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

7:42 AM: Checking in for the final stretch of the Friday morning commute. No incidents in/from West Seattle. The National Weather Service has downgraded the weather alert a bit to a “wind advisory,” expecting 25-35 mph wind with possible gusts to 55 mph, in effect 9 am-10 pm but with the highest likelihood of windiness not until this afternoon.

LOW-BRIDGE ALERT: After about 8:30, if you’re eastbound on the low bridge bike/pedestrian path, watch out for the gathering related to the new Duwamish Waterway signs, as previewed here last night.

SPRING BREAK: Many local schools will be closed next week for spring break.

8:23 AM: If you will be using SB 99 north of downtown this weekend – WSDOT reminds us of this Sunday closure on the southbound side:

Crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close a half-mile stretch of southbound State Route 99/Aurora Avenue North near South Lake Union this Sunday, April 9, to complete work needed to reopen Harrison Street.

All southbound lanes of the highway between Valley Street and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The northbound lanes will remain open.

During the closure, crews will restripe access to and from of Harrison Street – which has been closed due to SR 99 tunnel construction. When the work is complete, drivers will have access to and from SR 99/Aurora Avenue North at Harrison Street.

The forecast looks promising, but the work is weather-dependent and could be rescheduled if needed.

And we should also mention one more time that the West Seattle Water Taxi starts its seven-day-a-week schedule on Monday.

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

6:55 AM: If you use the 1st Avenue S. Bridge, be aware that a crash is blocking one northbound lane. That’s it for incidents in the area so far.

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

5:55 AM: Good morning. Starting early thanks to tips about the NB 99 crash. It’s on The Viaduct near Seneca and backing things up. No Seattle Fire response (so far), so if anyone’s hurt, it’s not major.

6:01 AM: Metro warns this might affect buses, though no specific alerts so far.

6:05 AM: SDOT says it’s blocking the right lane south of Seneca.

6:17 AM: SDOT says the 99 crash has cleared. But NB 5 has some trouble downtown – a crash before Olive Way.

6:28 AM: Now SDOT says there’s a crash on Delridge at Myrtle.

6:38 AM: SFD has closed its response to that scene.

6:46 AM: New outbound problem! One lane blocked on eastbound WS Bridge ramp to NB I-5, reported to be a stalled vehicle.

8:08 AM: Slow, soggy going, but no further incidents reported since that one.

4TH AVENUE WORK: The Yesler Bridge project on the south end of downtown will lead to some major lane closures in the evenings starting tonight. Here’s the full advisory.

(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.

HIGHWAY 99 TUNNELING MACHINE: Still expected to be some hours before the “Bertha breakthrough.” Live-stream camera’s in place here.

8:15 AM: Berthacam is having issues, WSDOT says, but they’re working on it. The roads? Still nothing major.

9:22 AM: Before we move along to the rest of the day … one weekend alert from WSDOT:

9:24 AM: And a “Bertha” update – WSDOT says its last push started around 8 am and is “expected to take several hours.”

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

7:02 AM: Good morning and welcome to the first workweek of April 2017! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.

A few notes looking ahead:

-Last week of classes before Seattle Public Schools’ spring break (April 10th-14th)
-Last week of the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s five-day-a-week schedule (summer schedule starts April 10th)

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

6:55 AM: Friday’s here. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

WEEKEND ALERT: Highway 520 across Lake Washington will be closed all weekend for work, so that’ll put extra pressure on I-90.

8:25 AM: Crash on NB 99 at Lander.

8:49 AM: Multiple reports that because of the crash – blocking two lanes – the C Line has been diverted to the SODO Busway.

8:52 AM: More than just the C Line, per Metro:

9:08 AM: Right now the SDOT camera we use most mornings for Highway 99 at Lander, above, is showing the truck that’s at the heart of the two-lane blockage.

9:31 AM: All clear, says SDOT.

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

6:58 AM: Good morning. Just got a text about a crash at 8th and Roxbury, so beware if you are headed that way. Looks from the accompanying photo as if it’s on the eastbound side of the street, right lane. Seattle Fire is just now being dispatched for minor injuries reported to 1 person.

Reminder that the cleanup along surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge is scheduled to continue today and that could mean detours, including the bike path in the area. Seattle City Light says the lighting there should be working by week’s end.

7:14 AM: SFD has already closed its part of the 8th/Roxbury call. One regional incident to mention – on the east side of Boeing Field, Airport Way is closed between Norfolk and Portland as SCL replaces a pole damaged in an early-morning crash.

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

6:39 AM: Transit notes so far this morning:
-Route 37’s 6:15 am (from 35th/Alaska) run didn’t happen
-The Vashon Water Taxi is canceled this morning because of a “mechanical issue” (the regular backup boat, M/V Spirit of Kingston, is not available because it’s in the middle of a 5-week maintenance period)

No road incidents in our area so far.

6:56 AM: If you use the bicycle trail along surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge – and/or surface Spokane Street itself – reminder that today is the scheduled start of two days of trash cleanup in the area, as we’ve been reporting since Friday. Last word from the city is that the detours won’t start until after 9 am.

11:02 AM: We were there a little while ago and the main eastbound and westbound lanes, and bicycle path, had yet to be affected, though the cleanup has begun. We’ll check back later.

Also: King County has confirmed the Vashon Water Taxi will be back in service for its pm runs.

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

7:30 AM: Good morning. Bridge trouble right now – “a stall is blocking the left lane on the EB West Seattle Bridge after Fauntleroy Way SW,” according to SDOT.

7:39 AM: And SDOT says it’s cleared.

7:41 AM: No alerts from Metro but two people have e-mailed to report the 7:09 Route 56 apparently didn’t run today – as a result, Steve says, “The 57 is full before Belvedere and not stopping.”

7:54 AM: We mentioned that on Twitter and Michelle tweeted this in response to confirm “57 full to the gills.”

8:45 AM: If you’re headed for I-5 northbound, beware – WSDOT reports: “NB I-5 at I-90. A disabled vehicle is blocking the center lane.”

9:01 AM: Via e-mail, Lisa says the Route 57 bus set to leave The Junction shortly after 8 am didn’t show up either. No Metro alert.

4:06 PM: That’s an SDOT-camera image of a semi-truck that’s gone onto its side on the 4th Avenue offramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge – so if you’re headed that way, you won’t be able to use that ramp for a while. To check the status, use the live-video feature at the lower right of the SDOT “travelers’ map” – choose Greater Duwamish on the pulldown, and then the 4th Avenue S./Spokane St. Viaduct camera, which is currently pointed at the scene.

4:59 PM: Camera shows a tow truck is now on the scene, though the truck has not yet been righted.

5:55 PM: Two tow trucks are there working on it, per the webcam view.

7:52 PM: Four hours and not upright yet – ramp still closed.

8:03 PM: If you watch the live video feed as explained above (not directly linkable, or we’d be doing that), the trailer’s now close to upright.

9 PM: As of a short time ago, SDOT says, the truck’s gone and the ramp’s open again.

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

6:37 AM: Welcome to the last workweek of the month – April starts next Saturday. But first, we’re watching traffic and transit for Monday, March 27th. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.

TRIANGLE IMPROVEMENT TASK FORCE: Today brings the last scheduled meeting of the citizens’ committee working with Washington State Ferries on improvements along the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route. 4:30 pm-7 pm, Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW), all welcome.

9:04 AM: Quiet commute wrapping up. One note: We are now two weeks away from the start of the West Seattle Water Taxi’s seven-days-a-week spring/summer schedule – April 10th. You can preview it by scrolling down the main WSWT page.

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

7:42 AM: In the heart of the week’s final morning commute, the murky weather is the main challenge right now. And this afternoon, the National Weather Service says, there’s a slight chance of thunderstorms.

7:58 AM: Regional highway alerts for this weekend as listed here by WSDOT include lane closures on westbound I-90 and the I-5 express lanes.

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

7:18 AM: Good morning. No incidents so far reported in, or on the outbound routes from, West Seattle.

DELRIDGE RAPIDRIDE DECISIONMAKING: Two ways to hear about and comment on proposed options for converting Metro Route 120 to Delridge RapidRide H Line – SDOT reps will be out at bus stops along Delridge 4:30-6:30 pm today, and then at 6:30 pm, a project spokesperson is on the agenda at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW).

7:35 AM: From the scanner, “piece of wood in the roadway” on the eastbound bridge. Didn’t catch where, but police are being sent to handle it.

7:41 AM: Metro just sent a text alert that what was supposed to be the 7:10 am Route 37 to downtown was running half an hour late. And here’s the tweet:

8:09 AM: If you drive surface Alaskan Way, we’re hearing scanner discussion of a “two-mile” backup of semitrucks.

8:26 AM: Police report over the air that the trucks “are starting to move.”

(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. Remember that Seattle Public Schools get out two hours early today.

7:22 AM: Seattle Fire “full response” headed for the 2300 block of 42nd SW in The Admiral District. First unit arriving isn’t seeing anything – we’ll break this into a separate story if they do find a fire.

7:30 AM: As updated separately here, this turned out to be a dryer fire, according to firefighters, and it’s out, so most of the units will be leaving.

7:50 AM: One downtown note – the Seattle Center vicinity is busier than usual because of the annual Starbucks shareholders meeting @ McCaw Hall, with ~2,700 expected. Doors open shortly, meeting’s at 10. This is part of the SDOT citywide alert list for this week.

8:03 AM: Reminder that SDOT‘s week of RapidRide H Line outreach in Delridge continues with a scheduled visit to 21st/Dawson 5-6 pm today.

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

7:24 AM: Good morning! An earlier crash on the West Seattle Bridge has cleared to the shoulder, per SDOT, but the backup remains, so it’s slow going.

Also, you may see SFD vehicles headed eastbound on the bridge, being dispatched to a fire call at the VA Hospital complex on Beacon Hill.

DELRIDGE RAPIDRIDE: Again this morning, through 9 am, SDOT reps are scheduled to be at bus stops along Delridge Way to talk with people about the planning process under way for converting Route 120 to RapidRide H Line.

WEDNESDAY NOTE: Tomorrow, Seattle Public Schools get out 2 hours early.

8:12 AM: The aforementioned Beacon Hill fire call is closed.

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

6:56 AM: Good morning and welcome to spring 2017.

No incidents outbound from West Seattle right now, but if your commute takes you southbound TOWARD West Seattle, there’s a lane-blocking crash on Southbound I-5 just before (north of) the West Seattle Bridge.

7:26 AM: The SB I-5 crash is reported to have cleared.

9:49 AM: If you’re out at a bus stop on Delridge 11 am-1 pm, you might see the second wave of SDOT outreach on the conversion of Route 120 to RapidRide H Line in 2020. (Let us know if you do!)

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

7:42 AM: SDOT reports a stall on the Delridge onramp to the eastbound West Seattle Bridge.

WEEKEND NOTE: The Sounders FC home opener is 4 pm Sunday at The CLink (if you’re going, consider the special matchday shuttle offered by The Westy [WSB sponsor]).

HARBOR/SPOKANE/AVALON PROJECT FEEDBACK: If you missed this story on WSB Thursday – planning is officially under way for this Neighborhood Street Fund project, and SDOT is asking for feedback on the “early concept.”

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

6:57 AM: Will this morning’s commute be any better than the past two days? The next few hours will tell. No current incidents in, or on the major routes from, West Seattle. No view of the high bridge right now, though, as neither of SDOT’s cameras are working.

FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD WALKING TOUR: If you’re on the peninsula at midday today and interested in the Fauntleroy Boulevard project, the first of two walking tours is set for noon-1:30 pm today, starting outside LA Fitness at 39th/Alaska/Fauntleroy.

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

6:48 AM: Welcome to another rainy morning. No incidents currently reported in/from West Seattle, but watch for the usual extra-water spots, because some particularly intense rain cells were part of what moved through in the past few hours.

ADVANCE ALERT: If you drive I-5 north of downtown in the very early morning, here’s an alert from City Light about intermittent stops/slowdowns while they do power-line work next week.

6:56 AM: Just in from SDOT, trouble on the eastbound bridge: “Collision on West Seattle Bridge EB partially blocking the right lane. Use caution, expect delays.” It’s currently on the top-left camera.

7:04 AM: Good news – that was cleared quickly.

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

6:49 AM: The rain has returned for your Monday morning.

No traffic incidents in/from West Seattle reported so far.

Transit reminder – it’s the first weekday since Metro’s service change on Saturday. Here’s our story on what was to take effect for this area.

8:20 AM: Speaking of buses, Sound Transit express routes including the 560 are all running late, per ST.

8:44 AM: Note for ferry riders/neighbors – the citizens committee working on “quick wins” for improving the Triangle Route (Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth) has its second-to-last scheduled meeting at 4:30 pm today at Fauntleroy Church. All welcome; agenda’s here.

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

6:21 AM: Still windy but nothing like a few hours ago. The National Weather Service says it’ll calm down by mid-morning.

As for the traffic, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

Weekend alerts: Eastbound I-90 lane closures this weekend … St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Saturday) and St. Patrick’s Day Dash (Sunday) downtown this weekend … Daylight Saving Time arrives at 2 am Sunday, when we’ll “spring forward” an hour.

8:48 AM: A three-unit medical response is headed to California/Hanford. We’re on the way to find out what happened.

9:06 AM: Police and fire all cleared the scene before our crew arrived, so obviously not major; we’re still trying to find out what the original call was, just for the record.

9:23 AM: Turns out it was a pedestrian hit by a driver, but no serious injuries. Separate story to come.