West Seattle, Washington
12 Sunday
(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: So far, no incidents in/from West Seattle this morning. Two road-work reminders:
LOWER SPOKANE: SDOT says work has begun on this project east of the low bridge; here’s the advisory we published Friday.
ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE: This work in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne district, including changing a block from two-way to one-way, is expected to start 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)
6:52 AM: Good morning – relatively quiet on the roads so far; no incidents in or from West Seattle. One reminder for tonight:
35TH SW WALKING TOUR: As a followup to last week’s 35th Avenue SW Phase 2 meeting (WSB coverage here), SDOT plans a walking tour tonight, starting at 6 pm at 35th/Avalon, ending at 35th/Holly. You’re invited to walk the distance or just meet up at one of six spots along the way with questions/comments. Here’s the map with locations and times.
SODO NOTE: Mariners’ game tonight (vs. Detroit), 7:10 pm
(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)
6:50 AM: Good morning! No incidents in or from West Seattle so far.
ROAD WORK REMINDER: The lower Spokane Street project just east of the low bridge is scheduled to start this week. Here are the newest details, published here last Friday.
7:37 AM Trouble on northbound I-5 downtown – a crash with lane closures at Mercer.
7:57 AM WSDOT says crews are finishing clearing that scene now.
10:12 AM: As commenters mention, trouble on the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct right now – a stalled vehicle.
SDOT is planning pavement, sidewalk, and other improvements on SW Spokane Street just east of the low bridge, as first reported here one week ago. We’ve now received the official notice for work starting next week. From that notice:
The Seattle Department of Transportation will start work next week to repave, reconstruct sidewalks and curb ramps, and make other improvements along SW Spokane St from SW Klickitat Way to E Marginal Way S to improve safety for all users. Construction is expected to last approximately 3 months. …
WORK PLANNED FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8, 2016
• Project-wide activities
– Surveying, staking, and layout• SW Spokane St and 11th Ave SW Intersection [map]
– Saw cutting
– Demolishing the southwest and southeast corners of the sidewalk• SW Klickitat Way and Manning Street [map]
– Saw cutting
– Demolishing the north side curb and sidewalk
The official project page is here.
(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)
7:43 AM: We’re getting a late start today. No incidents so far in/from our area. Here’s the big reminder for today and the weekend:
BLUE ANGELS I-90 CLOSURES DAILY THROUGH SUNDAY: Today through Sunday, the annual I-90 closures during Blue Angels practices/shows continue. From WSDOT:
The mainlines of I-90 will be closed between I-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island:
Friday, Aug. 5: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Saturday, Aug. 6: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Sunday, Aug. 7: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
8:07 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 at I-90 right now – a brush-fire response.
(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)
6:56 AM: We start with a transit alert just texted/tweeted by Metro:
Transit Alert – Route 57 due to leave 44th Av SW and SW Alaska St at 7:06 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 4, 2016
Today’s reminders:
BLUE ANGELS I-90 CLOSURES DAILY THROUGH SUNDAY: Today through Sunday, the annual I-90 closures during Blue Angels practices/shows. From WSDOT:
The mainlines of I-90 will be closed between I-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island:
Thursday, Aug. 4: 9:45 a.m. – noon; 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Friday, Aug. 5: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Saturday, Aug. 6: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Sunday, Aug. 7: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
35TH SW MEETING: 7 pm tonight, SDOT plans an “open house” meeting about what’s next in the 35th Avenue SW Road Safety Corridor Project – north of Morgan. The meeting is at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way).
8:41 AM: As David mentions in comments, there’s a crash on the eastbound bridge. Center lane and part of right lane blocked, per SDOT.
8:54 AM: SDOT says the right lane is clear but the center lane remains blocked.
9:10 AM: Per SDOT, the crash scene is now clear – though backups will take a little while to clear.
9:40 AM: Texter says a stalled vehicle on northbound 99 in the stadium zone is causing backups. Nothing from SDOT or WSDOT so far on this so we don’t know the status of anything in the works to clear it.
(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)
6:39 AM: Good morning! No incidents in our area so far, but the rain finally did move in overnight, so roads are wet. Reminders:
BLUE ANGELS I-90 CLOSURES THURSDAY-SUNDAY: Tomorrow through Sunday, the annual Seafair closures on I-90. From WSDOT:
The mainlines of I-90 will be closed between I-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island:
Thursday, Aug. 4: 9:45 a.m. – noon; 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Friday, Aug. 5: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Saturday, Aug. 6: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Sunday, Aug. 7: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
35TH SW MEETING: Tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 pm, as we’ve been reporting for about a month now, SDOT plans an “open house” meeting on the next phase of the 35th Avenue SW Road Safety Corridor Project – north of Morgan. The meeting is at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way).
6:52 AM: Bus cancellation just texted and tweeted by Metro:
Transit Alert – Route 57 due to leave 44th Av SW and SW Alaska St at 7:06 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 3, 2016
(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: Good morning! We start with reminders:
BLOCK PARTIES TONIGHT: Many non-arterial streets in West Seattle will be blocked off ~6-9 pm tonight for the annual Night Out block parties, with neighbors building community and talking about crime, safety, and preparedness.
BLUE ANGELS I-90 CLOSURES THURSDAY-SUNDAY: The annual Seafair reminder from WSDOT:
The mainlines of I-90 will be closed between I-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island:
Thursday, Aug. 4: 9:45 a.m. – noon; 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Friday, Aug. 5: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Saturday, Aug. 6: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Sunday, Aug. 7: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
8:34 AM: Traffic alert on westbound side of the east end of Roxbury corridor – curb lane on Olson is blocked off for charter buses waiting to enter a neighborhood. All we have found out so far is that it’s an event expected to continue until about noon, with more buses coming and going. (The gathering appears to be related to a religious facility on 3rd SW.)
(Photo by Tony Welch: SUP’ing off Alki)
Welcome to a new week and a new month. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and beyond:
LOW-LOW TIDE WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Until 12:30 pm, find volunteer Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists on the shore at Constellation or Lincoln Park. Today’s low tide: -1.9 feet at 10:24 am. (Find a daily tide chart any time on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.)
BLUE ANGELS ARRIVAL: Last we’ve heard, the Blue Angels are due to arrive at Boeing Field (just east of West Seattle, so it’s practically local) early this afternoon, coming here for Seafair after a weekend airshow in Alaska. Noon-2 pm was the word from Seafair, with whom we’ll be checking again later this morning if no advisory arrives earlier.
WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 6:15 pm at Southwest Library, with two big topics as previewed here on Sunday – a followup on last week’s Find It, Fix It Walk and a focus group on crime/safety/policing issues. (35th/Henderson)
SHAPE WEST SEATTLE HI-YU’S FUTURE: 7 pm at Admiral Congregational Church, a big meeting for West Seattle Hi-Yu, as the peak of parade season has passed and the organization starts to assess its future. Your help is needed, as mentioned here. (California/Hill)
ARTSWEST CABARET: 7:30 pm, you’re invited to “join ArtsWest as your favorite Seattle performers sing the songbooks of the artists who inspired them, from Carole King and Alanis Morrissette to Freddie Mercury and Stevie Wonder.” More info in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)
JERRY GARCIA BIRTHDAY BASH: 8-11 pm, tribute to the Grateful Dead-leading legend, at Parliament Tavern. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MORE ON OUR CALENDAR! For today, tonight, tomorrow, and beyond – just go here.
(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)
7:14 AM: One major traffic advisory this morning – “emergency City Light repair” has Admiral Way blocked between 57th and Stevens. We are headed over to find out more.
7:37 AM: In comments, Emily says an early-morning crash damaged a pole (apparently no injuries, as the 911 log doesn’t show an SFD dispatch). And as we write this, our crew arrived and sent this photo:
Meantime, Metro says this is “delaying” Routes 50, 56, and 775. No specific reroutes in the alert. Our crew is waiting to talk with an SCL supervisor on scene for a time estimate on the closure.
8:02 AM: No time estimate but it’s not going to be any time soon. For one, the crew hasn’t arrived yet; when they do, the supervisor tells us, they will have to evaluate factors including what kind of a replacement pole is needed and how to deal with wires that are in a precarious balance now with the top of the damaged pole.
8:24 AM: Buses aren’t just delayed, they’re no-shows, per comment, and as we were following up with Metro, they texted/tweeted this:
Transit Alert – Metro routes 50, 56 & DART route 775 are rerouted off of SW Admiral Wy between 49 Av SW & 59 Av SW.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 1, 2016
8:37 AM: The only addition to this so far is “Use stops east of 49th Av SW or west of 59th Av SW.” One comment says the 37 is running late too. We’ll be checking on this closure for as long as the situation lasts and updating this story, which we’re also linking from the first of our “spotlight” boxes atop the home page.
9:57 AM: Metro has texted/tweeted that the reroutes continue. We’ll be checking firsthand at the scene shortly.
10:45 AM: Repair crews were on scene when we went by a short time ago.
We’ll be checking again around 11:30.
11:43 AM: Open again, per this Metro alert just tweeted and texted:
Transit Alert Update – Routes 50 & 56 & DART route 775 have returned to normal operation on SW Admiral Wy between 49 Av SW & 59 Av SW.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 1, 2016
8:46 AM: If you’re headed toward the eastbound bridge right now – use Fauntleroy, a texter advises. It’s the annual parade-float backup. Apparently what happened last year on the morning of Seafair Torchlight Parade day is happening again right now, with floats stored at Terminal 5 heading out via lower Spokane. Seafair is again having a parade-participant showcase at Seattle Center in advance of tonight’s parade down 4th Avenue (7:30 pm start, but *no* pre-parade run this year).
8:56 AM: Just checked the SDOT live-video camera for the low bridge in time to see the tail end of the float motorcade (grainy screenshot added above), so you should be OK to use Admiral/Avalon again.
(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 and happy Friday! No major incidents in or from West Seattle.
WEEKEND ALERTS: Here’s the SDOT roundup of what’s happening around the city this weekend, most notably the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown on Saturday night, which brings road closures and bus reroutes. … If you’re headed for South King County or points southward via I-5, another weekend of lane closures for road work is ahead.
7:27 AM: Just texted and tweeted by Metro:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave Alki at 7:53 AM has been canceled this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) July 29, 2016
8:10 AM: We’re expecting highs in the 80s again today and tomorrow and a concerned West Seattleite asked us to remind you PLEASE don’t leave your pet in your vehicle, even with a window cracked open. The temperatures can rise dramatically and dangerously. Yesterday there was apparently a bit of a scene in The Junction when a dog was locked in a car, windows up; concerned passersby tried to find its person, who eventually showed up and was quoted as saying something like, it hasn’t even been half an hour. That would have been more than enough time for the animal’s life to be in danger. Even if you “think” it will be OK – don’t run the risk.
8:28 AM: WSDOT is clearing a stall on northbound I-5 at a spot that appears to be just north of the West Seattle Bridge.
8:30 AM: And now there’s word of a crash at 8th/Roxbury. Heading off for a look.
8:52 AM: No photo because we were driving, but it’s a 2-vehicle crash in westbound lanes, affecting the entire intersection. Eastbound was at a near-standstill for a while. Private ambulance called for someone
9:35 AM: Just checked back – 8th/Roxbury crash scene is now completely clear.
9:20 PM: Thanks for the tips, and thanks to BW for the photo- a crash has left a car atop the jersey barrier on the West Seattle Bridge near the Luna Park curve.
9:25 PM: No word on injuries so far, but scanner reports indicate multiple parts of the jersey barrier have been pushed into the westbound lanes.
9:40 PM: SDOT says this is blocking the eastbound bridge completely near its westbound end – right now the live video on the “West Seattle Bridge @ Delridge view” (find link from lower right of that page) is verifying that. One westbound lane is getting by (this is west of the Admiral exit, so you can get off there and avoid it entirely). Looks like a tow truck has arrived.
10:36 PM: The eastbound side has reopened at the crash scene on the curve over Avalon. Looks like one lane each way.
(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! As we start the day, one look ahead to the weekend:
SATURDAY BUS ALERT: The Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown will bring bus reroutes on Saturday night (July 30th), including Route 21 and RapidRide C Line. Go here for the full reroute list.
8:28 AM: Still no traffic incidents of note in or from West Seattle.
(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 incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
8:27 AM: Still a quiet commute.
1:06 PM: If you’re heading toward Northbound 99, could be trouble for a while – the Battery Street Tunnel is closed after its sprinklers activated, following a reported vehicle stall, according to SDOT’s Twitter feed.
1:21 PM: SDOT says the tunnel is now open again.
(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)
6:54 AM: Good morning. Friday is off to a rainy start. So is traffic – a stalled-semi problem reported earlier from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge to northbound I-5 has just been cleared, but residual backups will take longer to dissipate.
PARADE AND FLOAT DODGER 5K TOMORROW: The weather IS expected to clear long before the West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K hit California Avenue on Saturday morning. Even if you’re not going, you should know about road closures, parking restrictions, and bus reroutes, ~7 am-3 pm Saturday – all in our latest preview.
ALKI ART FAIR: While the Saturday-Sunday Alki Art Fair (co-sponsored by WSB) does not close roads, you might want to know about the free shuttle – follow the link to the fair website and scroll down its homepage for info.
7:10 AM: Metro just texted and tweeted this bus cancellation:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave Alki at 7:23 AM has been canceled this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) July 22, 2016
(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! SDOT reported a collision in the 3100 block of Harbor SW this past half hour; the medic response was canceled quickly, so we don’t know if there’s any aftermath. Nothing else in the area so far this morning. Otherwise:
NO BRIDGE CLOSURE: SDOT canceled the plan for Fauntleroy Expressway closures last night and tonight; no new dates yet.
SATURDAY REMINDERS: We’ve been reminding you about Saturday (July 23rd) road closures and parking restrictions (the signs are out now) for the West Seattle Grand Parade, Kiddie Parade, and Float Dodger 5K; California SW south of SW Admiral Way, to The Junction, will be closed from early morning into early afternoon, and some side streets along the way have parking restrictions, too, posted for 7 am-3 pm. (added) … The bus reroutes for Saturday are now published – see them here.
8:35 AM: Trouble on the westbound bridge:
There is a stalled vehicle blocking the WB right lane Mid Span on the West Seattle Bridge. Use caution. pic.twitter.com/MnYTPBDBLi
— seattledot (@seattledot) July 21, 2016
10:24 AM: Some sort of incident east of the low bridge is causing some truck backup on the westbound side but eastbound is going OK with SPD help.
(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: Good morning! No incidents in or from West Seattle so far. What you need to know:
NO BRIDGE CLOSURES AFTER ALL: SDOT has postponed its plans to close the Fauntleroy Expressway tonight and tomorrow and says it’ll reschedule.
SATURDAY REMINDERS: This Saturday (July 23rd) brings the West Seattle Grand Parade, Kiddie Parade, and Float Dodger 5K; California SW south of SW Admiral Way, to The Junction, will be closed from early morning into early afternoon; watch for signage on some of the immediate side streets too, for parade staging and dispersal.
(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! We start again with the previews:
WHAT’S AHEAD: The west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed overnight tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday nights, as the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion re-replacement project gets closer to concluding … Saturday morning (July 23rd) brings the West Seattle Grand Parade, Kiddie Parade, and Float Dodger 5K, which close California SW south of SW Admiral Way, to The Junction, into early afternoon, and affect some of the immediate side streets too, for parade staging and dispersal. Watch here for bus-reroute information later this 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)
6:39 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far. Chance of showers/thundershowers today, says the forecast, and other parts of the metro area are seeing them already.
LOOKING AHEAD: The west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed overnight Wednesday and Thursday nights, as announced last week … Next Saturday morning (July 23rd) brings the West Seattle Grand Parade, Kiddie Parade, and Float Dodger 5K, which close California SW south of SW Admiral Way into early afternoon – here’s our most recent preview.
8:25 AM: Trouble on the Northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct – a crash just before the Western Avenue exit. WSDOT says it’s “blocking the right lane and partially blocking the off-ramp.” We’re also seeing an SFD crash response for 1st Avenue S. at East Marginal Way S. – no details on that one, though.
8:41 AM: SDOT says the Viaduct crash scene has cleared. No injuries reported; SFD was not dispatched.
Two more overnight closures of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge have just been announced. SDOT says the Fauntleroy Expressway will be closed the nights of Wednesday and Thursday (July 20-21), 9 pm-5 am. All 674 earthquake-safety cushions have been re-replaced; now crews need to apply epoxy “to ensure the pads are providing thorough cushioning.”
Thanks to the texter who sent those photos of cars involved in a crash a short time ago on westbound SW Admiral Way just east of California SW. No major injuries reported – Seattle Fire has a one-engine response.
No other info but we are mentioning because with commute time approaching, might be backups here until the wrecked vehicles are cleared.
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