West Seattle, Washington
30 Thursday
Two SDOT updates on local projects bring news of closures ahead:
18TH/MYRTLE: On Puget Ridge, the project near Sanislo Elementary continues, with an unanticipated closure in a week:
This week, our crews continued work at SW Orchard St, 18th Ave SW, and SW Myrtle St. We worked with Seattle Public Utilities to relocate a fire hydrant and worked with Seattle City Light to relocate light poles along SW Orchard St. We were also able to pour concrete to complete more sidewalks and curb corners. Our crews worked on adjusting driveway thresholds along SW Orchard St.
During our earlier excavation work, we discovered the roadbed under the intersection of SW Myrtle St and 18th Ave SW was in worse shape than we had expected. Because of this unforeseen circumstance, our crews will have to completely demolish and reconstruct the intersection. We are scheduled to do this work on Saturday, May 19 – this work will require full closure of the intersection of SW Myrtle St and 18th Ave SW. Our crews will begin work as early as 7:00 am as we hope to complete this work by Sunday morning to minimize impact to school related traffic. Detours will be in place during this work. The newly paved intersection will have a smaller traffic circle footprint to widen the street around it and allow for larger vehicles more space for turning movements.
Then later this month, the start date is set for the long-planned closure for drainage work related to the Arbor Heights sidewalk project:
35TH/104TH: SDOT also sent an update about the Arbor Heights sidewalk project:
We will be starting construction work on 35th Ave SW between SW 100th St and SW 106th St on the week of May 21. Our crews may begin moving construction equipment into the area and begin preparation work as early as late next week. We will begin full closure of 35th Ave SW between SW 104th St and SW 106th St on Tuesday, May 29. This closure will last through mid to late June for our crews to replace the stormwater drainage and detention system underground. Detours and reroutes for access to Arbor Heights Elementary and Westside School have identified. A map will be available and included in next week’s update.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:07 AM: Good morning! So far, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
ROAD-WORK REMINDER: Repaving work is scheduled to continue today on Admiral Way between 57th and 59th.
I-5 LANE CLOSURES THIS WEEKEND: Here’s what WSDOT has planned.
7:11 PM: Speaking of I-5, there’s a problem in the right NB lane at I-90 – stalled semitruck.
7:30 AM: That has cleared.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:54 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
8:57 AM: In case you missed the story Thursday, we should remind you that Admiral Way between 57th and 59th has repaving planned today/tomorrow.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:50 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far today, and no transit alerts in the area so far either.
BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY: More riders than usual are out on the roads today! We’ve featured three local schools with special plans this morning and no doubt there are others.
7:11 AM: Added above, some early bike-to-schoolers arriving at Alki Elementary.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:02 AM: We start this morning’s traffic watch with a photo and report from Al:
That’s a tree blocking California Way downhill from Hamilton Viewpoint Park. Otherwise, no incidents in the area so far.
6:12 AN: Metro has sent an alert that the blockage is likely to cause delays on Water Taxi shuttle Route 775.
7:47 AM: SFD is checking out some kind of fuel spill on the NB Viaduct at Western.
10:45 AM: Went by California Way – still closed.
4:45 PM: Finally got to check back a short time ago, and it has since reopened.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! No transit alerts so far this morning, but we have one traffic alert, for the westbound bridge, from SDOT: “The offramp from the West Seattle Bridge WB to SW Spokane St is closed due to a collision.” If you were headed for that offramp, you’ll have to use Delridge instead.
7:23 AM: That has cleared.
Just got word of this from SDOT, which says it’s happening now, and since it’ll affect traffic well beyond the morning commute, we’re publishing it outside the traffic report:
Emergency deck spall repair work, on the (bridge).
The location is eastbound in the left general-purpose lane approximately 10 feet after the exit for 4th Ave S.
Crews should complete all work by 3:30.
Message board signs will be in place to alert drivers, approaching the work area.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:09 AM: Good morning! Only one incident reported in the area – if you head this way from points north, note that there’s a crash blocking one lane of southbound 99 at King St.
7:16 AM: That has cleared.
7:23 AM: If you use East Marginal Way to head to/from downtown, note there’s a crash response right where it becomes Alaskan Way near Massachusetts.
7:29 AM: SDOT says that crash is blocking SB lanes but not NB.
7:33 AM: From the scanner, trouble at 4th/Spokane, blocking a westbound lane there.
7:38 AM: SDOT reports the East Marginal/Alaskan Way S. scene is all clear.
7:40 AM: Transit alert – the Metro Route 113 bus that would usually leave 26th SW/SW 116th, downtown-bound, right now, won’t operate today, Metro just texted.
4:01 PM: If you’re going to be using 35th SW south of Morgan any time soon, heads up – there are two crashes, one at Morgan involving a vehicle that lost at least one wheel, and just now, a 5-vehicle crash blocking the northbound lane in the 7700 block of 35th (at or near Holden). We’re on our way to check.
4:14 PM: Above, the cars on NB 35th just south of Holden have moved to the side. No injuries, we’re told. Checking 35th/Morgan next.
4:24 PM: Above is the pickup that lost a wheel at 35th and Morgan. Police are there and a tow truck too, blocking the inside northbound lane of 35th. No injuries reported in either incident.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far – no transit alerts, either.
3:51 PM: The State Patrol – which shared the photo – says a tow crew is on the way to the scene where that on-its-side semitruck is blocking the northbound I-5 exit to the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how WSDOT advises getting around it.
UPDATE: The cavalry has arrived to help move the rolled semi blocking the northbound I-5 off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge. Still no ETA on reopening. pic.twitter.com/NAgtpCotNo
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 2, 2018
4:13 PM: The tow team has arrived, reports the WSP with that tweeted video clip – but no estimated time yet for reopening.
4:34 PM: Major progress – the crew has the truck upright.
5:45 PM: Finally reopened.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:28 AM: Thanks for the text – there’s a West Seattle incident working right now in the Myers Way/Olson vicinity, right lane by Arrowhead Gardens. Otherwise, nothing reported in this general area.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:30 AM: Good morning! No incidents or traffic alerts for West Seattle or major outbound routes so far.
MAY DAY ALERTS: The city’s advance alert says there’s only one march/rally for which a permit has been obtained. This day on the calendar often brings demonstrations without permits, too, so be aware.
MARINERS BACK IN TOWN: The stadium zone will be busy this evening as the Mariners start their next homestand – 7:10 pm vs. the A’s. That also means extended West Seattle Water Taxi service tonight.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:27 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents or transit alerts of note in/from West Seattle so far on this final day of April.
8:10 AM: Trouble in the HOV lane on the NB First Ave S Bridge.
9:27 AM: For later commuters: Crash at 35th SW and SW Snoqualmie. SFD en route to check on at least one person who might be hurt. (added) Texter says it’s blocking the northbound side.
7:14 AM: Thanks for the texts! That tree is blocking Jacobsen Road (map) right now, so if you’re trying to get to/from Beach Drive, you’ll have to take a different route. We hope it has been reported already – if not, 911 is appropriate for something blocking a road, and/or the 24-hour SDOT dispatch center, 206-386-1218.
12:30 PM: Still closed at last report – please let us know if you find otherwise. Apparently wires are involved and so City Light was involved as well as a SDOT tree crew.
5:58 PM: As noted in commenters, crews arrived around 3:30 pm. Apparently there is a major incident up north that kept them busy. We took this photo around 5 pm:
Our photographer is going back shortly to check again.
7:03 PM: It wasn’t open when we looked again around 6:30 but commenters say it is now. Thanks for the updates!
An alert from SDOT late today that the 18th/Orchard closure on Puget Ridge as part of the Sanislo Elementary Safe Routes to School project will continue through and beyond the weekend:
This week, our crews have started demolition and grading work on the roadway along SW Orchard St in preparation for curb construction. We also completed storm drain installation in this stretch of the project site. Because our crews are moving quicker than anticipated, we took advantage of the nice weather this week and began paving the area. This work required a full closure at the intersection of SW Orchard St and 18th Ave SW. The closure was effective as of this past Wednesday, 4/25 and will remain in place 24/7 until next Friday, 5/4. We had envisioned that we may be able to keep one lane northbound open for drivers to access SW Myrtle St, however, we learned that it would not be wide enough for cars to get through safely and thus require full closure of the intersection.
Our crews have placed street closure and detour signs to provide drivers advance notice of the intersection closure and detour. Our detour for travelers going eastbound on SW Orchard St is down Dumar Way SW and then north onto 16th Ave SW. We have a “Street Closed, Local Access Only” sign at SW Orchard St as it splits into Dumar Way SW to inform drivers that it is for residents access only. We also added reflective barrels and blinking lights at SW Orchard St and 18th Ave SW to help light up the street closure and detour signs. We hope this will help drivers better and more safely navigate around the intersection.
Backstory on the project is here.
If you’ll be using the eastbound West Seattle Bridge on Saturday, SDOT wants you to know about closures in two locations between 7 am and 3;30 pm for deck-repair work:
Crews will be conducting deck spall repair work, on the WS Bridge at two locations, Saturday, April 28, 2018. The first location is eastbound, closing the EB on ramp from Harbor (we will place a VMS board on Harbor Island to notify the public of the closure) straddling the right exit and middle general-purpose lane, in the interchange of the onramp from SW Spokane St & the offramp to 1st Ave South.
After completing work at this location, the crew will take down the traffic control setup and reset it for the second location. The second location is eastbound in the left general-purpose lane 10 feet after the exit for 4th Ave S. Crews should complete all work by 3:30 pm.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:07 AM: Good morning. No traffic incidents or transit alerts of note so far.
8:08 AM: Offramps seem to be the trouble spots this morning. The Seneca St ramp from The Viaduct had a problem right at 1st. Now police are checking for a possible unconscious driver in a car on the 1st Ave ramp from the EB West Seattle Bridge.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! Just checked around, and no incidents are reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
WEEKEND NOTE: WSDOT has postponed this weekend’s round of “Revive I-5” work, because of the forecast.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:01 AM: Good morning and welcome to sunny Wednesday. No incidents in/from West Seattle, and no local traffic alerts so far.
7:31 AM: Thanks for the tip about a crash at 40th/Alaska; SDOT says it has already cleared.
Nasty-looking crash at 41st SW/SW Elmgrove in Gatewood a short time ago – but we are told no major injuries and no one will have to taken to the hospital. We’re mentioning it because 41st SW is a busier side street than most, including part of the 22 Metro bus route.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:49 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents or transit alerts in our area so far.
ROAD WORK: The warm, dry weather has brought out the crews – while going around the peninsula yesterday, we happened onto several projects, including spot repaving on Alki Avenue SW and on Sylvan Way just west of Delridge. If you find work under way that’s affecting traffic, consider letting us know if/when you can (206-293-6302) so we can track it – thanks!
7:54 AM: Crash on NB 99 blocking left lane near stadiums.
8:24 AM: Cleared.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:01 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning, and no transit alerts.
WEEKEND REMINDER: As noted here last night, WSDOT is warning you about ramp and lane closures all weekend on NB I-5.
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