(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:02 AM: Good morning! Midpoint of midwinter break for Seattle Public Schools and others following the calendar. No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.

8:39 AM: Trouble on the NB I-5 collector/distributor – an SFD medical response at Dearborn.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:06 AM: Good morning. Soggy but incident-free so far. Mid-winter break continues for Seattle Public Schools; many independent schools have the week off too, but some are back in session today.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:43 AM: Good morning. It’s Presidents Day. Here are the transit/transportation plans for today:

—Metro is on a “reduced weekday” schedule

–No Water Taxi

—Sound Transit, regular weekday service

—Washington State Ferries, regular schedule

–Street parking in city neighborhoods with pay stations – no charge today

Also of note:

–No school all week for Seattle Public Schools (midwinter break) and those who follow its schedule

–Highland Park Way DID reopen last Friday evening, post-slide cleanup

9:48 AM: A late-commute crash on the approach to the elevated Viaduct on NB 99 has just cleared, SDOT says. Traffic stopped for a bit so tow trucks could be deployed.

6:50 AM: Highland Park Way between Holden and West Marginal remains closed this morning, two days after a major slide; the city announced late yesterday that they expect to reopen it by today’s PM commute. Metro Route 131 remains rerouted.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

Otherwise, no incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

One note: Seattle Public Schools‘ midwinter break is next week. And Monday is Presidents Day, with holiday-level transit planned, including no Water Taxi service.

7:17 AM: Just tweeted/texted by Metro:

7:55 AM: One SFD unit is responding to a crash reported at 29th and Trenton, a few blocks west of the north side of Westwood Village.

8:34 AM: Via Twitter, Jeremy reports a bus breakdown:

8:53 AM: Watch out for some possible congestion in the 5000 block of Delridge Way SW – several SFD units are en route to check out a possible wall fire at an address on the east/northbound side.

Meantime, we’ll update here, and in a separate story, whenever we get the official word that Highland Park Way hill is open – again, SDOT has said they expect it to be open by late afternoon, before the PM commute.

(WSB photo of cleanup work this morning, taken via long lens from top of hill)

Just in from SDOT: Highland Park Way is expected to reopen “by late afternoon Friday.”

Full update from Norm Mah of SDOT:

Highland Park Way SW will remain closed today and is expected to reopen by late afternoon Friday for the PM commute.

SDOT crews have removed 90% of the material that came down from the hillside on to the roadway, about 2400 tons.

Crews will remove the remaining material tomorrow and will place approximately 50 concrete Ecology blocks (6’ long x 2’ wide x 2’ high) along the western edge of Highland Park Way SW to buttress the hillside.

SDOT thanks the public for its patience while this work is being completed.

The slide happened just before 5 am on Wednesday; no one was hurt, but it caused a 2,008-customer power outage for a few hours.

Meantime, we have photos with a closeup look at the slide zone from pre-cleanup, courtesy of Joe Finelli, Jr.:

(UPDATED 11:20 AM with latest from Highland Park Way – scroll down)

5:04 AM: We’re starting traffic/transit coverage early because of the continuing Highland Park Way closure between West Marginal Way SW and SW Holden, now in its second day after a slide around this time yesterday. SDOT‘s most-recent update said the closure is expected to continue “through (today).” The closure also affects Metro Route 131; here’s the most-recent information on its reroute.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

If anything changes with Highland Park Way this morning, we’ll update here, along with any other traffic notes as the morning continues.

6:32 AM: Still no other incidents reported. We’re not the only area affected by a slide; there are slides elsewhere in the region including one closing westbound I-90 in Issaquah and another forcing cancellation of Sounder train service.

6:39 AM: And now we have an incident – eastbound West Seattle Bridge. Conflicting reports between a texter and scanner dispatch; the former says it’s after the Fauntleroy ramp, the latter said it’s “midspan.”

6:48 AM: We have another verification that this is on the eastbound bridge from Fauntleroy, parallel with Nucor. (Backup on Fauntleroy ramp just past 35th is also visible on the travelers’ map video feed.) So if you’re bridge-bound shortly, getting on someplace further east is likely a better choice.

7:04 AM: The feed shows traffic on the Fauntleroy approach is flowing again, so though we haven’t had an official update, it appears the reported crash/stall has cleared. One of SDOT’s bridge cams, the one that can see the west end, is down right now, so that’s complicating things.

7:11 AM: New problem – WSDOT reports a stalled vehicle partly blocking the ramp to I-5 northbound from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge.

8:05 AM: Multiple reports that Delridge is backed up again today, apparently a domino effect from the Highland Park Way closure (we’ll be going over for a look a bit later).

8:15 AM: Bus trouble in Admiral. Metro just sent a 40-minute-late alert saying that the 7:38 am Route 57 “did not operate.” We got a concurrent text from someone saying: “There’s no 7:50 57 or 8 am 56 yet at 47th and Admiral … 25ish people waiting here for a bus, any bus, to downtown.”

11:20 AM: Our photo above is from the Highland Park Way slide scene, earlier this morning. We just checked in with SDOT; no new info on how soon it might reopen, and they’re still expecting that it’ll likely be closed for the rest of today, so for now, plan on an alternate PM route. We’ll publish a separate update before the PM commute.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:48 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.

8:01 AM: Still incident-free.

8:48 AM: Had to run an errand downtown for the second consecutive day. This time, leaving just after 8 am, we got to the south end of downtown via the bridge to 4th in just under 40 minutes. Noticed the port trucks backed up on the outside lane westbound, past the 99 overpass. Currently parked on 1st South just north of the West Seattle Bridge onramp/offramp and noticing that 1st northbound is quite sluggish. 4th was better.

9:02 AM: Just crossed the westbound bridge – a tow truck is there for the aforementioned stalled vehicle, and a dump truck is stalled (or otherwise pulled over) right in front of it, so the situation at the 99 offramp is more of a snarl now. Police are on scene.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:39 AM: Good morning and welcome to a brand-new week. No problems reported in/from West Seattle so far.

One on-peninsula traffic alert for today: Jay at the Hill Crest Apartments (east side of 35th SW between Holden and Webster) says crane work there (which you might have noticed on Thursday) is set to continue starting at 8 am today, possibly running until 6 pm but they “hope to be done much sooner than that.”

As for the weather – hard to believe it’s been just a week since our snow day; sunshine is forecast today and tomorrow, temps in the 50s.

And looking ahead: Mid-winter break for Seattle Public Schools and those who follow its calendar is NEXT week (February 20-24).

8:11 AM: Still relatively quiet. Traveled the bridge this past hour on an errand to downtown and back – busy, and bright, but nothing out of the ordinary. Leaving Upper Fauntleroy at 7:10, we got to the south end of downtown (via 4th Avenue S.) in half an hour.

8:20 AM: Traveling north West Seattle streets reminds us that people with Monday trash/recycling collection can put out double today because of the collections missed last Monday. That includes recycling even though today wouldn’t be a recycling day otherwise, SPU said.

9 AM: WSDOT says a stalled vehicle is blocking the right lane on northbound I-5 just north of the West Seattle Bridge.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:11 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents so far in/from West Seattle.

If you’re using the Vashon ferry dock, Washington State Ferries has the latest on the effects of yesterday’s nearby slide.

Weather: The National Weather Service’s Wind Advisory for the area is now in effect, through 3 pm.

Transit: A cancellation announced by Metro:

7:17 AM: And another cancellation:

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:35 AM: Good morning. The rain is the big challenge so far; no incidents or transit changes reported in/from West Seattle.

8:04 AM: Just got a call (thank you) reporting a crash toward the right side of the crest of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, involving a truck and car, doesn’t appear to involve injuries. And now we’re hearing it mentioned on the scanner too.

8:10 AM: From SDOT via Twitter:

8:27 AM: SDOT says that crash has cleared on the bridge. Getting to the bridge might be a problem, though – Sue sends word that the Spokane/Avalon traffic signal is in flashing mode. Don’t know whether it’s related but we also have e-mail asking how to get enforcement for cars in the Avalon bus lane “for blocks.”

8:59 AM: If you’re heading for southbound I-5, here’s an alert from WSDOT:

9:50 AM: Avoid West Marginal Way in the Highland Park vicinity (and points north) … lots of water over the road, per multiple reports (thanks!). SDOT is reported to be on scene now.

5:51 PM: If you are headed for the eastbound bridge right now – don’t go via Fauntleroy/35th; a crash has backed up traffic. SDOT had said it was only blocking one lane but that’s apparently in the 2-lane section.

6:01 PM: The response also is blocking one lane westbound. We’re adding a reader photo that shows the location as roughly parallel with Nucor. So if you’re getting onto the bridge, the Delridge onramp, for example, wouldn’t be affected.

6:24 PM: SDOT now confirms that the eastbound lanes are clear. Inside westbound lane still clear – again, this is on the Fauntleroy end, so if you are leaving the bridge at Admiral or points east of there, you won’t be affected.

7:30 PM: All lanes on the bridge are open again, per SDOT.

P.S. Thank you to everyone who messaged us about this!

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:02 AM: Good morning. Trouble on northbound 99 as we start – a crash reported just north of the West Seattle Bridge, blocking one lane.

7:06 AM: That crash has been cleared quickly, to the shoulder.

WEEKEND CLOSURE ALERT: If you use Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel, you need to know about a closure planned this Sunday – SB 99 from Valley Street to the BSTunnel will be closed 8 am-5 pm Sunday (February 5th).

9:11 AM: Trouble at Highland Park Way/2nd – semi-truck trailer has gone sideways. Thanks to John for this photo:

Looks like traffic is getting around.

10:21 AM: Just passed the scene. The trailer has been restored to an upright position and the truck is in the center of the road. Police are still there too. But it looks like it will be clear soon.

2 PM: The Sunday closure of SB 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel, mentioned above, has been canceled because rain is expected, and will be rescheduled.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:06 AM: Good morning – no school today in Seattle Public Schools and schools that follow its calendar, for the “day between semesters.” No traffic incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

7:29 AM: If you’ve noticed that we don’t have consistent camera views above … while SDOT has been upgrading many of the cameras, they also have been changing the web addresses without warning. This morning we discovered that the address where the “midspan” camera was yesterday – seattle.gov/trafficcams/images/WSB_Midspan_EW.jpg – was showing something not on or near the bridge. We’ve reported it to SDOT.

7:44 AM: From the scanner, a westbound lane of SW Alaska is blocked at 40th SW by a crash. No SFD callout so apparently no injuries.

Also, LB informs us in comments that the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route is back up to capacity, with M/V Kitsap returning overnight – VesselWatch confirms that Kitsap, Issaquah, and Sealth are now on the route.

P.S. We covered the first meeting of the Triangle Improvement Task Force in Fauntleroy on Monday.

7:54 AM: SDOT has fixed the bridge camera, so we’ll return the second bridge view to what’s above.

8:28 AM: SDOT says the Alaska/40th crash has cleared.

9:03 AM: SFD is responding to a crash reported in the 7300 block of Sylvan Way [map], just west of Delridge. Per scanner discussion, Sylvan is icy at that spot, so they’re calling in SDOT to help fix that.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:59 AM: Good morning and welcome to the last day of January. No trouble spots reported in/from our area so far.

Another reminder: No classes in Seattle Public Schools tomorrow (Wednesday); it’s the “day between semesters.”

8:26 AM: Multiple reports of a backup on Highland Park Way. Possibly traffic-signal repair near 2nd SW, according to one.

(UPDATED TUESDAY with SFD’s summary)

Added – reader photo. Truck at left.

4:01 PM: What SFD describes as “a leak from a truck” has blocked off 2nd and Marion downtown as well as part of 1st including the SB 99 onramp vicinity. More to come.

4:13 PM: To be specific about the “onramp vicinity,” SDOT says 1st/Columbia and 1st/Madison are also blocked off. Metro says via Twitter, “Buses are rerouted off of SB 2nd Av. Use stops on 2nd Av, north of Spring St/south of Columbia St.”

4:27 PM: Update from SFD via Twitter:

4:46 PM: Multiple readers are advising that buses are still getting onto the SB 99 ramp at Columbia.

4:52 PM: An SDOT video camera (choose “downtown” on the lower right of this page) is showing the ramp and looks like cars are getting on too – if they come down Columbia, or NB on 1st toward Columbia. Police are blocking 1st on the north side of Columbia and beyond.

4:58 PM: From scanner – crews have stopped the leak and moved the truck to level ground. They’ll be dismissing some crews.

5:07 PM: SDOT says one southbound lane on 1st “from Madison” has reopened.

5:27 PM: All lanes of 1st are now open, says SDOT, but 2nd remains closed.

6:17 PM Metro says SB buses are now getting through on 2nd.

7:42 PM: Not back to normal yet:

ADDED NOON TUESDAY: Here’s the SFD summary of the incident:

On Monday, January 30, 2017, at 3:23 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to the area of 2nd Avenue S and S Marion Street for a battery acid spill from a semi-truck.

The Seattle Fire Department responded to a request to investigate contents leaking out of the back of a semi-truck. SFD’s Hazmat team responded and determined the spilled product to be battery acid. They tested for hazardous materials, applied acid neutralizer and diked the downhill area to contain the spill. Firefighters also stabilized the rear doors of the semi-truck which was damaged by the shifting load.

King County Metro assisted in towing the semi-truck up the street where it was parked on a level surface, preventing further leakage. Firefighters found 11 pallets of batteries and verified that the leaking had stopped.

There were no reported injuries. Seattle Police Department, NRC Environmental Services, Seattle Department of Transportation, and Seattle Public Utilities Spill Response were on-site to assist with this incident.