for finishing sooner? No, he said, partly because of federal rules.

Mike Lindblom of The Seattle Times asks why they didn’t just keep Kraemer North America, which also was the contractor for stabilization, on to continue with repairs, Zimbabwe says he doesn’t think that would have saved time – he says the process of designing the repairs and assembling the funding was done in parallel and would have still required time post-stabilization. He insists, “I don’t think we’ve lost any time in this.”

11:35 AM: We also asked whether the bridge is going to reopen a lane or two at a time in mid-2022 as had been suggested before. No, said Zimbabwe, they expect that when it reopens, they’ll reopen it fully – after a period of up to two weeks for “load testing” among other things, Zimbabwe was also asked about whether reopening the bridge partly, early, could have been possible. He said no – it needs this next round of repairs to be able to safely carry traffic. He also said the repairs are expected to restore the bridge to where it should have been at this point – 40 more years of life.

11:44 AM: The briefing is over but you should be able to view the video on instant playback above. Look for our separate report later on what’s actually happening on the bridge now (among the work, Zimbabwe said, is hydroblasting to prepare for the new work platforms to be hoisted).

2:41 PM: Back from the bridge, separate story later. The city’s post about today’s announcement, includes quotes from elected officials and others who were on the call but didn’t speak, is here.

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UPDATE: Low bridge reopens; here’s what went wrong
November 29, 2021 11:01 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

11:01 AM: Metro is rerouting buses onto the 1st Avenue South Bridge right now because of a “mechanical issue” on the West Seattle low bridge – which is closed to all surface traffic. More info when we get it.

12:07 PM: Its status isn’t clear right now – it’s open so a barge can get through, said SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe when we asked for an update before the high-bridge briefing ended, but he believed it would return to normal surface traffic after that. We’ll keep checking.

12:58 PM: Just reopened.

ADDED 4 PM: The reopening happened just as we were being escorted onto the high bridge for photos of the work crew. We also saw this truck backup that built up during the low-bridge closure:

ADDED 6:12 PM: We asked SDOT what went wrong. Their reply:

Operations on the Spokane St Bridge (West Seattle Low Bridge) were interrupted today due to two separate mechanical issues related to the bridge’s hydraulic system and center-locking mechanisms. This incident was unrelated to mechanical issues which affected bridge operations earlier this month, from November 3-5.

At about 11 a.m. this morning, the bridge was swung open to allow a ship to sail through. SDOT bridge operations crews observed irregularities in the bridge’s movement, and discovered a hydraulic fluid leak in one of the pump lines at the West Pier which allow the bridge to swing open and closed (a different pump than the one that was replaced earlier this month). While crews were able to return the bridge to a closed position despite the hydraulic fluid leak, they were briefly unable to open the traffic gates that allows vehicles to use the bridge due to safeguard in the bridge’s center-locking mechanism which was triggered by a faulty mechanical switch which was sending an incorrect signal that the center-lock had not been engaged. Crews were able address the center-lock safeguard and reopened the gate for vehicle traffic shortly before 1 pm.

Since that time, crews have continued to work to double check other bridge systems and repair the hydraulic fluid leak. This work can be done while traffic drives over the bridge. We will only open one leaf of the bridge at a time while these repairs are occurring, but do not expect this to have a noticeable effect on vehicle or ship traffic. We may also perform brief bridge openings to test the systems later this evening, after peak-period traffic is over.

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Bridge-work briefing and more for your West Seattle Monday
November 29, 2021 9:05 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Back to work, back to school, back to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide for our list of what’s up today/tonight:

(View from SDOT camera on the bridge this morning)

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE BRIEFING: As previewed on Friday, the mayor and SDOT plan a media briefing at 11 am today “to mark the start of construction for the final phase of repairs to the West Seattle Bridge.” They’ve decided to hold it online, though media crews will be allowed onto the bridge this afternoon for a closer look. You can watch the livestream at 11 am by going here.

VOLLEYBALL TRYOUTS: The West Seattle Reign is scheduled to host tryouts for U15-U18 girls/boys volleyball, 6:15 pm at Seattle Lutheran High School (4100 SW Genesee).

TRIVIA X 3: Monday night brings three options – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

HANUKKAH: Night 2 of the eight-night festival.

And two online holiday fundraising auctions continue today:

ST. NICHOLAS FAIRE: Last day for online bidding, with themed gift packages available – and dream getaways too – all raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank in this virtual version of First Lutheran Church of West Seattle‘s annual fundraiser fair – go here to browse and bid.

KIWANIS ONLINE AUCTION: You can help the service club continue its work with local kids by bidding on items including local gift cards. Browse and bid by going here.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Post-holiday Monday notes
November 29, 2021 6:03 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

More rain today, though not continuous.

ROAD WORK

26th SW – One more time – it’s now open both ways.

20th/Roxbury – Work continues on the SW side of the intersection.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

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

Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF is running a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

616th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

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.) No change for the holiday.

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. South Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

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

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

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