(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Once again today, no major road work planned, but here’s another reminder that the Admiral Way offramp from the bridge will be closed much of Saturday.

A signboard is up for this but you might not have caught all the details, so we just checked with SDOT for details: The Admiral Way offramp from the westbound West Seattle Bridge will be closed 8 am until ~3 pm (reopening earlier if the work is done) this Saturday (April 26th). SDOT’s Marybeth Turner explains that crews “will be working on a project to restore the sidewalk where a traffic accident took out a pole last fall. City Light performed their work, and now we’re following up. On Saturday the crews will remove the temporary fill material (this requires the ramp to be closed) and they plan to pave during this coming week.” That paving work, she adds, will NOT require subsequent closures.

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: Happy midweek! Our traffic watch begins. No road work today but we did spot a sign on the westbound West Seattle Bridge announcing that the Admiral Way offramp will be closed for much of Saturday (April 26th); we’re checking on that today and will update with whatever info we get. (Afternoon update: Here are the details.)

8:50 AM: If you use Denny Way downtown and haven’t headed out yet – we haven’t heard exactly where but a light is out and big backups are starting, according to radio discussion (monitored via scanner). Otherwise, this morning’s big commute news has been the Water Taxi orca-watching!

1:42 PM: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route is down to two boats.

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No major problems reported in, or headed out of, West Seattle so far. Buses headed out of Fauntleroy might be more crowded with the Vashon Water Taxi canceled for this morning (vessel trouble); and speaking of water, if you’re riding ferries or the West Seattle Water Taxi (which IS running as usual), watch for whales again – we just got a text of a sighting in The Arroyos.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: In case you missed it, the Highway 99 tunneling machine is now expected to take nearly a year (from now) to fix.

ELECTION DAY: Ballots for King County Proposition 1, Metro/roads money, must be in the mail by tonight (or dropped off by 8 pm – the ballot van’s back at West Seattle Stadium 10-8 today, along with one on 8th SW south of Roxbury in Greenbridge).

TRAFFIC ALERT, 8:25 AM: Two-car collision reported in the 3300 block of Harbor Avenue SW, blocking the center lane.

TRAFFIC ALERT, 2:51 PM: Crash with injuries at 1st/Cloverdale, between West Seattle/White Center and South Park. We’re checking it out – don’t know yet how/whether traffic is affected.

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Monday traffic watch begins. Note the earlier crash on Sylvan Way; we won’t be able to check back for a while, so please let us know (206-293-6302) if you drive through the area and it’s still blocked. Meantime, transportation-news notes:

SPRING BREAK, PART 2: While Seattle Public Schools had last week off, this week is spring break for local parochial schools, so you’ll still see different traffic patterns and more kids out and about than you usually do on weekdays.

SW GENESEE IS OPEN AGAIN: Just in case you hadn’t been by SW Genesee east of Avalon Way since last week’s concrete-panel-replacement work, we doublechecked on Sunday and it’s all done; the hill is reopened.

HIGHWAY 99 LANE CLOSURES: Just north of downtown, tonight and tomorrow night, as explained here.

2 DAYS LEFT TO VOTE ON PROP 1: Tuesday night is the deadline. This morning, bus riders in The Junction will see some campaigning; our Sunday night story explains.

10:07 AM UPDATE: County Executive Dow Constantine, talking with bus riders before catching RapidRide downtown:

Separate Election Eve update to come later.

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Finally Friday – last week of spring break for most Seattle schools – and we’re looking ahead to a few weekend traffic alerts:

I-5 LANE CLOSURE TONIGHT: Updated from the larger lane-closure project, which has been canceled for this weekend, one lane in the northbound collector-distributor will be closed 10 pm tonight to 7 am tomorrow.

SATURDAY MORNING ON ALKI: Tomorrow morning, Alki Ave SW will be closed – to parking, too – 9 am-11 am or so for the Earth Day 5K, in West Seattle for the first time.

OTHER WEEKEND CITYWIDE ALERTS … are here.

We’ll also be checking on the SW Genesee project (was still under way when last we passed that way Thursday afternoon).

4:42 PM: After some difficulty in sorting out the exact location, emergency crews have just arrived at the scene of a motorcycle crash on the 1st Avenue ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. The rider was reported (via scanner) to be “sitting up.” No other details but a heads-up if you are heading this way from downtown/SODO any time soon, avoid that ramp.

4:46 PM: Injuries apparently not serious – the medic unit’s been canceled.

5:45 PM: Haven’t heard an update but the SFD portion of the call is “closed” now and it doesn’t[ appear the ramp ever had to be closed, so traffic should be back to relatively normal in the area.

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Thursday – we’re on the home stretch, headed for a big weekend. And that goes for weekend traffic alerts, too:

ALKI AVE CLOSED SATURDAY MORNING … 9 am-11 am or so for the Earth Day 5K, on the run in West Seattle for the first time.

I-5 RAMP WORK ALL WEEKEND … Another weekend of lane closures on northbound I-5, just north of the West Seattle Bridge, from late Friday through early Monday. Details here.

8:35 AM: Luvsseattle points out in a comment (thank you!) that the I-5 work page now has the notation “canceled,” no further details; likely because of the rain, but we’re checking with WSDOT>

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The rain’s back; also, a few problems along the way in the early going this morning but WSDOT says they’re all cleared now.

ADDED 8:19 AM: Some other notes, since it’s another quiet morning out there (so far):

COLMAN DOCK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: Use the downtown dock for the Water Taxi or Washington State Ferries? The state’s working on its future and is now out with an environmental assessment as an early step in the process. A public hearing is coming up later this month, and comments are being taken now. Details are here, including various outreach events – one of which will be at the Water Taxi dock (Pier 50) on May 1st during the afternoon/evening commute.

ADDED 8:59 AM: A incident at 5th/Roxbury is showing on the 911 log as having been briefly dispatched as a heavy rescue. Not hearing any scanner traffic about it so not sure of the circumstances – please let us know if you passed through the area and saw anything.

9:35 AM: As Dave reported in comments, it was a flipped car. The car was on 5th just north of Roxbury and a tow crew right-sided it moments before our photographer arrived. No traffic effects on Roxbury.

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
While we keep watch on morning traffic, closures to remind you about:

SW GENESEE ALL WEEK: The SW Genesee hill east of Avalon Way is scheduled to be closed for concrete-panel replacement work. Here’s the Metro Route 50 reroute info.

ALKI AVENUE SATURDAY MORNING: The Earth Day 5K on Saturday morning will close Alki Avenue until about 11:30 am – it’s been a while since we wrote about it, and it’s new to West Seattle this year, so we’re starting the reminders now.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Monday! It’s the first day of spring-break week for many if not most local schools (including all Seattle Public Schools), so traffic might be lighter. This week’s road-work alerts:

SW GENESEE: Its hill just east of Avalon Way is scheduled to close at 9 am today and remain closed for the next five days for concrete-panel work, as announced last week.

SW CHARLESTOWN: The project on the steep section a few blocks west of California SW is scheduled to continue through tomorrow. (10:21 am – Paula says in comments that it’s done)

I-5 LANE CLOSURES NEXT WEEKEND: Another weekend of lane closures on northbound I-5, just north of the West Seattle Bridge, is ahead – late next Friday (April 18th) through early next Monday (April 21st). Details here.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! More road work today – along with the ongoing Charlestown project, some work planned in The Junction:

JUNCTION DETOUR TODAY: Concrete pouring is expected to close part of northbound California between Alaska and Edmunds starting at 7 am. (We’ll be checking on it.)

And in case you missed these transportation stories on Thursday:

SW GENESEE TO CLOSE FOR WORK NEXT WEEK: Similar to the Charlestown project; details here.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION TALKS WITH SDOT: Highlights from the Q/A at this week’s WSTC meeting.

Coming up later this morning – our report on what the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce heard from Metro (video, plus text toplines) on Thursday.

Just in from SDOT – another steep stretch of street in West Seattle is about to get some work:

Next week, SW Genesee Street will be closed between SW Avalon Way and 30th Avenue SW from 9 a.m. Monday, April 14 through 6 p.m. Friday, April 18. During the closure of the steep West Seattle hill, the Seattle Department of Transportation will repair several worn concrete panels.

Local access will be allowed, however, all other traffic will be detoured to the nearest arterials. Eastbound motorists on SW Genesee Street will be detoured northbound on SW Avalon Way to lower S Spokane Street, east on Spokane to Delridge Way SW and then southbound on Delridge to SW Genesee Street. Westbound traffic on SW Genesee Street will follow the detour in reverse – drivers will head northbound on Delridge Way SW, west on lower S Spokane Street, and south on SW Avalon Way to Genesee. The work is weather-dependent.

3:06 PM SIDE NOTE: A comment reminds us, both this project and the Charlestown work were on a list of SDOT’s 2014 plans for West Seattle, published here after we requested the information in January. If you missed it then (or forgot), see it here.

3:30 PM: Thanks to Mike for sharing the Metro Route 50 reroute notice for this work – see it here.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: All’s relatively well so far on the routes through/out of West Seattle. One big reminder for today, if you are driving the eastbound bridge between rush hours: Eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct surface-repair work is scheduled for 10 am-4 pm. We also updated the SW Charlestown closure on Wednesday – the city has changed the detour plan a bit; here’s the latest.

BRIDGE PROBLEM REPORTED, 7:56 AM: Trouble on the eastbound bridge and a text we just received might explain why: A truck is reported to have leaked/spilled fuel from the “Delridge merge” to 1st Avenue South. Fire crews are on the scene.

8:22 AM: The fire call for the spill has closed, and SDOT tells us via Twitter that it wasn’t major:

@westseattleblog Hearing news about the spill… the disabled tanker was able to drive away and the fuel amount left behind was small.

— seattledot (@seattledot) April 10, 2014

Many have commented about pavement problems on the resurfaced “old” section of the Spokane Street Viaduct – the West Seattle Bridge between Highway 99 and I-5. Just received this SDOT advisory about impending repairs:

A Seattle Department of Transportation crew will be repairing the roadway on the Spokane Street Viaduct eastbound on Thursday, April 10. The work will take place just east of the SR 99 overpass beginning at 10 a.m. and will be completed by 4 p.m. In order to do the work safely, the crew will close the left lane eastbound from just prior to (west of) the SR 99 overpass to the Fourth Avenue exit. Please use extra caution passing the work zone.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Two notes for starters:

2 FERRIES ON FAUNTLEROY-VASHON-SOUTHWORTH RUN: With the Klahowya out for inspection and no backup boat available, WSF says the “triangle route” will only have two boats today. Here are the sailing times.

CHARLESTOWN CLOSURE SCHEDULED: Starting at 8 am today, SW Charlestown is expected to be closed for a week while SDOT replaces concrete panels, as announced last week. If you’re traveling between California and 55th, you’re asked to detour via Genesee instead.

All’s well so far this morning. Above, the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; below, northbound 99 at the south end of the remaining elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct:

Any time of day/night, you can find more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page.

WATER TAXI SCHEDULE: Today is the first day of the spring/summer schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi, which resumes its midday runs and is now 7 days a week. See the new schedule here.

SPRING BREAK: No school this week for Highline Public Schools (White Center, Burien, etc.). Spring break for Seattle Public Schools is NEXT week – April 14-18.

Good morning and happy Friday! The “live” view above is the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; below, northbound 99 at the south end of the remaining elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct:

Any time of day/night, you can find more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page.

SEACREST PARKING: Carolyn tips us to “No Parking” signs in effect for 2-6 pm today immediately north and south of Seacrest on Harbor Avenue, affecting what she estimates as about a dozen spaces, apparently for a film crew working on something related to the Water Taxi.

CHARLESTOWN WORK STARTING TUESDAY: In case you missed the announcement published here Thursday, SW Charlestown will be closed for a week starting Tuesday between 46th SW and 47th SW for concrete-panel replacement, according to SDOT.

TUNNEL-MACHINE REPAIR UPDATE: New info from the state on Thursday, including a wall that will soon be visible to Alaskan Way Viaduct drivers/riders.

Today’s traffic watch is under way. Above, the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; below, northbound 99 at the south end of the remaining elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct:

Right now and any time of day/night, you can find more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page.

TRAFFIC ALERT FOR TONIGHT: From WSDOT:

Overnight expansion joint work will close multiple ramps to southbound Interstate 5 at the West Seattle Bridge interchange Wednesday night.

At 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, crews will close the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct/West Seattle Freeway on-ramp to southbound I-5. The 6th Avenue South on-ramp to southbound I-5 will also close. Both ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. Thursday, April 3.

Drivers will follow a signed detour route during the closure. This work is weather-dependent.

It’s April 1st, no fooling. Not here, anyway. Above, the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; below, northbound 99 at the elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct’s south end:

Right now and any time of day/night, you can find more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page.

2 NOTES FOR BIKE RIDERS: West Seattle Bike Connections‘ monthly meeting is tonight – details here; DIY Bikes is back with a workshop Thursday night – details here.

7:49 AM: Sunglasses alert – we headed eastbound for a stretch on SW Thistle and it’s one of those mornings where the sun is RIGHT THERE.

The last day of the rainiest March in Seattle history has dawned *without* rain, but not without traffic. Above, the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; below, northbound 99 at the elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct’s south end:

You’ll find more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page.

ALKI TRAIL WORK REMINDER: Reminder that the city plans to work on curb ramps at two Alki Trail crosswalks on Harbor Avenue SW starting this week. One is at Harbor/California Way, where Seattle Public Utilities was doing work all weekend. The other is by Don Armeni. We published the advance announcement last week.

7:24 AM NOTE: If you park outside – you might have some frost-scraping to do – we did!

10:44 AM NOTE: If you usually drive through SODO – note the special event at Safeco Field tonight – this advisory’s just in from SDOT:

Motorists in downtown Seattle and the SODO District may encounter more traffic than usual during this afternoon’s commute as an expected 20,000 Mariners fans flock to Safeco Field to view the team’s road opening game against the Los Angeles Angels. The game is being broadcast live on MarinersVision HD and will be watched on the field’s large screens. There’ll be free T-shirts at the gate, music, food and beer specials. The $1 adult admission fee will go to benefit Northwest Harvest while children under 14 will get in free, but must have tickets for admission. The first pitch of the game is set for 7 p.m. with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m. For more details, please (go here).

Rainy Friday commute ahead. Above, the eastbound West Seattle Bridge view; below, the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct view:

7:07 AM: You can see more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page. Looking ahead to the weekend, no major projects on the routes through/from/to West Seattle, but if you’re heading off-peninsula, check out SDOT‘s citywide weekend preview here.

8:01 AM: Still no major incidents. WSDOT reports most major routes are slower than usual.

Good morning. We start with the eastbound West Seattle Bridge view and the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct view:

You can see more cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page. Updates here if there’s trouble.