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

6:46 AM: Good morning. We start with word of a crash on Puget Ridge – thanks to the person who called to tell us about it. The SFD log says it’s at 16th and Dawson (map). Per scanner, 16th is blocked at that spot and being diverted at Morgan to the south. We’re headed over to find out more.

7:01 AM: Another problem: Stalled truck on the eastbound low bridge, per SDOT.

7:10 AM: Puget Ridge crash: On northbound 16th, traffic is being turned around at South Seattle College since there are no outlets beyond that.

7:16 AM: Metro has finally texted/tweeted that Route 125 is rerouted off 16th because of the 16th/Dawson situation: “Use stops on Delridge at Genesee or 16th SW south of SW Austin.” Meantime, definitely a search related to this, as we’re seeing a K-9 team. SPD and KCSO are involved but no further details yet.

7:21 AM: Stalled truck on the low bridge has cleared.

7:47 AM: Per scanner, police have taken a suspect into custody. SPD confirmed this is a KCSO investigation and we hope to have more information soon from that agency on what it involved before the crash/search. We’re headed back out that way, meantime, to check on the roads’ status now that the search has ended.

8:03 AM: Metro says Route 125 is back to its regular route.

8:17 AM: KCSO says at the scene that this started in White Center with a pursuit following the car’s driver having fired shots in that area. (No word of injuries so far.)

8:20 AM: Police and fire headed to crash at Fauntleroy/Othello, southwest of Morgan Junction.

8:54 AM: The SFD response to that has closed. Meantime, you might want to avoid the 16th/Dawson area a while longer; they’re still searching for evidence including, according to radio discussion, a gun. We’ll have a separate followup on the incident a bit later, but first we’re moving on to the daily highlights.

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

6:37 AM: Good morning. Two notes so far: If you take South Cloverdale through South Park, it’s blocked right now at 12th because of a big SFD response for a house fire. The fire’s just been extinguished but the crews will be there a while. Metro is warning of delays for routes that use Cloverdale between 8th and 14th.

Also, Scott says the East Marginal port-truck backup was bad when he went by this morning. We talked with a port rep last week and he said the situation is expected to ease later this month.

8:08 AM: SDOT says all lanes on Cloverdale are open again.

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

6:59 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far. The biggest regional problem is a semi-truck that went sideways on southbound I-5 in Tacoma, so if you head south from here, beware of that.

SCHOOL’S OUT, OR ALMOST OUT: This is the first day of summer vacation for Seattle Lutheran High School (congrats to the Class of 2017, who graduated last night) … Today is the last day of school at Westside School (WSB sponsor), Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran School, and Shorewood Christian … Next Tuesday, June 13th, is the last day of school for Our Lady of Guadalupe and Explorer West Middle School (both WSB sponsors) … One week from today, Friday, June 16th, is the last day for Tilden School (WSB sponsor) and Holy Family School … Seattle Public Schools‘ last day is June 26th.

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

6:58 AM: Good morning! The rain is the big factor in your commute today. No incidents reported so far in West Seattle or headed outbound from here.

1ST AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE ALERT: For this coming Saturday morning, an alert from WSDOT:

Drivers heading into Seattle via northbound State Route 99 should plan for delays on Saturday morning, June 10.

Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will close the two right lanes of northbound SR 99 on the 1st Avenue South Bridge from 5:30 to 11:30 a.m. for bridge deck repair work.

7:11 AM: Just tweeted/texted by Metro:

8:11 AM: Still no incidents but local traffic-watchers report it’s slow everywhere.

8:46 AM: Police and one SFD engine are headed to a two-vehicle crash reported at 16th SW and SW Cloverdale.

8:50 AM: The crash is reported to be blocking 16th southbound.

9:24 AM: One more transit note texted and tweeted by Metro (this route goes through White Center and Olson/Myers among other area stops):

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

6:43 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported so far in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes. Another sunny, warm day forecast. And if your route takes you along the West Seattle waterfront, you just might see a humpback whale – we’re getting sighting reports already this morning.

Transportation news notes – Friday is the last day to reply to SDOT surveys about proposed rechannelization in connection with future repaving projects on Roxbury (here’s our Tuesday story) and Avalon (to be discussed at tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, 4217 SW Oregon).

If you’re headed southbound on California SW between The Junction and Morgan Junction, be aware that RapidRide C-Line bus is blocking the lane just south of Findlay – and might be for some time longer. Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) across the street sent the photo and tells us the bus was having audible engine trouble and is awaiting a tow. Getting around it requires center-turn-lane use.

2:08 PM: The bus is gone.

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

7:33 AM: Another routine morning, so far. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

STADIUM ZONE WATCH: Mariners open another homestand tonight, vs. Minnesota, 7:10 pm.

8:23 AM Headed to check out reports of a backup on Highland Park Way hill, reportedly lane closures on West Marginal but no SDOT alert.

8:52 AM: Our crew says it was an SDOT crew painting at the West Marginal/HP Way intersection. They looked to be wrapping up.

3:24 PM: Thanks to everyone who has texted about a problem on the bridge – we’ve finally tracked down some information and a camera turned on the situation, a truck blocking the eastbound bridge ramp to northbound I-5. It was “partly blocking” earlier but now the ramp is closed while they try to get the truck (which is described as having gotten in trouble because of a “shifted load”) out of there. If you’re headed northbound, we’d advise 99 instead until this is cleared.

4:19 PM: The ramp is now clear, per WSDOT (and the “live” camera image above).

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

6:56 AM: Good morning! Full sunshine and no incidents in/from West Seattle so far.

8:19 AM: Still nothing of note. So we’ll take a moment to remind you that, just south of here, the Highway 509 northbound paving project is now under way. Ongoing updates are on this WSDOT page (scroll down to 509); this week’s plan:

Sunday, June 4, to the morning of Friday, June 9 – The left lane of northbound State Route 509 between South 168th Street and South 112th Street will be closed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly.

Sunday, June 4, to the morning of Friday, June 9 – The left lane of southbound State Route 509 between South 168th Street and South 112th Street will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly.

Wednesday, June 7, to the morning of Thursday, June 8 – The southbound State Route 509 ramp to South 146th Street will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

(Stuck truck – image courtesy Laura James)

3:57 PM: An oversize truck got stuck in the northbound Battery Street Tunnel, and SDOT reports the backup is now four miles, past the West Seattle Bridge. A texter says southbound is slow too. So if you’re headed toward downtown, or northbound out of it, find another way, or wait a while.

4:30 PM: It’s actually a truck with an oversize load. No word yet about what’s planned to clear it, so this is likely going to be going on for some time.

4:47 PM: Now there’s also a crash reported on the southbound Viaduct before Columbia Street. So Highway 99 through downtown is in general a mess.

5:08 PM: The southbound crash is cleared. But still no news of what’ll be done to get the oversize truck unstuck in the BSTunnel.

6:05 PM: Now SDOT says the NB Battery Street Tunnel is closed to all traffic.

6:27 PM: The truck’s been towed out and all lanes of the tunnel are open again.

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

6:54 AM: Good morning! No incidents right now in West Seattle or on the outbound routes.

WEEKEND ALERTS: Changes this weekend on I-90 … and the NB Highway 509 paving starts Sunday.

7:30 AM: While tipster Susan reported no port-truck backup very early this morning, that’s since changed – just got a text from someone who biked to downtown and reports a big backup now.

8:49 AM: Texter reports Water Taxi trouble at Seacrest – possible mechanical issues. We’re checking with King County DOT.

8:57 AM: Haven’t heard back from them yet but we do see via Water Taxi Watch that Sally Fox (the Vashon vessel) is now at Seacrest.

9:20 AM: Brent Champaco of KCDOT confirms Doc Maynard is off to be checked out and Sally Fox is picking up its remaining morning commute runs. Update later.

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

6:52 AM: Good morning and welcome to June. No incidents right now in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes.

8:33 AM: WSDOT says that the left lane on NB 509 just before the 1st Avenue S. Bridge is blocked by a stalled vehicle.

8:39 AM: SPD is being dispatched to a reported two-vehicle collision at Delridge/Thistle, with both reported to be “facing westbound.”

8:48 AM: The location has been corrected to 22nd SW/SW Thistle. No serious injuries reported so far, as there’s no accompanying SFD dispatch.

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

6:52 AM: Good morning! We’ve checked around and are finding no current incidents in/from West Seattle.

NOTES: In the stadium zone, you’ll find Mariners traffic tonight, as the team starts a new homestand (7:10 pm vs. Colorado) … Looking ahead, the Highway 509 NB repaving project starts Sunday …

8:09 AM: SDOT reports a stalled vehicle on NB 99 north of the bridge partly blocking the bus lane.

8:36 AM: The vehicle’s been cleared to the shoulder, SDOT reports.

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

6:52 AM: Good morning – it’s back to work and back to school post-holiday. Nothing major on the outbound routes so far.

9 AM: A relatively quiet commute – the afternoon still carries a chance of thunderstorms, forecasters say, so we’ll be on weather watch throughout the day as well as traffic watch. Thanks in advance for your tips if you see anything your fellow West Seattleites need to know about – 206-293-6302 is our 24/7 hotline (but if you’re driving, don’t call/text us until you’re safely at your destination!).

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

7:06 AM: No incidents on the routes through/from West Seattle so far.

Looking ahead to Memorial Day:

WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: On Monday, the WS Water Taxi will run a Sunday schedule. (The Vashon WT won’t run at all.)

METRO BUSES: They also will be on a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day.

WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run will be on its regular schedule Monday.

And a reminder:

HARBOR AVENUE SPEED LIMIT CHANGE: As of today, Harbor Avenue SW is 30 mph, down from 35 mph. Signs were installed yesterday – briefly, the wrong ones.

8:05 AM: We’ve continued to hear from people about the port-truck backups – hearing on the scanner now that city and port police are checking out today’s situation right now.

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

6:59 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.

7:38 AM: Still quiet. So we’ll take a moment to look ahead to some transportation-related events tonight:

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: Talking Sound Transit 3 light-rail planning, as previewed here last night, 6:30 pm, Neighborhood House High Point (6900 Sylvan Way SW).

HIGHLAND PARK TRAFFIC TROUBLE SPOTS: They’re part of the route for tonight’s Find It, Fix It Walk, leaving from HP Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden) at 6:30 pm – here’s our preview.

8:20 AM: The relative quiet continues. We’ve heard, however, that the port-truck traffic backup early this morning – long before we got the morning traffic report rolling – was particularly intense. We’ll be working on an update about this – if you have any anecdotes/information to share, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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

6:54 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle right now.

FERRY SERVICE BACK TO 3 BOATS: As promised last night by Washington State Ferries, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is back to its 3-boat schedule.

7:33 AM: SDOT reports a stalled vehicle on the eastbound bridge is blocking the right lane just past the Delridge ramp.

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

7:06 AM: Good morning. Reader report of a multi-car crash on the eastbound bridge, “far left lane … where Admiral merges in.” No SFD dispatch on the log.

FERRY REMINDER: Washington State Ferries says the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run remains on the 2-boat schedule.

8:21 AM: Quiet since last hour (just the usual slowness).

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

6:43 AM: Good morning and welcome to the week before Memorial Day. Summery weather will greet you as you head out. No incidents reported so far on routes in/from West Seattle.

2-BOAT FERRY SCHEDULE: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run has been down to two boats since yesterday and that continues this morning. The boats are Issaquah and Cathlamet. Here’s the schedule.

7:30 AM: SDOT reports a crash on the eastbound low bridge (see the camera at lower left, above).

7:38 AM: There’s also an SFD medical response on the eastern half of the high bridge, but two of the three units already have been canceled and there’s no info on whether it’s affecting traffic.

7:47 AM: That call is now closed. But a new problem – crash at Roxbury and 8th, according to SDOT. No SFD dispatch for it, so far.

8:08 AM: The low-bridge crash has cleared, per SDOT.

8:19 AM: From the scanner, a dispatch for a stalled vehicle on the eastbound bridge. Waiting to hear exactly where.

8:03 PM: Thanks for the tips and photos – there’s a car fire on NB 99 in south of the stadium zone.

No details, including whether anyone has been hurt.

8:45 PM: The two fire engines originally dispatched to the scene are still there, per SFD’s incident log. SDOT, meantime, says two northbound lanes are now open at the scene.

9:09 PM: SDOT says all lanes are open again. We’re checking with SFD about cause and injuries; if we don’t hear back tonight, we’ll add the update whenever we do.

11:44 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says the car was engulfed in flames when their engines arrived; the cause wasn’t immediately determined, but she does confirm that no injuries were reported.

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

6:59 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.

BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY: The former “Bike to Work Day” is now “Bike Everywhere Day” and you’ll find West Seattle Bike Connections and friends by the low bridge.

Thanks for the photo!

SUNDAY REMINDER: If you’re not running/walking in Sunday morning’s West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB) – don’t forget that Alki SW will be closed to traffic for a few hours along the route (which goes from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park and back) starting at 8 am. (Though online registration is over, you can still sign up Saturday at West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW, WSB sponsor] or Sunday before the race.)

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

7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.

Looking ahead:

BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY TOMORROW: If you’ll be riding on what used to be Bike to Work Day,
stop at the west end of the low bridge for the special station with West Seattle Bike Connections and friends, 6-9 am – details in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE 5K ON SUNDAY: A reminder that Alki Avenue will close to traffic for a few hours on Sunday morning (May 21st), starting at 8 am, for this year’s West Seattle 5K – the route is from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park, and the closure usually goes a bit beyond on both sides, Don Armeni to 63rd/Alki.

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

6:25 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.

Looking ahead:

BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY ON FRIDAY: What used to be Bike to Work Day is Bike Everywhere Day, and once again, West Seattle Bike Connections and friends will have a special stop along the bike path 6-9 am, with bicyclists also invited to join a 7:30 am ride to the rally downtown – details in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE 5K ON SUNDAY: Alki Avenue closes to traffic on Sunday morning (May 21st) at 8 am for the West Seattle 5K and should reopen sometime in the 11 am hour – the route is from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park, and the closure usually goes a bit beyond on both sides, Don Armeni to 63rd/Alki.

6:45 AM: Waikikigirl e-mailed to ask you to watch out for wildlife crossing: “This morning at 5:30am walking eastbound on SW Roxbury (south side of road) and approximately 22nd Ave SW, there were a Mother duck and her 6 babies walking the fog line. PLEASE BE CAREFUL, motorists – KEEP AN EYE out for them!”

8:03 AM: SDOT reports a crash at Delridge/Oregon; SFD has been dispatched.

8:16 AM: SFD has closed that call.