(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We start with one traffic alert: Henderson Place is still closed north of Barton for the investigation of the second of two serious overnight West Seattle crashes. Use 9th SW instead.

Otherwise: For the first time since April 3rd, all the schools are back in session – last week was Seattle Public Schools‘ spring break, the week before that saw many private schools out. So please be extra, extra careful as everyone gets readjusted to routine. That’s today’s big reminder – no new road work on the schedule – so, the traffic watch is on.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No trouble spots so far in or from West Seattle. Of note: It’s the last weekday of spring break for Seattle Public Schools and the independent schools that follow its calendar, so traffic volumes will invariably rise on Monday.

WEEKEND NOTES: Biggest traffic alert for the weekend – westbound I-90 lanes have more work this weekend just east of the city, so vehicles will be diverted into the express lanes. Also on the lookahead, SODO notes – the Mariners are at home this weekend, evening games tonight and Saturday, afternoon game Sunday (which is Salute to Armed Forces Day, and that could mean flyovers).

4:37 PM: A crash on the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct this past half-hour has cleared, but some residual backups are reported.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing of note on the roads so far but we do have a major problem on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run. Most recent update from WSF:

The Issaquah is out of service for necessary repairs. The 7:05am sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon and Southworth is cancelled. The following sailings may also be affected until repairs can be made: 7:30am Vashon to Southworth, 7:55am Southworth to Vashon and Fauntleroy.

Please check the online schedule to view sailing times. Updates will occur as information becomes available.

8:01 AM: Aside from the ferry trouble, no incidents. So it’s on with our Throwback Thursday Traffic photo of the week, from the Seattle Municipal Archives. You’ll probably recognize this spot in what’s now The Triangle:

The date: November 1957. The intersection: Fauntleroy/37th. Click the image to go to the Muni Archives page with a larger version of the photo, so you can take a closer look.

8:42 AM: Ferry update – M/V Issaquah is still out and runs are still being canceled – keep watch on the WSF website for the latest.

9:26 AM: WSF says the Issaquah is fixed and is returning to service with “a late 9:20 am departure from Southworth to Vashon and Fauntleroy.”

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. No incidents in or from West Seattle so far this morning. One update on ongoing work:

UPDATE ON 47TH/ADMIRAL SIGNAL/CROSSWALKS: From SDOT:

Construction is scheduled to begin this week on the south side of 47th Avenue SW and SW Waite Street. We anticipated beginning demolition of the southeast and southwest corners as soon as Monday but the work has been slightly delayed. Residents and businesses can now expect demolition at the southeast corner as soon as (today), April 15, and at the southwest corner on Thursday, April 16. The corners will be impacted for approximately two weeks while crews prepare signal pole foundations and pour new curbs and sidewalk. Access to Alki Mail & Dispatch will be maintained at all times.

Corners may be closed to pedestrians and bicyclists during work. People walking and biking will need to follow marked detours or find an alternate route.

As we’ve previously mentioned, there will be a lull of activity between work at the corners of this intersection and installation of the signal. Construction at the intersection will slow down at the end of April while we wait for the delivery of signal equipment. We will continue to keep you informed as more information is available related to installation and configuration of the new signal.

SPEAKING OF ADMIRAL: Watch for our report on last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, with SDOT’s briefing on two projects – adding bicycle lanes between California and 63rd, and reducing neighborhood speed limits in the WSHS vicinity.

10:26 AM: If you’re heading up from Harbor Avenue to California Avenue, a crash is blocking the uphill lane – thanks to the tipster who texted us. Does not appear from the SFD log that there were serious (if any) injuries.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Tuesday, April 14th. No road work alerts for today beyond continuing projects. Speaking of which …

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TONIGHT: How’s the 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalks project going? You’re likely to find out tonight when ANA meets at 7 pm, The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander). The agenda also includes SDOT briefings on a future bicycle-lane project along Admiral Way west of California and the 20 mph zone planned in the WSHS area.

JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION TONIGHT: JuNO’s 6:30 pm agenda at the Senior Center of West Seattle also includes an SDOT rep, talking about RPZ criteria – of extra interest now in the wake of the citywide parking-study report covered here last night.

Earlier in the day …

CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 9:30 am at City Hall (or watch live online or on TV via Seattle Channel), with a busy agenda including updates on Bicycle Master Plan Implementation and the Freight Master Plan.

Survey du jour:

QUESTIONS ABOUT METRO: Answer them and be part of an international survey about transit.

Now, on to traffic watch – updates if/when anything of note happens.

2:03 PM: Don’t know yet how long this will last – but heads up if you are heading north: The Alaskan Way Viaduct might be a trouble spot for a while, because the collision shown in SDOT’s tweet has closed the northbound Battery Street Tunnel. No Seattle Fire callout, which likely means no serious injuries, if any. Updates when we get them.

2:20 PM: The Incident Response Team is on scene, says SDOT.

2:42 PM: Open again.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy spring break to everyone who’s off this week, and welcome back to everyone who’s been away. Our Monday watch is on. And we are looking ahead:

TRANSPORTATION THIS WEEK:
*This morning’s City Council briefing will include a tunnel-project update around 10:30 am (watch live via Seattle Channel – accompanying documents are linked from the agenda, with lots of charts related to Viaduct settling)
*Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting (7 pm, The Sanctuary) will include an SDOT briefing on the early-stage plan for a bicycle lane on Admiral Way between California and 63rd SW. (Also see the document that will be shown to the City Council Transportation Committee earlier in the day.) Plans for a 20 mph speed limit on residential streets around West Seattle High School will be discussed too.
*On Wednesday night, another West Seattle presentation about the draft transportation levy is set for the Delridge District Council meeting (7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center). Also that night, the agenda for the quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting (7 pm, The Kenney [WSB sponsor]) includes several transportation topics.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We’re on watch for Thursday. But first, our weekly feature:

THROWBACK THURSDAY, ROAD EDITION: Thanks to Alan in Highland Park for digging up more historic road views from the Municipal Archives, where we’ve been going lately to get this report into the “Throwback Thursday” online meme. Here’s what part of 9th SW in HPark looked like in 1932:

Click the image to see the page with the largest image of that scene. Alan believes it’s near SW Trenton, looking south, and points to this distinctive house as part of the evidence.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Trouble-free morning through and from West Seattle so far. So, the transportation headlines:

SW ROXBURY PLAN: Officially announced last night and set for implementation starting in August, SDOT’s Roxbury plan will “rechannelize” the road from 17th to 35th – one lane each way plus a center turn lane – and involve some simpler changes on the eastern stretch, including a speed-limit reduction. Sidewalks will be installed on the last sidewalkless stretch, which is on the south side of Roxbury east of 30th..

NEW VASHON WATER TAXI STARTS RUNNING THIS AFTERNOON: King County says M/V Sally Fox – twin to the future new West Seattle Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard – will take over the Seattle-Vashon run starting at 4:30 this afternoon.

VIADUCT STILL SETTLING: Results of the recent inspection closure are now public.

HOLDEN STAIRWAY GOATS: While the stairway from 20th to Delridge on Holden remains open, its north side is fenced off with the Rent-A-Ruminant goats at work, as covered here (and spotlighted by TV too).

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No incidents reported so far on the routes through/from West Seattle. A few notes:

STAIRWAY GOATS: We reported last Friday on SDOT’s plan to bring in Rent-A-Ruminant goats this week to clear overgrowth along the stairway that goes up Holden from Delridge. At the time, SDOT expected them to be at work by 8 am today, but they now tell us the start is likely to be between 11 am and 2 pm. We’ll update when there’s a sighting.

‘ROXBURY REVEAL’ TONIGHT AT WWRHAH: Tonight’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting (6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library) will include first word of SDOT’s final plan for making SW Roxbury safer.

Also, a reminder –

ROAD CLOSURE: The SW Waite closure on the north/northwest side of the 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalks project continues – thanks to Jed for tweeting this photo:

The closure is expected to last all week.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:07 AM: If you’re heading out through the Admiral District, be aware of a car-fire dispatch for SFD at 42nd/Admiral. We don’t know what side of the intersection. Also of note this morning:

SW WAITE CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC: At the 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalk project, as announced by the city last week, SW Waite is scheduled to be closed to through traffic all week.

WATER TAXI SCHEDULE CHANGE: The West Seattle Water Taxi is now on its spring/summer schedule, which runs all day, 7 days a week.

M’S GAME TODAY: SODO and Pioneer Square will be busier than usual before and after the Opening Day baseball game at Safeco Field, which is an afternoon game, 1:10 pm start.

SPRING BREAK: Parochial schools are out this week (public schools’ spring break isn’t until next week).

7:54 AM: The Admiral car-fire response is closed. Meantime, police are on the Highland Park Way hill at Othello with a stalled vehicle – direction not reported.

8:48 AM: Big truck traffic for the port, we’re hearing via scanner, on East Marginal Way and other spots.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Not only is it a quiet commute in our area, it’s uneventful regionally, so far, per WSDOT’s traffic-watchers.

EARLY DISMISSAL: Watch for extra walking, bicycling, and school buses at midday today – local parochial schools are out at noon and off next week for Easter Break. (Seattle Public Schools‘ spring break is one week later.)

8 AM – REMINDER FOR NEXT WEEK: As reported in our 47th/Admiral project update Wednesday night, SW Waite on the north side of that intersection will be closed to through traffic next Monday-Friday. Here’s the newest reminder from SDOT.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No incidents so far on the routes through/from West Seattle. Thanks as always for your help keeping watch; when/if you can call or text safely/legally, 206-293-6302.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: One link to share if you haven’t seen the story yet – take a walk around the Westwood Village-perimeter “transit hub” with the WW-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council and city/county reps – see the key pedestrian/passenger challenges that were pointed out.

Now, a look at what you would have seen on WS roads a half-century-plus ago:

THROWBACK THURSDAY TRAFFIC: Again this week, we steer right into the online “Throwback Thursday” tradition with another street shot from the Seattle Municipal Archives – January 1960 on Spokane St. in West Seattle between 23rd and 26th, which would be under the west end of today’s high bridge, we believe:

Click that image to see the archives’ page with a *really* big version of the photo, when you have time to explore the details.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Welcome to April. Transportation news, to start with:

47TH/ADMIRAL UPDATE: As published here last night – today’s work is expected to be louder than usual, with some excavation on the southeast side of the intersection. And SW Waite will be closed to through traffic next week.

TRANSPORTATION LEVY MEETING: Really more of an open house last night, but tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting brings another chance to hear/ask questions/comment about it (6 pm, WS Senior Center, Oregon/California).

TRANSIT TAX: Seattle sales tax goes up .1 percent today as part of Transportation Benefit District Proposition 1, approved last year for transit service that will be added starting in June. That means you pay 1 cent more sales tax on a taxable $10 purchase.

8:07 AM: Katie tweets that SPD is on bus-lane enforcement on the bridge this morning.

Just received this 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalks-project update from SDOT, including an alert for neighbors tomorrow, and a road closure next week:

Construction continues this week at the corners on the north side of the intersection of 47th Avenue SW, SW Admiral Way and SW Waite Street. Crews will begin pouring new concrete at the northeast corner as soon as today, March 31, and through the end of this week. New concrete at the northwest and north center (between SW Waite Street and 47th Avenue SW) corners is expected to be poured next week, weather depending. These corners will continue to be closed to pedestrians and bicyclists during work. People walking and biking will need to follow marked detours or find an alternate route.

Tomorrow, April 1, residents in the area can expect work to be louder than usual, when crews begin excavating for pole foundations at the southeast corner of the intersection. This work is scheduled to take place in the morning, beginning at 8 AM, and will last approximately four hours.

Closure and local access only at SW Waite Street
Beginning next Monday, April 6, SW Waite Street will be closed to thru-traffic for five days. This closure will be in place to allow crews to safely and efficiently perform underground electrical work in preparation for installation of the new signal. Local access will be permitted on SW Waite Street from the west. A detour will be signed on SW Admiral Way directing travelers to continue on SW Admiral Way and access SW Waite Street from 49th Avenue SW.

The project team will distribute flyers in the area later this week with detour information and post this information on the project webpage additionally.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! While we watch the commute, two transportation-news notes to start with:

$900 MILLION TRANSPORTATION LEVY? Hear and talk about it tonight with city reps at West Seattle High School, 6-8 pm, the last of three meetings around the city. SDOT officials have stressed that this is a “draft” levy, pending both what they hear from citizen comments and also what the City Council decides to do before sending it to the ballot. Here’s what SDOT told us is in the “draft” for West Seattle. P.S. Whether you’re going tonight or not, take the survey!

‘BERTHA’ WATCH: The Highway 99 tunneling machine’s cutterhead made it up and out of the repair-access pit by mid-evening; WSDOT’s contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners decided to leave it hanging there overnight. so today they’ll finish the move to the spot where they will work on it. (P.S. You can see a current image, as well as past images and time-lapse, here.)

8:05 AM: Still a relatively quiet commute, at least in our area and outbound from here. Slow going in the rain but nothing out of the ordinary.

8:34 AM: In comments, ECC mentions the 21X being off-schedule earlier.

9:14 AM: SFD crews are being dispatched to a multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound bridge entry from Fauntleroy. Injuries are reported.

10:01 AM: As you can see in the top-right camera view, the Fauntleroy leg of the bridge is backed up as a result. The scene itself is not in camera range.

(Added: Thanks to Joel for video of the crash scene)
10:06 AM: Police have now closed the bridge at the 35th/Fauntleroy entrance.

10:28 AM: Per scanner, the bridge is clear and now reopening.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)

The weekend Highway 99 closures are over and it’s on with a new week. First, in case you missed it over the weekend:

(WSB photo)
That’s the new Water Taxi, M/V Sally Fox, christened during an afternoon public celebration this past Saturday. It happened on Vashon Island, which Sally Fox will serve, but we covered it because it’s twin to M/V Doc Maynard, which will take over the West Seattle route this fall. P.S. This is the last week of the weekday-only schedule for the WS Water Taxi; the 7-day spring/summer schedule starts next Monday, April 6th.

ROAD WORK THIS WEEK: The second half of a 2-day resurfacing project on California Avenue SW in Fauntleroy was rescheduled to this Wednesday, April 1st.

BERTHA’S BIG LIFT: As first shown in this report last Friday, the big red-frame crane is in place over the Highway 99 tunnel-machine access pit alongside The Viaduct, and WSDOT says its contractor is likely to bring up the last, biggest piece of it for repairs sometime this week. It’ll be a painstaking process – possibly up to 16 hours long.

Now, on with the commute watch. If you see a problem and can text/call safely/legally, our always-on hotline is 206-293-6302.

According to a WSDOT e-mail alert sent to media a few minutes ago, the work on Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel also has ended early, and 99 is now fully open. (South of the tunnel, the Alaskan Way Viaduct has been open since Saturday night; its inspection took only one day instead of two, so it did not re-close on Sunday.)

3:45 PM: Thanks to the texter who just alerted us to this (206-293-6302 any time), noting that it’s compounded by the fact 99 is closed: A three-car collision is blocking two lanes on the eastbound bridge, described by SDOT as “west of 4th Avenue S.”

4:02 PM UPDATE: Adding the WSDOT camera that’s currently pointed westward, looking at the collision scene. Here’s the view looking eastward over the upper and lower bridges – the latter seems a better option right now.

4:44 PM: SDOT says the crash has cleared. The backup will take a while longer.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We start today with one big reminder – the Highway 99 closures this weekend (and westbound I-90, too). From the Battery Street Tunnel north, it’s an all-weekend closure, late tonight until early Monday; from the Battery Street Tunnel south to the West Seattle Bridge, the twice-yearly inspection closure is scheduled for 6 am-6 pm each day, Saturday and Sunday. Those closures plus the westbound I-90 lane closures are all detailed here; for bus reroutes, check Metro’s site. We’re on duty 24/7 so if there’s any change in the plan (early reopening, etc.) you’ll find out about it here.

Speaking of Highway 99:

We noticed while checking the “live” camera that that the big red frame that’ll lift the tunnel machine’s cutterhead has moved into place right over the access pit – looks like it happened in the 5 pm hour yesterday (we went back through the stored images to find the one above). No word yet, though, when that mega-lift is expected to happen.

12:56 PM UPDATE: WSDOT has since published an update about the aforementioned impending Big Lift.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No trouble spots in/from West Seattle so far. Alerts/advisories:

FAUNTLEROY FERRY DOCK: The pump-station project next door is almost done, but some work this morning will result in a closure of the northern lane/tollbooth for up to two hours starting at 9:30 am.

VIADUCT/99 CLOSURES THIS WEEKEND: Yet another reminder – a stretch of 99 from the Battery Street Tunnel *north* will be closed from late Friday to early Monday; between the West Seattle Bridge and the south end of the BSTunnel, inspection closures are scheduled 6 am-6 pm Saturday and the same hours Sunday.

Tonight:

SDOT DIRECTOR @ WSTC: Questions about the big road/trail projects under way and coming up here? Or, about the 9-hour Highway 99 closure earlier this week (here’s our followup from Wednesday)? Or? 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way), West Seattle Transportation Coalition hosts SDOT director Scott Kubly tonight, and all are welcome.

Added at 8 am since it’s still quiet:

THIS WEEK’S ‘TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY‘: For the second week in a row, we’re presenting a historic West Seattle road photo from the Seattle Municipal Archives:

(Click the picture for a larger image.) That’s in the files from 1951 as supporting evidence for “rezoning 6051-6053 35th” as proposed by a lumber company. We haven’t figured out whether this is looking north or south; the address checks to a 35-year-old condo building on the west side of 35th at Graham.

8:32 AM: Thanks to AD in comments and Jeremy via Twitter for word that a RapidRide bus is broken down at the onramp to the bridge and passengers are awaiting rescue.

12:21 PM: The Viaduct’s had some off and on trouble this morning.

One of those incidents is clearing as we type this … but another one still has a lane blocked in the stadium zone.