UPDATE: SUV goes sideways on Fauntleroy end of westbound West Seattle Bridge
(Added: WSB photo, emergency response as visible from pedestrian overpass west of crash scene)
7:36 PM: Big Seattle Fire response on the way to 35th and Fauntleroy – it’s a “heavy rescue” callout. More as we get it.
7:39 PM: The location has just been changed to the west end of the bridge, “by the statues,” report of a car on its side.
7:42 PM: Per scanner, the westbound bridge will be closed – we haven’t heard exactly where yet – though SFD has tweeted one lane remains open for now.
8:01 PM: Most SFD units have been dismissed. One person was being “assessed” for injuries per SFD; we can’t get close enough to ask in person but are taking a look from the pedestrian overpass to the west. One person who’s gone by says it’s an SUV on its side.
8:23 PM: Since no SFD medic unit transport was required, that at least means no major injuries. Per scanner, it might be a while before a tow truck is available to get the vehicle out, so if you have to use the westbound end of the westbound bridge sometime soon, be aware you might encounter a delay in that area.
ADDED SUNDAY: As noted in comments, we checked online records and the driver, a 43-year-old woman, is accused of “speed too fast for road/conditions.”
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend alerts
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:12 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this Friday morning.
SATURDAY STREET CLOSURE: The West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Night Market and Tree Lighting will close SW Alaska between California and 42nd tomorrow, approximately 2-8 pm (the Night Market runs 3-7, the Tree Lighting in Junction Plaza Park is at 5). This means Metro reroutes, too, for the 22, 50, 128, and C Line – the reroute docs are all linked from this page.
9:20 AM: Tipster says the Admiral/California signal is blinking again. Please remember that means it’s an all-way stop! (And thanks as always for tips throughout the day/night, especially via our 24/7 hotline at 206-293-6302, text or voice.)
10:12 AM: Dave tells us an SDOT crew has just fixed the signal.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:51 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
NOTES: The school-bus strike IS over, as promised, and full service is expected today … The stadium zone will be busy tonight, with Sounders FC hosting Houston at 7:30 pm at CenturyLink Field.
7:20 AM: SDOT reports a crash at 36th and Barton.
9:04 AM: The heart of the morning commute has concluded without anything else of note. Thanks as always for 24/7 tips – traffic and other breaking news – via our hotline, 206-293-6302.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash at Fauntleroy/Oregon
5:46 PM: Thanks for the tips on this – a multiple-vehicle crash is causing some trouble at Fauntleroy/Oregon as the evening commute home peaks. We’re told it’s on the westbound side, which is the busiest this time of night. We’re on our way to find out more. No medic unit has been dispatched – just a single SFD engine – so if anyone is hurt, it’s not major.
5:59 PM UPDATE: Right now the most serious effect is on Oregon – you can’t turn onto it from WB Fauntleroy. A tow is awaited for the vehicle that remains on scene (top photo). Police confirm no serious injuries.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Tuesday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: The rain’s back. But so far, no incidents are reported in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes.
9:02 AM: Still soggy but otherwise an unremarkable commute. Thanks in advance for letting us know if you see a trouble spot at any time, day or night – 206-293-6302, text or voice when you can use your phone safely/legally.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! Back to work, back to school after the holiday weekend. No incidents reported so far in or from West Seattle.
7:29 PM: Caller reports a bus is broken down in the transit lane on the bridge.
7:51 AM: Eastbound lanes on the low bridge are blocked by a crash towsrd its west end. (Thsnks for the text!)
8:06 AM: SDOT says the low-bridge crash is cleared.
TRAFFIC ALERTS: First another crash on eastbound West Seattle Bridge; now one on westbound side
3:37 PM: Thanks for the texts – another crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge. From the cameras, it appears to be right before the exit to 99 – that’s where SFD crews are arriving. So if you have to head outbound, wait a bit – we’ll update.
4:16 PM: SDOT says it’s now cleared.
4:32 PM: And now there’s a dispatch for a crash on the westbound west end of the bridge. Out of camera range, it appears.
4:43 PM: SFD says no one is hurt so it’s clearing this scene, and that the vehicles involved have cleared to the side of the bridge “by the zone 5 sign.”
TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Crash on eastbound West Seattle Bridge, now cleared
(SDOT camera image from @seattledot tweet)
10:12 AM: Thanks for the texts – SDOT also verifies a crash on the eastbound bridge that is currently blocking three lanes, so if you’re heading that way, find another route. No injuries reported so far, apparently, as SFD has not been dispatched. One texter says their Metro bus stopped to take passengers transferred from another bus because of this.
10:15 AM: Now blocking just the left lane.
11:05 AM: SDOT reports the bridge is now clear.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday Tuesday watch; deadly crash on 1st Ave. S.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:57 AM: One incident in the area so far – 1st Avenue South is closed south of the West Seattle Bridge, to Hudson, because of a crash at 1st/Andover [map] that killed a bicyclist.
7:05 AM: Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives are investigating that crash so the closure could last hours.
Further south, there’s also now an emergency response to a 3-vehicle crash toward the north end of the northbound 1st Avenue S. Bridge.
7:29 AM: WSDOT says two lanes on the 1st Ave. S. Bridge have reopened, but the HOV lane remains blocked.
8:06 AM: Per scanner, southbound 1st Avenue S. will be reopening south of the West Seattle Bridge; northbound will remain blocked as the investigation continues.
8:36 AM: Northbound I-5 trouble downtown – a crash response at the Convention Center.
Meantime, one transit note – no Metro alerts about cancellations in this area (so far) today, but we did ask yesterday about the multiple recent Route 56 alerts, and this story published last night is the result.
8:51 AM: A reminder from SDOT:
9:04 AM: 1st Avenue S. is now clear.
9:22 AM: Thanks again for sharing info when you see a problem your West Seattle neighbors should know about – if/when you can safely/legally use your phone, text or call our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!
10:20 AM: SPD now has published an SPD Blotter update that says the bicyclist who was killed by a hit-run driver was a 61-year-old man. No description of the vehicle yet.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: No incidents in/from West Seattle, but we do have a transit alert just received:
8:29 AM: Still quiet. If you’re going to be out late tonight/early tomorrow, you might want to know about this: Starting at 10 tonight, NB I-5 will be down to one lane at Seneca Street, reopening by 6 am. The offramp to Seneca will be closed starting at 11:15 pm, and should also be open again by 6 am Saturday.
9 AM: Texter says the California/Admiral stoplight is flashing red again.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning! No incidents in or from West Seattle so far. Only one West Seattle Bridge camera this morning – the other is down.
7:10 AM: SFD is responding to a crash reported on the northbound 1st Avenue South bridge by the Michigan exit.
7:12 AM: Just in from Metro:
7:26 AM: SFD has closed out of the 1st Ave. S. Bridge incident.
8:28 AM: Thanks for the text (206-293-6302 any time) – trouble on the eastbound bridge, just verified by SDOT, which tweets: “Stalled vehicle on West Seattle Bridge EB at Delridge Way SW blocking center lane.”
8:50 AM: Turns out that was fairly short-lived – all clear now.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Wednesday updates
(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 so far on this damp morning but this might be the only area in the region without trouble.
Meantime, Susan reports via Twitter that truck backups have returned to the westbound bridge this week.
LIGHT RAIL: Interested in the plan for light rail to come to West Seattle in 2030? Tonight’s the night the Junction Neighborhood Organization hosts a Sound Transit presentation about it, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon).
7:37 AM: Sharon reports in a comment below that the chronic flooding of the Delridge onramp to the bridge is back.
7:53 AM: Metro just sent an alert saying the 56 scheduled a few minutes ago did not operate.
8:16 AM: Regional traffic-watchers have described this commute as “a slog.” As Judy noted in comments, the last stretch of Harbor Avenue headed for the bridge is included in that this morning – the SDOT map currently verifies that by showing the road in red. No incidents reported, but we know there are chronic flooding problems on that stretch too.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT & STORM AFTERMATH: Post-wind Tuesday updates
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:03 AM: Good morning. The Seattle City Light map shows most West Seattleites affected by outages have their power back – but not all; a pocket of 400+ customers is shown as still out in the Delridge area just north of Orchard/Sylvan, and there are still smaller pockets elsewhere. Please let us know, when you can do so safely, if you see a stoplight that’s not working or a tree/pole/etc. still blocking a road or path. First report in is from Al, who says a streetlight’s downed on the Harbor Avenue trail across from 7-11.
And of course any major hazard should be reported to authorities first if you’re not sure they know – 911 before business hours, then 206-684-ROAD for SDOT.
6:42 AM: Scanner confirms what the outage map suggests – the signal at Roxbury/Olson/4th is still out, so plan on extra time getting through that area (and stop all ways when signals aren’t working).
7:15 AM: Per e-mail, on 36th SW between Andover and Dakota, the downed streetlight shown in last night’s coverage is still down across the sidewalk. … On 41st SW between Manning and Hinds, a tree is still down across the street, Terri tells us this morning.
8:18 AM: Still incident-free. As for the outages, City Light warns that as it takes on the smaller outages – which is what’s left in West Seattle, between 1 and 411 customers – its pace of repairs will slow (160+ outages remain citywide, affecting 6,300+ customers).
TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash, police investigation on Highland Park Way
11:41 AM: Police are investigating after the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck is reported to have hit other vehicles, ending with a crash on Highland Park Way. We have heard the location described as being near West Marginal and being near Othello – and more officers are being summoned for traffic control, so avoid the hill if you can. At least one person is reported to have been injured.
12:16 PM: Adding photo. This is on the uphill (southbound) side, near SW Othello.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER: Windy Monday morning; more on the way
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:35 AM: As predicted, the wind has kicked up. No incidents reported so far. One transit alert:
Please let us know about any weather/traffic trouble you see (including power outages), when you can do so safely – text/call 206-293-6302. Thank you.
7 AM: Still no incidents/outages – one person reports a Comcast outage in Belvidere, no way to know if it’s weather-related but they want to remind you to report cable outages too so repair crews will be dispatched quicker. Meantime, the wind advisory is in effect through 7 tonight.
8:05 AM: At least where we are, the wind has quieted somewhat, for now. Still no local incidents reported.
8:23 AM: This is apparently just a break in the wind – the NWS has upped the alert to a High Wind Warning, with possible gusts to 60 mph, in effect through 9 tonight.
9:52 AM: Crash reported, three vehicles, with at least one person hurt, on NB Highway 99 at Yesler.
UPDATE: Overnight closures for West Seattle Bridge’s Fauntleroy end and Battery Street Tunnel
ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:47 AM: Two closures happening right now:
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: The Fauntleroy Expressway end of the bridge is closed for jersey-barrier work. If you are headed westbound, you’ll have to exit on Admiral Way. If you are headed eastbound, you will have to get on the bridge via Avalon, Admiral, Harbor, or Delridge. This closure is expected to be over by 7 am.
And on Highway 99:
BATTERY STREET TUNNEL: The tunnel is closed both ways overnight because of paving work happening above it. So if you are headed northbound on 99, you’ll have to exit on Western; if you’re headed southbound, you’ll have to exit at Denny. This closure is expected to end by 5 am.
5:10 AM UPDATE: The city’s webcam shows that the West Seattle Bridge is open again.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch, with Veterans Day changes, plus bridge, 99 closures tonight
(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.
VETERANS DAY CHANGES: No school; no King County Water Taxi. Metro is on a “reduced weekday” schedule but most routes are not affected. (Also note, today is NOT a free-parking day in pay-station neighborhoods.)
CLOSURES TONIGHT: If you’ll be out late tonight/early tomorrow, you need to know about two closures starting just before midnight – the Fauntleroy Expressway end of the West Seattle Bridge (scheduled to end by 7 am), and the Battery Street Tunnel (scheduled to end by 5 am).
8:57 AM: Another incident-free commute. Any time you see/hear about something your West Seattle neighbors should be aware of, please alert us (if you can do so safely/legally), text or voice, at our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday Thursday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:03 AM: No incidents reported so far in or from West Seattle.
REMINDERS FOR TOMORROW: The King County Water Taxi will be out of service Friday in observance of Veterans Day; also, no school tomorrow, and many other closures … Tomorrow night, the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed both ways, 11:59 pm Friday to 6 am Saturday, during paving work above the tunnel.
7:12 AM: Just in from Metro:
A Route 55 bus also was skipped half an hour ago.
9:27 AM: Relatively uneventful commute. But we also keep watch throughout the day/night, so if you see/hear about a problem your West Seattle neighbors should be aware of, please let us know (if/when you can safely/legally use your phone) – 206-293-6302.
One other transportation-related note: The Washington State Ferries Triangle Task Force meets 4:30-7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW).
And we end on a cheery note – it’s a transit-related tweet from Jeremy:
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