West Seattle, Washington
06 Monday
3:24 PM: Thanks to Ben for the photo and word of that car-on-side crash in Fairmount Ravine under the Admiral Way Bridge. No SFD dispatch is logged for it, so apparently no injuries, and as shown in the photo, a tow truck was already on scene when he sent the photo a short time ago, but avoid the road – a popular cut-through from east Alki to Admiral – for a while.
3:52 PM: Just went through to check; the road’s clear.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning! So far this morning, no transit alerts or incidents of note reported outbound from West Seattle.
WEEKEND VIADUCT CLOSURE: Time to start reminding you that Highway 99 is scheduled to close in both directions next weekend (late Friday, October 19th, through early Monday, October 22nd) for the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s final planned inspection.
7:42 AM: Just crossed the bridge on a downtown errand. Standard pattern (backups in the 99 exit lane, and the leftbound lane starting before 1st). Sky’s absolutely clear this morning.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! No transit alerts or incidents of note so far this Monday morning.
So far, this weekend’s Highway 99 closure (SB between the Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge) has NOT ended early. But we want to take a moment to remind you about NEXT weekend’s both-ways closure – including the last-ever scheduled inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct – planned to start late Friday, October 19th, continuing to early Monday, October 22nd.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! So far, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
SCHOOL’S OUT: No classes today for Seattle Public Schools and others that follow its schedule. Highline Public Schools (just south of the city) too.
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE & I-5 LANE CLOSURES: Tonight through early Monday. southbound 99 is scheduled to be closed between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel, and that link has details of NB I-5 lane closures too. (Also note that 99 is scheduled for closure *both* ways next weekend.)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
LOOKING AHEAD: No classes for Seattle Public Schools tomorrow (Friday, October 12th) … Friday night through early Monday. southbound 99 is scheduled for closure, and there are NB I-5 lane closures planned too.
8:22 AM: Jen reports in comments, “Stalled vehicle in left lane heading eastbound on bridge just after bridge entrance from Fauntleroy.”
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY … is today.
LOOKING AHEAD: Friday (October 12th), no classes for Seattle Public Schools and those who keep the same schedule … This weekend brings a southbound 99 closure – details here.
Thanks for the tips! The photo is from WSB’s Christopher Boffoli. The crash is at California/Hanford; no major injuries – one tipster notes that the SFD unit didn’t stay long.
5:06 PM: Christopher reports the vehicles have been moved and traffic is moving again.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:34 AM: Thanks for the tip. Early trouble – a crash is blocking 2 lanes on northbound 99 at Western.
6:52 AM: Incident log shows the last SFD unit has just left the scene.
7:01 AM: SDOT reports 99’s actually been affected by multiple crashes – one scene in the Battery St. Tunnel has just cleared. Even once the other scene clears, the residual backup’s already so bad that NB 99 is going to be worse than usual for some time.
7:46 AM: From SDOT – “Only NB left lane is now blocked on the Alaskan Way Viaduct at Western Ave and may be closed for awhile for guardrail repair. The SB left lane is also closed for safety precautions.”
8:16 AM: Crash reported at 45th/Alaska.
12:22 PM: Thanks to Collin for the photo. Police and fire have responded to that crash in the 9400 block of Olson Place after the pickup driver veered off the road and into a wall. No major injuries reported, but avoid the area for a while.
1:23 PM: Another frequent trouble spot in wet weather – the Delridge offramp from the westbound West Seattle Bridge – is partly blocked by a crash right now, SDOT reports. Apparently no injuries, since there’s no SFD dispatch.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:55 AM: Good morning and welcome to the new week! No official alert so far but a tipster says a stalled semitruck is blocking a lane near the NB I-5 entrance at the east end of the eastbound bridge.
STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT: Sounders FC home match vs. Houston, 7:30 pm at CenturyLink Field. That means added evening runs tonight for the West Seattle Water Taxi.
99 CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND: Southbound 99 is scheduled to close between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel late Friday night through early Monday (October 12th-15th).
7:46 AM: One lane blocked in NB Battery St. Tunnel.
8:06 AM: Cleared.
(SDOT webcam image)
7:57 PM: If you have to head eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge, you won’t be able to do it from the Fauntleroy entrance for a while – a crash is blocking all eastbound lanes close to where the bridge goes over Avalon/Spokane. SFD and SPD are on scene.
8:16 PM: Police are blocking the 35th/Fauntleroy entrance to the bridge. Your nearest alternative is the ramp from Avalon/Spokane. No word on injuries in the crash, meantime, but all three dispatched SFD units are still on the call.
8:31 PM: One eastbound lane just reopened. Per commenters, multiple vehicles were involved. We’ll be checking with SFD re: injuries.
9:01 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells us one person had to be taken to the hospital.
We published an SDOT alert on Thursday saying the striping of the long-on-hold Harbor/Spokane project was planned sometime in the next few days. SDOT now says that’s back on hold because of the weather: “Due to the rain forecast, striping work has been delayed. At the earliest, crews may begin striping Thursday, October 11. However, because this work is weather dependent, this date is still tentative. Once striping work begins, it’ll take approximately 2 days to complete. We appreciate your patience.”
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:11 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
8:28 AM: Late alert just sent by Metro: “Rt 57 to Seattle due to leave the Alaska Junction – Bay 5 at 7:47 AM will operate more than 45 minutes late this morning.”
One of the dormant SDOT projects in West Seattle is about to start up again. Just out of the WSB inbox:
Crews plan to begin striping the intersection of Harbor Ave SW and SW Spokane St tomorrow, Friday, October 5. This work must be completed in dry weather conditions and may be postponed to Monday, October 8. Striping will take approximately 2 days to complete.
Due to a manufacturing delay, crews are unable to activate the bike signal until late October. Initially crews hoped to activate the signal and complete road striping at the same time. However, striping cannot be completed in the rainy months, so it may occur before the bike signal can be activated. Later this month, crews will also install fencing along the bike path and complete plantings.
Traffic impacts during striping and signal activation:
*Westbound SW Spokane St will be reduced to one lane of traffic at Harbor Ave SW, except during peak hours (3 PM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday), when it will remain fully open
*2 uniformed police officers will be direct traffic at the intersection of Harbor Ave SW from SW Spokane St during work hours
*Sidewalks will be maintained for people walking and biking
This project (here’s its official website) started almost four months ago and was initially described as likely to last about six weeks.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
STADIUM ZONE: 7:30 pm CenturyLink concert tonight – Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
7:55 AM: SFD response for a crash at 32nd/Cloverdale.
9:50 AM: Caller reports a collision blocking westbound lanes of Admiral at 61st in the Alki area.
12:31 PM: This is happening just east of West Seattle:
#Seattle UPDATE: Fire/aid crews and IRT are on scene at collision on the southbound SR 99 ramp to northbound SR 509. Avoid the area and consider alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/UcuyIyv63x
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 2, 2018
Initial report from Seattle Fire was that a van had overturned. One person is being taken to the hospital by medic unit and the medics’ radio report described the crash as one vehicle, high speed, hitting a tree.
12:51 PM: SFD texted the photo we added above and says the injured man is in stable condition.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
6:43 PM: Avoid Roxbury/Olson for a while – a crash is reported to have left a vehicle on its side. It’s on the eastbound side of Roxbury, per dispatch.
7:03 PM: Just checked out the scene. Adding photos. (Top photo is ours; photo above this line was sent by Mel – thanks!) The vehicle is on its side in the median on Roxbury just east of 5th. Traffic is getting by both ways, but slowly.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:57 AM: Welcome to October! As the new month and new week begin, no incidents are reported in/from West Seattle.
FERRY CHANGES: Washington State Ferries schedules changed Sunday, and today fares change.
CLOSURES AHEAD: Nothing announced for next weekend (October 6-7). But two Highway 99 closures are planned later this month – here’s the info for planning ahead.
Just in from SDOT:
Saturday morning, we’ll be closing (the inside lanes along) 500 to 1000 feet of the Fauntleroy Expressway portion of the West Seattle Bridge. Approximately 9 Jersey Barriers struck in a recent vehicle collision must be moved back into their protective alignment.
What you can expect:
Our Roadway Structures team will maneuver and realign the jersey barriers, in an area currently coned and taped off.
September 29 | 7 AM – 3 PM
500 to 1000 feet of WB and EB left lanes of Fauntleroy Expressway, just E of 35th Ave SW
9:38 AM: Thanks for the texted photo. That crash is on NB 35th at Thistle. No major injuries, as SFD closed out of the call fairly quickly. We will check on it shortly.
9:53 AM: One of the vehicles hasn’t cleared yet.
Though we weren’t able to publish morning-traffic watch this morning, we did want to remind you one more time about this weekend’s planned I-5 offramp closure. From WSDOT‘s “Revive I-5” project page:
The northbound I-5 off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge/Columbian Way/Spokane Street will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, for repaving work. This work is weather-dependent. Drivers should consider alternative routes, including SR 599 and West Marginal Way.
Also, the weekly SDOT Construction Lookahead (which covers both city and state routes) has advance word of two tentatively planned Highway 99 closures next month:
October 12 – 15: SR 99 Southbound will be closed from the south end of the Battery St. tunnel to S. Spokane St., Fri 9 PM – Mon 5 AM.
October 19 – 22: SR 99 will be fully closed from the West Seattle Bridge to the Battery St. tunnel, Fri 9 PM – Mon 5 AM.
Watch for official confirmation of those two when they get closer.
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