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

7:03 AM: Good morning! We’ve just checked around – no incidents reported so far this morning in, or outbound from, West Seattle.

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

7:15 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018, and back to work, back to school, and/or whatever else is involved in your regular routine. We’ve just checked around and no incidents are reported in/from West Seattle.

1ST AVE. S. ROAD-WORK REMINDER: SDOT says NB 1st Ave. S. could close between Jackson and Yesler as soon as today for months of utility work related to the Center City Connector streetcar project.

8:18 AM: Metro sent an alert saying the 7:49 Route 56 didn’t operate, but then just now sent an update saying it did operate, but more than 20 minutes late.

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

7:39 AM: Good morning! It’s the final weekday morning of 2017. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

Looking ahead to the next weekday – New Year’s Day on Monday – Metro will be on a Sunday schedule; Sound Transit’s West Seattle-serving Route 560 will be out of service; so will the Water Taxi. Washington State Ferries’ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will be on a regular weekday schedule.

But before we get there – remember that Metro buses will be FREE on New Year’s Eve (Sunday), as announced last week, from 4 am Sunday to 4 am Monday.

8:30 AM: Trouble downtown. A crash is blocking 2 lanes of NB I-5 at the Convention Center.

8:56 AM: Crash scene has cleared to the right and the lanes have reopened.

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

6:56 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this Thursday morning.

One transit alert so far: Metro texted/tweeted that “The first Route 55 due to leave SW Atlantic St & 44 Av SW is operating more than 20 minutes late this morning.”

7:30 AM: Another after-the-fact Metro alert: The 6:33 am Route 116 headed downtown did not operate.

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

6:59 AM: Good morning! It’s a few degrees above freezing, might see some light snow but the National Weather Service says there’s not much moisture in the area. No traffic incidents so far in/from West Seattle. And remember that Metro remains on a “reduced weekday” schedule.

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

6:54 AM: Good morning. No traffic incidents in/from West Seattle so far today, but one transit alert: The 6:44 am Route 37 from West Seattle did not run. Remember, meantime, that Metro is on “reduced weekday” service this week, and did go back to regular routing last night, after a day of snow routing.

Speaking of snow, the forecast still calls for a chance of some tonight. Until then, today is expected to be partly sunny, high in the 30s.

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

7:11 AM: Good morning. No snow – not cold enough – and so far, no incidents in/from West Seattle.

TRANSIT ON CHRISTMAS DAY: On Monday, Metro will be on a Sunday schedule; the Water Taxi won’t run. Sound Transit Route 560 will be on a Sunday schedule.

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

7:04 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far, but watch out for icy patches here and there, since it’s below freezing right now (winter officially arrives just before 8:30 am). Meantime, an after-the-fact transit alert just in:

Also of note: Southbound I-5 at the train-derailment scene in Pierce County reopened last night.

8:39 AM: Jennifer reports via e-mail:

46th SW (as it turns into 46th from 100th) as it goes down to meet Marine View Drive is a solid sheet of thick ice all the way down in the right lane. There has long been a water leak of some kind there, but today it is very icy and extremely dangerous as you’re headed down to the stop sign on Marine View Drive.

She says SDOT has been called to dispatch de-icer.

9:09 AM: Crash on the eastbound bridge, per the scanner. Haven’t yet heard exactly where.

9:14 AM: At Delridge, per SDOT. Meantime, there’s also a call out to move a stalled Metro bus from the eastbound bridge to 99 – probably the one Mike tweeted about:

11:52 PM: Thanks to Amy for the tip. She says the two southbound lanes of 35th SW are blocked by a crash at Dawson. SFD and SPD have both responded to the scene.

12:30 AM: SFD has closed out of the call.

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

7:06 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in or from West Seattle so far.

In Pierce County, southbound I-5 remains closed at the train-derailment scene, WSDOT says, with cleanup continuing and repairs to be made.

7:25 AM: Still incident-free. We should mention this is the last full day of fall; winter solstice is Thursday at 8:28 am, and Thursday night brings Alice Enevoldsen‘s winter-solstice sunset watch in West Seattle.

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

6:52 AM: Good morning! The National Weather Service’s wind advisory for our area is in effect through 4 pm, with gusts up to 45 mph possible. … No traffic incidents in/from West Seattle so far. … The south Pierce County SB I-5 closure at the scene of Monday’s train derailment continues, according to WSDOT.

5:44 PM: Traffic notes for the outbound commute:

EASTBOUND WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CRASH: A crash on the eastbound bridge by the 1st Avenue S. exit has blocked two lanes. (6:40 pm update – SDOT just tweeted that the scene is now clear.)

FERRY DELAYS: WSF warned earlier in the day that the southbound I-5 closure at the Pierce County train derailment scene might increase usage of the ferry system. That appears to have happened – the Fauntleroy wait right now is 90 minutes, unusual for a Monday evening.

AT THE DERAILMENT SCENE: Southbound I-5 in south Pierce County is expected to be closed at least through tomorrow morning at the derailment scene. Here’s an update from The News Tribune.

6:45 PM – 15TH/HOLDEN CRASH: Though SFD has cleared the scene on this, indicating no serious injuries, Bryan sent the photo and said police were directing traffic as of about 15 minutes ago:

7:35 PM: SFD is headed to a crash reported on NB 99 by the Battery Street Tunnel.

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

6:59 AM: Good morning and welcome to Friday. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

SCHOOL’S OUT EARLY: Seattle Public Schools get out one hour early today, to start their two-week winter break.

7:52 AM: Thanks for the text. Though SFD quickly cleared from a crash on Harbor Ave, traffic is being diverted up California Way.

8:29 AM: No updates on that and no cameras in the area, so we’re heading over to see if it cleared. That remains the only incident reported so far this morning.

8:47 AM: Harbor/California is clear.

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

7:02 AM: Good morning! We’ve just checked around and no incidents are reported in/from West Seattle.

NOTE: Today is the last full day of school before a two-week winter break for most local students (Seattle Public Schools and those who follow its calendar are out an hour early tomorrow, then off until the day after New Year’s Day).

7:32 AM: SDOT reports a crash at 26th/Barton.

8:48 AM: As noted in comments, Metro has had Routes 56/57 trouble today.

4:56 PM: … and Route 55 cancellations headed back the other way.

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

7:11 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning. One transportation-news note:

FERRIES’ TRIANGLE TASK FORCE MEETS TODAY: The advisory committee looking at various issues with the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route meets 4:30-7 pm at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall. (9140 California SW)

8:54 AM: Another routine commute so far. Thanks again for alerts when something does happen – 206-293-6302 is our 24/7 hotline, text or voice.

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

7:36 AM: Good morning. Clear but cold this morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

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

7:06 AM: Good morning. Foggy and freezing out there, so beware of slick roads. No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle. Two notes:

COLUMBIA PROJECT: As explained here, if you use Columbia Street downtown, note that work is scheduled to start today on the first phase of a major project.

LAST WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL BREAK: Seattle Public Schools and those who follow the same calendar will be on winter break after this week – school on Friday (December 15th) will be out one hour early.

7:12 AM: Metro alert just in:

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

7:02 AM: Good morning! Some fog and slickness out there again this morning. Otherwise, no current incidents in/from West Seattle.

9:31 AM: Still foggy but quiet. Thanks again to everyone who sends word of traffic trouble, breaking news, etc., when you can do so safely/legally, text or voice, via our 24/7 hotline (celebrating 10 years!) 206-293-6302.

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

7:20 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far, but beware of slick roads/paths.

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

7:02 AM: Another dry day on the way, and so far, no incidents reported on the roads/paths in/from West Seattle.

5:44 AM: We start this morning’s traffic/transit watch early, with 35th SW now reopened both ways south of Avalon Way:

It’s been about 11 hours since the 35th SW water-break in the southbound lanes just south of Avalon. NB 35th reopened half an hour ago, and SB just a few minutes ago.

Now to the regular daily cameras:

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
Otherwise, no incidents so far. Watch out for slick roads – it’s in the mid-30s, and when we left to head back to 35th/Avalon before 5 am, our windshield was a bit frosty. SDOT has crews out – one with a plow and either sand or salt was standing by alongside Taco Time.

7:08 AM: After watching reopened 35th SW for a while, we headed back to HQ. Roads seemed OK but we did see a lot of windshields – even at sea level – that will need a little attention before drivers head out. Otherwise, still no incidents.