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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:52 AM: Thanks for the text – a crash on West Marginal Way at Dakota (map) is affecting traffic. Here’s what SDOT tweeted:

No major injuries so far as we know – the crash drew a one-engine SFD response.

FURTHER SOUTH ON W. MARGINAL WAY: In case you missed the alert last night, paving work is scheduled for a stretch of Highland Park Way today and tomorrow, at W. Marginal.

7:37 AM: Update from SDOT: “Both NB lanes and one SB lane are now open at W Marginal Way SW & SW Dakota St.”

FAUNTLEROY/ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE WORK DONE: If you haven’t been through the Fauntleroy/Endolyne business area in a few days, we checked on Monday and the traffic-calming work that started last week is done:

Our photo shows the major change – the block of Brace Point Drive between 45th and Wildwood is now one way eastbound, with angle parking and painted “curb bulbs” (the biggest is just out of our shot, to the right).

7:47 AM: SDOT just tweeted that the West Marginal/Dakota crash scene is completely clear.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Reminder that it’s already back-to-school season … on the north end of The Junction, Seattle Lutheran High School and Holy Rosary School are already back in session; Hope Lutheran School (42nd/Oregon) starts tomorrow. Here’s our list of the “early” starters; the first day for Seattle Public Schools is one week from tomorrow – Wednesday, September 7th – and remember the schedule changes for many schools, as listed here on Monday.

8:57 AM: One more back-to-school reminder – school buses are out practicing their routes starting today.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:02 AM: Good morning – no incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Holy Rosary (4142 42nd SW) starts today, and it’s the first full week for Seattle Lutheran High School (4100 SW Genesee), which started last Friday. Here’s our weekend report on this week’s other starts.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER PREPS: Thanks to Al for the tip – starting tomorrow, bus drivers for Seattle Public Schools will be out practicing their routes.

ROAD WORK REMINDER: As previewed last night, the Spokane Street paving/safety project – mostly east of the low bridge – continues this week, and includes ongoing bicycle/pedestrian-path detours.

8:25 AM: Couple of Seattle Fire responses on arterials right now – might or might not affect your commute, but we’ll mention them anyway: There’s a medical response at Delridge/Thistle, and a “bark fire” response in the 6500 block of 35th SW, which would be south of Morgan. Each has just one engine assigned, so not major.

8:47 AM: Just got a text about a crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge near the 4th Avenue exit – but SDOT says via Twitter that it’s already cleared. No injuries, apparently, as SFD was not dispatched – no callout on the 911 log.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:43 AM: Good morning. We start with a transit cancellation – Metro just announced Route 57 leaving The Junction at 7:06 am is off:

It’s one of three cancellations Metro has texted/tweeted this morning so far, first one in West Seattle.

6:51 AM: Reminders for today and the weekend:

Road-work projects continuing – Fauntleroy/Endolyne Triangle and lower Spokane Street east of the low bridge.

Weekend road closure in West Seattle – Alki/Harbor closes for the Alki Beach 5K, which starts at 9 am Sunday.

Weekend lane closures for Aurora Bridge inspections:

Saturday, Aug. 27 – Two northbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One northbound lane will remain open to traffic. All southbound lanes will be open.

Sunday, Aug. 28 – Two southbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One southbound lane will remain open to traffic. All northbound lanes will be open.

Also: Two weekend paving projects in Tacoma will reduce lanes – on I-5, and on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge – which could also have an effect on the Fauntleroy-Southworth ferry runs, WSDOT warns. Here’s the full alert.

6:57 AM: Another cancellation just texted/tweeted:

Metro says it’s a hiring issue – as explained in our traffic/transit coverage yesterday.

7:10 AM: And now, a text/tweet announcement that the previously mentioned cancellation has been canceled – so the run is back ON:

7:28 AM: Ten minutes warning for this one:

8:59 AM: We’ve been covering the Triangle gas leak separately; the response should be winding down now.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:41 AM: Just checked around, and it’s incident-free again in/from West Seattle, on this last Thursday in August.

ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: Fauntleroy/Endolyne Triangle, plus lower Spokane Street east of the low bridge.

STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT: Seahawks are home vs. Dallas, 7 pm.

WEEKEND AHEAD: Alki/Harbor road closure for Alki Beach 5K at 9 am Sunday; no road closures but the north end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) will be busy for the West Seattle Car Show 10 am-3 pm Saturday (20+ trophy categories, and same-day signups starting at 8).

7:47 AM – TRANSIT CANCELLATION: Just announced, after-the-fact, via Twitter and text:

7:58 AM: And that was followed by this:

We did, by the way, get Metro’s response to our inquiry about last week’s cancellations. From spokesperson Scott Gutierrez:

Every effort is made to avoid having to cancel service — up until the moment a bus is scheduled to start its trip. We regret when any service is canceled, and we appreciate our customers’ patience.

Metro continues to ramp up hiring and training of new bus drivers. Right now we have a new class of trainees starting every two weeks, and each class is at or close to capacity (24 trainees). Through the fall, we hope to see significant reductions in cancellations as we continue toward our hiring goals.

While we have added service and are hiring more drivers to fulfill that service, we’ve also seen higher-than-expected attrition this year due to retirements. A strong local economy has made hiring very competitive. And the training process for new drivers takes about 5 weeks. To help meet service needs, we actively deploy standby operators when available and assign drivers who have completed trips.

Metro also is investing a great deal of effort into training our drivers to ensure they provide the best possible service. Anyone interested in applying to become a Metro bus driver can find information on our website – Or email josh.isgur@kingcounty.gov.

8:02 AM: And still on that topic, this was texted/tweeted a moment ago:

ADDED 9:13 AM: One more note – via e-mail, from WSDOT, in case you’re planning to drive 99 north of downtown this weekend:

Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will close two lanes of traffic to conduct a routine inspection of the (Aurora Bridge) on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Closure details

· Saturday, Aug. 27 – Two northbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One northbound lane will remain open to traffic. All southbound lanes will be open.

· Sunday, Aug. 28 – Two southbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One southbound lane will remain open to traffic. All northbound lanes will be open.

11 AM: Went down to check on the Fauntleroy/Endolyne work. The painted curb bulb – color chosen in community discussions – is now drying at Brace Point/Wildwood:

Work was expected to take about a week so should be done by early next week.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:11 AM: Good morning – no incidents in the area so far. Reminders:

FAUNTLEROY/ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE WORK: SDOT’s work here is under way, albeit a couple weeks later than expected. This includes closure of a block of Brace Point Drive while it’s converted to one way, eastbound.

IN THE STADIUM ZONE: Mariners are home vs. the Yankees today at 12:40 pm, and the Seahawks host Dallas at 7 pm tomorrow.

ALKI BEACH 5K ON SUNDAY: Sunday at 9 am, it’s this year’s Alki Beach 5K, to help Northwest Hope and Healing, closing Alki SW and part of Harbor SW for a few hours.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:43 AM: Happy Tuesday morning! Another look at this week’s reminders, first:

SURFACE SPOKANE ST. PROJECT: Here’s this week’s update, including a bike-trail detour, for this project east of the low bridge.

IN THE STADIUM ZONE Mariners are home vs. the Yankees again tonight at 7:10 pm, Wednesday at 12:40 pm, and the Seahawks host Dallas at 7 pm Thursday.

ALKI BEACH 5K ON SUNDAY: Sunday at 9 am, it’s this year’s Alki Beach 5K, to help Northwest Hope and Healing, is next Sunday (August 28th), 9 am, closing Alki SW and part of Harbor SW for a few hours that morning. (Want to run or walk in it? Sign up here.)

Back to today … no incidents in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes (NB 99, NB 5) so far.

7:47 AM: A couple weeks later than previously announced, the Fauntleroy/Endolyne Triangle work is getting under way – we just went by and noticed ROAD CLOSED signage for the block of Brace Point Drive that will become one way, eastbound:

Details are in our most-recent report, from early August.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:30 AM: Good morning and welcome to Monday. We start with a few notes for the rest of the day and the week ahead:

SURFACE SPOKANE ST. PROJECT: Here’s the latest update as this project continues east of the low bridge.

STADIUM ZONE, THIS WEEK: Mariners are home vs. the Yankees tonight and Tuesday at 7:10 pm, Wednesday at 12:40 pm … Seahawks have a preseason home game Thursday vs. Dallas, 7 pm …

ALKI BEACH 5K NEXT SUNDAY: Early reminder that the Alki Beach 5K, raising $ for Northwest Hope and Healing, is next Sunday (August 28th), 9 am, and that means Alki SW and part of Harbor SW will be closed for a few hours that morning. (Not registered yet? Go here!)

The surface Spokane Street work east of the low bridge continues tomorrow, and the contractor has sent an extra alert beyond what was in the city’s latest update:

We want to make you aware that the contractor intends to bump up their schedule a bit and start work on the storm drain connection at the driveway to Harley Marine [map] on Monday.

Access to the parking lot will of course be maintained but a few spots for parking on the western half of the lot may be lost during construction. After drainage work is complete they will begin work on the elevated pedestrian crossing through the driveway. They will construct the west half of the crossing and open it to traffic before moving on to the east half. Maintaining an approximately 24ft wide driveway to accommodate two-way traffic during each phase.

The contractor will try and leave the existing bike/ped crossing through the driveway open for as long as possible but eventually (Monday afternoon or more likely Tuesday) this work will require a temporary rerouting of the bike path. The detour will be through the parking lot on the back side of construction activities and will use temporary asphalt ramps to connect back to the trail. The detour will be in effect until the new elevated pedestrian/bike crossing is completed and is anticipated to last approximately 1-2 weeks.

Other project notes for the week ahead, and a detailed map, are in this flyer.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:59 PM: Thanks for the tips – just got a call and a text about this, though it apparently happened an hour ago, according to the Seattle Fire 911 log: A crash is blocking southbound Beach Drive in the 5400 block (map). People headed that way are being turned around at Shore Place, according to the texter. The 911 log shows a low-level one-engine callout to the crash at 6:50 pm, and it’s long since closed, so apparently no serious injuries, but there are no outlets in that area, so it doesn’t take much to block traffic. The texter says northbound traffic is being allowed through.

8:35 PM UPDATE: As noted in a comment, and as we just discovered firsthand, the scene is now clear.

No major injuries reported but if you are heading out, you should know a crash involving at least two vehicles is blocking westbound Roxbury east of 26th. SPD, SFD, and KCSO were on scene when we went by.

4:28 PM: Thanks for the tips. One lane is still blocked on southbound Highway 99 near Atlantic, and that’s making the sluggish-at-best homeward commute worse than usual right now. A police car is behind the blocking vehicle, no tow truck in sight so far. If you have a desktop/laptop/landscape-view tablet and want to check before you go, the city’s Travelers Info Map has live video if you choose downtown and then Alaskan Way/Atlantic.

4:58 PM: Still no tow truck, and that area is still down to one lane as a result.

5:03 PM: Good news – the live video feed shows the tow truck just arrived.

5:20 PM: The tow truck has JUST left with the car, and the highway is back to 2 lanes at that spot.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:59 AM: Happy Friday! No incidents in West Seattle, or outbound from here, so far today.

WEEKEND NOTES: None of this weekend’s West Seattle events is likely to affect traffic/transportation. But as for the rest of the city, here’s SDOT’s roundup – Hempfest today through Sunday includes a road closure toward the north end of the downtown waterfront; the Mariners are home, which means games at Safeco Field tonight, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon.

7:06 AM: This Metro cancellation just came through with no warning:

7:09 AM: And immediately following that:

Metro also canceled one 56 and one 57 in the 7 am hour yesterday, as reported in our Thursday traffic/transit watch. We had asked their media liaisons for information on what’s going on, and are expecting that information today – depending on when it comes in, we’ll either update this report or publish something separate. These aren’t their only announced cancellations so far this morning system-wide – if you scroll through @kcmetrobus (the official Twitter feed), you’ll see eight cancellations for non-West Seattle routes so far.

4:11 PM: Thanks for the tips – we just verified the HUGE traffic backup headed toward the Fauntleroy ferry dock – backed up all the way to Fauntleroy/Raymond!

Washington State Ferries attributes it only to heavy outbound traffic.

4:34 PM: Via e-mail, WSF says vessels are ~45 minutes behind schedule because of major crashes on I-5. Checking on those.

4:39 PM: We’ll be folding in any other major traffic notes while monitoring this: Here’s one – southbound 16th is blocked at Elmgrove because of a car fire. We just went by – no injuries, and the fire apparently was mostly in the engine compartment. (Photo added:)

Thanks to Erik for the tip!

5:09 PM: SFD has cleared the 16th call so that’s likely reopened. We’re about to head down the hill for another look at the ferry backup. Also remember that if you’re heading for the eastbound bridge – the tape tangle mentioned earlier could be a factor (some of it was even snagged on a utility pole on the south edge of the Luna Park district). And a City Light truck is reportedly in a hazardous spot around that section of the bridge. (Update: Commenter says the SCL worker is trying to pull in the aforementioned tape.)

5:58 PM: Ferry dock-bound backup on west/southbound Fauntleroy better but not by much – goes “just” to California now.

6:23 PM: Crash reported (via scanner) at 34th/Morgan, with westbound Morgan reported to be blocked right now.

7:44 PM: We finally got to go by that scene about 15 minutes ago – tow trucks had arrived so the scene should be clear soon if it isn’t already. No Seattle Fire dispatch, so apparently no injuries of note.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:52 AM: Another morning without major incidents, so far, in or from West Seattle.

SEAHAWKS AT CENTURYLINK FIELD: Preseason home game for the Hawks tonight vs. Minnesota, 7 pm, so be mindful of that if you’ll be traveling through Pioneer Square/SODO.

WEEKEND EVENTS: SDOT’s weekly roundup of what’s ahead citywide for the weekend is here, including Hempfest Friday-Sunday, with a major road closure toward the north end of the downtown waterfront.

7:09 AM: West Seattle Metro run cancellation just announced via Twitter (and text alert):

7:13 AM: And another one:

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:43 AM: Good morning! No current incidents in or from West Seattle (we watch the outbound routes including the bridges, SODO surface routes, NB Highway 99 and I-5 north of the bridge, just in case you’ve ever wondered what exactly we mean by that).

9:48 AM: Thanks to Anna for the alert – a streetlight is down across southbound Fauntleroy Way at Frontenac (south of Morgan Junction). SDOT is aware. Meantime, SDOT tweeted this alert regarding bridge onramps for the next several hours:

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

7:02 AM: It’s a foggy Tuesday morning. No incidents of note on major outbound routes. Reminders:

BUS STOP CLOSURES: Through mid-November, the northbound South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) bus stop is closed because of construction; here’s the official notice. … And if you catch the bus downtown to get back to West Seattle, remember that the C-Line, 21E, 55, 56, 57, 120, 125 stop on westbound Columbia at 2nd is closed until mid-October. Here’s that official notice.

4:49 PM: If you’re heading toward the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct downtown – you’ll want to avoid the Columbia entrance. Seattle Police report that they’re talking with “an armed man in crisis, currently barricaded in the 800 block of Post Ave” and @jhewiz points out via this Instagram image that this is happening right alongside the Columbia onramp [map].

5:11 PM: Police confirmed via Twitter the man was taken into custody “peacefully.”

P.S. Here’s a recap via SPD Blotter.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:57 AM: Good morning and welcome to Monday. No incidents in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes so far. We do have long-term Metro reroutes to mention:

ROUTES 125 AND 128: Today through mid-November, these routes will not include the northbound South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) bus stop. Here’s the official notice.

C-LINE, 21E, 55, 56, 57, 120, 125: The downtown bus stop on westbound Columbia at 2nd is closed until mid-October. Here’s the official notice.

SPOKANE ST. WORK, EAST OF THE LOW BRIDGE: This project continues today. Here’s our most-recent update on where crews are working.

9:04 AM: No SFD dispatch, but SDOT is reporting a crash at Delridge/Trenton. And if you’re heading out on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth ferry route any time soon – fog has moved onto the water, east to west.

9:31 AM: Just went over to Delridge/Trenton – whatever happened there has completely cleared.

Following up on our previous reports about SDOT‘s Lower Spokane Street repaving-and-more project just east of the low bridge, here’s an update detailing what’s ahead for the next two weeks:

This past week crews have started safety improvement work to repave, reconstruct sidewalks and curb ramps, and make other improvements along SW Spokane St from SW Klickitat Way to East Marginal Way S. Construction is expected to last approximately three months. Please note that work planned is subject to change. SDOT appreciates the public’s patience while this work is being completed.

The project will require the closure or restrictions in some traffic lanes during active construction over the next few weeks, but will not require any full street closures requiring detours. Temporary pedestrian/bike pathways will detour around the construction zone on the West Seattle Bridge Trail.

WORK PLANNED FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 15, 2016

• SW Spokane St and 11th Ave SW Intersection

o Signal installation; including new conduit, and pedestrian signal activation poles

• SW Klickitat Way and Manning Street

o Removing damaged portions of existing curb and gutter along edges of roadway
o Forming and pouring replacement curb and gutter along edges of roadway
o Demolishing existing sidewalks
o Forming and pouring new curb ramps and replacement portions of sidewalk
o Roadway asphalt patching

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING CONSTRUCTION FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 15, 2016

• Weekday work hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Single lane closures and/or lane width reductions during work hours

• Noise, dust and vibration typical of construction

• Access to businesses will be maintained

• Temporary pedestrian/bike pathway around work zones

WORK PLANNED FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 22, 2016

• SW Spokane St and 11th Ave SW Intersection

o Continued signal installation

• Manning St at entrance to Harbor Marina Corporate Center

o Demolishing existing curb, gutter, and sidewalk
o Forming and pouring new curb and gutter

3:15 PM: Thanks for the tip on a crash at 8th and Roxbury. Metro has just sent an alert that Route 128 is routed off 8th at the intersection; that generally means other traffic is too. We’re off to check.

3:36 PM: 8th/Roxbury just fully cleared as we went through a few minutes ago. Vehicles hooked to tow trucks were visible to the south on 8th but weren’t blocking.

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

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:58 AM: Good morning! Not only are there no incidents in/from West Seattle so far, things are even looking better than usual around the region.

ONGOING ROAD WORK: The lower Spokane Street and Endolyne Triangle projects.

10:50 AM: Commenters are noting that the eastbound bridge is jammed. One says a C-Line bus is stopped by the 99 exit.

3:10 PM: Crash at 8th and Roxbury, a somewhat frequent trouble spot. No serious injuries reported so far.