West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
Just in from SDOT:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers that work is being done at six intersections in West Seattle to install new traffic control components so that they are compatible with the latest traffic control operating system. The new equipment will allow improved system operations and updated pedestrian crossing times. This work is a part of collaboration with community feedback over pedestrian crossing times along SW Admiral Way and California Way SW. Work is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6.
What to expect:
Revised signal operation timings and updated pedestrian crossing cycle length during a.m. peak, p.m. peak, and off-peak hours. The locations are as follows:
41st Ave SW and SW Admiral Way
42nd Ave SW and SW Admiral Way
California Ave SW and SW Admiral Way
California Ave SW and SW Lander St
California Ave SW and SW Stevens St
California Ave SW and SW Hanford St
1:11 PM: That’s an image taken from the SDOT camera on the “low bridge,” where a crash is blocking both directions right now. No other details so far but you’ll want to take alternate routes.
1:45 PM: SDOT says the crash has cleared. We’re checking with SFD about injuries.
2:15 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells WSB that a woman believed to be in her mid-50s was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:49 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in West Seattle or on the outbound routes.
Updates:
SCHOOL BUS STRIKE: First Student drivers who transport Seattle Public Schools students are striking for a third day.
FAUNTLEROY/WILDWOOD CLOSURE: First scheduled day of a two-week project closing this intersection just south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock and rerouting the C Line and Route 116. We’re headed downhill in a minute to verify.
7:20 AM: As of a few minutes ago, the intersection is still open. But preparations are under way (for example, a car in the “no parking” zone on 45th SW just north of Wildwood was being towed). And the buses ARE rerouting – we were behind a RapidRide C Line going eastbound on SW Trenton. Once on 45th, it’s slow going for the C Line while negotiating a traffic circle that, as a commenter pointed out, has been extended with asphalt for the buses. We’ll check back next hour to see if the closure’s set up yet.
11:38 AM: We did finally get back to the area after 10 am, and yes, the closure is now in effect. Note that 45th SW north of Wildwood is a lot busier than usual because of the detours.
Another reminder that tomorrow is the scheduled start of the SDOT project that will close the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Wildwood [map], just south of the ferry terminal, for up to two weeks, for replacement of concrete road panels and construction of a curb ramp. That means a traffic detour, bus reroutes, and parking restrictions nearby, including along the temporary bus route, which includes SW Trenton.
-The original SDOT announcement with detour info is here
-The detailed Metro reroute announcement for RapidRide C Line and Route 116 is here
SDOT says the closure starts at 7 am Monday; Metro says the reroutes begin at the “start of service” for the affected routes. We will be checking the area for our regular weekday traffic/transit coverage. You can check traffic cameras in the vicinity via this page on the Washington State Ferries website.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE: Day two, although Seattle Public Schools said First Student might provide some service, and that affected families would be notified directly.
MONDAY REMINDER: The Fauntleroy/Wildwood intersection closure, including rerouting of the C Line and 116 buses, is scheduled to start Monday and last up to two weeks.
7:08 AM: Transit alert just in from Metro:
Transit Alert – The first Route 57 to downtown Seattle due to leave the Alaska Junction at 6:41 AM is operating more than 30 minutes late this morning.
— King County Metro🚌 (@kcmetrobus) February 2, 2018
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:55 AM: Welcome to a new month. No incidents reported currently in/from West Seattle, but here are other transportation notes/reminders:
SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE: Day one. Remember that this means more personal-vehicle traffic near schools, especially elementaries.
REMINDER – FAUNTLEROY/WILDWOOD CLOSURE STARTS MONDAY: The intersection just south of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal will close Monday for up to two weeks of road-panel replacement and curb-ramp building. Metro has now announced its reroute plan affecting the C Line and Route 116.
3:28 PM: Thanks for the tips – there’s a multiple-vehicle crash on the eastbound high bridge, where traffic from the Admiral (etc.) ramp merges. SFD is arriving on scene.
4:30 PM: SDOT says the scene is clear.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:14 AM: Good morning! Too cloudy to see this morning’s eclipse – we looked. But right now, the brake lights and headlights are shining bright as usual on the roads, which do not have any incidents reported in/from West Seattle right now. Notes:
NO SCHOOL: Today is the “day between semesters” for Seattle Public Schools.
SCHOOL BUS STRIKE TOMORROW: As announced last night, First Student bus drivers (the company that provides yellow-bus service for Seattle Public Schools) will be on strike starting Thursday.
FAUNTLEROY/DIRECTOR STAIRWAY CLOSED: As reported yesterday (with info on other stairway projects ahead this year in West Seattle). And nearby …
FAUNTLEROY/WILDWOOD INTERSECTION CLOSING STARTING MONDAY: As announced two days ago. We are still waiting for reroute details for Metro, which may have them following a meeting today – we’ll publish an update when they’re out.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this Tuesday morning.
WATER TAXI CHANGE: Spirit of Kingston is on the West Seattle Water Taxi run this morning because Doc Maynard was moved to the Vashon run – Sally Fox is out with technical trouble.
ROAD WORK ADVANCE ALERT: Announced Monday by SDOT – starting February 5th, Fauntleroy/Wildwood just south of the ferry dock will be closed for an estimated two weeks for work including pavement repair.
8:18 AM: SW Alaska is blocked just west of California, per SDOT.
8:21 AM: And it’s clear – a bus was being towed, per a commenter.
A big road-work project near the Fauntleroy ferry dock will detour traffic – including buses – starting one week from today. The announcement just in:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers that contractors will close the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Wildwood Place, just south of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal, beginning Monday morning, February 5, through Monday, February 19.
Crews will replace concrete road panels at the intersection, and install a curb ramp on the northeast corner.
Between 7 a.m. on Monday, February 5 and 5 p.m. on Monday, February 19, travelers can expect:
The intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Wildwood Place to be closed in all directions.
Signed detours will be in place:
Motorists exiting the ferry terminal wanting to head southbound will be directed to go northbound on Fauntleroy Way, turn right on SW Morgan St, and right onto 35th Ave SW to head southbound to their destination.
King County Metro’s Rapid Ride C Line will be detoured along SW Trenton St and 45th Ave SW.
There will be No Parking on either side of SW Trenton St between Fauntleroy Way SW and 45th Ave SW.
There will be No Parking on the west side of 45th Ave SW for 100 feet in both directions of SW Director St.
Temporary parking restrictions are necessary for the detour bus route.
Check Metro’s Alerts & Updates page for additional bus route information.
Construction will occur Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday construction may be required to finish within the scheduled timeframe.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning! The rain’s back. No incidents currently reported in/from West Seattle, but we do have one transit alert so far – the 7:55 am Route 116 from Fauntleroy will not operate, according to Metro.
POSTSCRIPT: Another incident-free day … we report major incidents around the clock so if you hear of/see something and we haven’t reported it yet, let us know (if/when you can do so safely/legally) – 206-293-6302 text or voice, 24/7 – thank you!
Myers/Olson/1st light still in flashing mode, though @seattledot @SDOTtraffic was out here earlier pic.twitter.com/mK7tgcA4Tk
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 28, 2018
4:54 PM: The traffic signal at Myers/Olson/1st, at the east end of the SW Roxbury corridor, is still malfunctioning. We got a report this morning, but when we went to check, SDOT was there, so we figured it would be fixed soon. Nope – as of minutes ago, still flashing. Remember, that means all-way stop.
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Went back to look – still flashing as of quarter past 9.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:11 AM: Good morning! We’re hoping this morning’s commute has nothing in common with Thursday afternoon. So far, no incidents reported in or from West Seattle.
10:15 PM: Thanks to Kerry for the photo and report from 35th and Hudson [map]: “Once again, a left-turner has been rear-ended at this corner. Three lanes closed. Drivers look to be OK.” SFD has sent one engine, no medic unit, which indeed indicates no serious injuries.
10:31 PM: SFD has cleared the scene. Kerry reports seeing a stretcher used for one person.
1:49 PM: That photo tweeted by SFD shows a truck crash that has closed the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct from the Battery Street Tunnel southward. No injuries, and the driver got out OK, but the SB lanes of The Viaduct will be closed until this is cleared.
(Image tweeted by SDOT)
Buses are being rerouted too, according to an alert just in from Metro. Updates to come.
2:32 PM: A tow truck is on scene.
3:23 PM: No time estimate yet on SB Viaduct reopening. But there’s some bad news if more people head to the West Seattle Water Taxi to get around the 99 problem – King County just sent an alert that the smaller Spirit of Kingston is on the WS route tonight. Meantime, most SB surface routes are backed up, according to info including the SDOT Travelers’ Map (look for the red).
3:32 PM: The southbound Viaduct has just reopened. The left lane is closed for repairs, though.
6:35 PM: The repair closure isn’t over yet, according to SDOT.
6:57 PM: All lanes are open again. (See comments below for some examples of this afternoon/evening’s nightmarish traffic.)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:43 AM: So far, no trouble reported on the outbound routes in/from West Seattle.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning. The rain started up again a short time ago but so far that’s the only commute-affecting factor – no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
7:54 AM: Stalled vehicle reported in left lane of EB bridge, near crest.
5:55 PM: Thanks for the tips – multiple trouble spots out there right now. A crash on the West Seattle Bridge that looked like it might clear quickly is now blocking two lanes on the westbound high rise, we’re told. There’s also a crash at 17th and Roxbury that is rerouting buses, according to a Metro alert. We’re also told of deep water on the exit from SB 99 to the bridge, as well as on the bridge itself.
6:29 PM: Metro says SW Roxbury bus routing has returned to normal.
7:17 PM: Now SFD and SPD are headed to a crash at Delridge and Trenton.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning! Just checked around, and there are no incidents so far this morning in West Seattle or on the outbound routes.
7:22 AM If you are headed for NB I-5 – a stalled dump truck is blocking the right center lane by the I-90 exit.
7:49 AM: Cleared!
(Photo added – e-mailed by Andrea)
9:21 AM: Thanks for the photos – that car fire is causing trouble on Fauntleroy Way SW at SW Rose, by Lincoln Park. Anne from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) tells us it’s blocking northbound traffic. Metro just sent an alert about transit delays in the area, too.
(Texted photo, from Kera)
No injuries reported.
9:42 AM: One more photo added – the SDOT crew called to clean up so the road could be reopened. Police at the scene verify that no one was hurt; the road has reopened.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning and welcome to the brand-new week! Checking around, we find no incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
TRANSPORTATION HEADLINES: Want to have a big role in the next year of planning West Seattle-to-Ballard light rail? Today’s the deadline for applying to be on the “stakeholder group” – info here … Big decisions are even closer for the RapidRide H Line along Delridge – take a look and speak up before everything from stop locations to road changes are finalized … Roadbuilding continues inside the Highway 99 tunnel, which might be open by year’s end – see an update and time-lapse video here.
5:55 PM: Just a reminder – as first noted here on Wednesday, a commercial-production film crew is working in The Junction tonight, and traffic is being stopped intermittently on California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska as a result. We just arrived for a firsthand look and also noted that the traffic stops also involve SW Alaska at California (photo above). As the production scout had told us, the crew (from locally based StraightEIGHT) is “filming a car” being driven on that block – repeatedly. That’s what we’ve seen so far; we’re also checking to see how long they plan to work (the permit runs until 11 pm).
6 PM: Just talked to the scout who had first contacted us, Dave Drummond, who’s on site with the crew, answering bystanders’ questions, etc. – he says they’ll likely be done between 9 and 10 pm. (And while they’re filming a car, it’s not a new car – (added) see photo above – and not a car commercial.)
Again, this is not a continuous traffic stop – and the road has reopened for long stretches between shooting sequences – but if you’re Junction-bound in the next few hours, just be aware you might encounter one of the stops.
10:08 PM: Just went back to The Junction to check; the crew is indeed packing up.
12:40 PM: Seven weeks after moving an old log house across West Seattle, the “house-rescuing” firm Nickel Bros is about to save another local house. The 55-year-old house in our photo, at 1262 Alki SW, will be trucked off the site around midnight tonight and taken to a barge that will be waiting at Don Armeni Boat Ramp. That means road and parking restrictions for a few early-morning hours – you might already have seen the signs. From here, Nickel Bros tells us, this house will be going to a new owner in British Columbia. It would otherwise have been demolished to make way for the new SolTerra development that’s planned for the site; Nickel Bros says the developer asked them to try to find new owners for other houses at the project site too (including the one in the background of our photo above) – you can see the other listings here.
8:09 PM: In comments, readers have pointed out that this is the former home of Fred and Marjorie Dau, best remembered for Admiralty House Antiques (which closed in 2013 in the North Admiral building that now holds the restaurant Mioposto). We will be on Alki Avenue later tonight to cover the move.
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