(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 again with alerts and reminders:

WEEKEND VIADUCT CLOSURE REMINDER: Highway 99’s twice-yearly inspection is planned for 6 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday, and WSDOT’s alert points out the Highway 520 bridge will be closed too, which means I-5 will likely have some challenges through downtown.

ROAD-WORK ALERTS:

–Beach Drive SW, south of 61st SW: Last scheduled day of paving.

–Tomorrow and Friday, paving is planned on 39th SW between SW Oregon and Fauntleroy Way.

—Surface Spokane work east of the low bridge continues.

7:23 AM: Thanks to Gina for also reminding us that this is the rescheduled start date for SDOT’s Admiral Way Safety Project, though, as noted in the rescheduling announcement last week, it’s weather-dependent, so that could slide.

9:22 AM: Another crash at Olson/Cambridge, same general area as Sunday. (Thanks for the text alert!)

(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)

6:34 AM: Welcome to a rainy Tuesday. Trouble right now on southbound I-5 just south of the West Seattle Bridge – a crash blocking two lanes and partly blocking the ramp from the bridge to 5 – so if you use that route, you might want to wait a while before leaving.

Meantime, alerts and reminders:

WEEKEND VIADUCT CLOSURE REMINDER: We’re mentioning this daily so no one’s taken by surprise. The Alaskan Way Viaduct – really, Highway 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel – is scheduled for closure Saturday and Sunday (October 8-9), 6 am-6 pm each day, for its twice-yearly inspection. These often end early; we’ll be updating all weekend. ALSO: The Highway 520 floating bridge will be closed all weekend too. Here’s what WSDOT says about both closures.

ROAD-WORK ALERTS: Here’s what you need to know:

–Beach Drive SW, south of 61st SW: Today is the second of three scheduled days for repaving between Orleans and Charlestown.

–On Thursday and Friday, paving crews will move on to 39th SW between SW Oregon and Fauntleroy Way.

–The Spokane St. paving project east of the low bridge continues; here’s what’s being done now.

FERRY NOTE: The Kitsap is back on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run today, so capacity is back to normal.

7:20 AM: SPD/SFD are responding to a crash reported at 16th SW/SW Cambridge. Meantime, the SB I-5 crash has cleared.

7:54 AM: If you’re heading this way instead of outbound: Crash reported on westbound West Seattle Bridge @ Delridge.

8:36 AM: The SFD response to that incident has closed.

8:45 AM: And the crash has cleared, per SDOT.

(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. No incidents in/from West Seattle right now.

ROAD-WORK ALERTS: The Spokane St. project east of the low bridge continues – here’s the newest information … As noted here last night, SDOT crews are scheduled to be working on Beach Drive SW south of 61st SW the next three days.

VIADUCT CLOSURE NEXT WEEKEND: Reminder that the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s twice-yearly inspection/maintenance closure is set for next weekend, Saturday-Sunday, October 8-9, 6 am-6 pm both days (and if it ends early, as often happens, we’ll let you know ASAP here).

FERRY NOTE: One vessel on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is being downsized, with the Tillikum being brought in to replace the Kitsap.

7:42 AM: We mentioned in our weekend preview of the Viaduct closure that WSDOT expected tunneling might pass the halfway mark this weekend. Just announced – it did (full announcement here). The current estimate for the tunnel to open is early 2019.

8:27 AM: While down on Beach Drive checking on the whale-sighting report, we passed the SDOT crews. Clearly a big tear-up-and-replace paving project. A separate ongoing utility project just north of 61st, on the south end of Constellation Park, continues too, so please be careful in the area (please don’t be like the driver who, when we slowed for the road crew, revved up, sped up to pass us, only to realize in half a block that s/he was in danger of mowing down workers in two work zones).

1:23 PM: Be careful out there – several problems so far today on area roads, and right now the biggest one is on the Olson Place hill [map], where police are on the scene of a multiple-vehicle crash and it’s affecting traffic to/from Highway 509 and up the hill toward Myers Way. We’ll be heading over for an update.

1:59 PM UPDATE: If you get off 509 at Myers/Cloverdale, once you get up the hill you’ll be diverted southbound onto Myers. You won’t be able to get down from Roxbury to 509. SPD is directing traffic. Just added a texted photo – thank you!

3 PM: Olson Place has just reopened. The white powder currently on the road surface was applied by SDOT.

P.S. We don’t have any details about the crash itself but no medic unit was ever dispatched, which usually means no serious injuries.

1:06 AM: Just reminding you that the overnight closure of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is under way, so jersey barriers damaged in recent crashes can be replaced. Detours are listed in the original announcement. SDOT says this could last until 9 am.

6:38 AM: We’re seeing eastbound traffic via the 35th/Fauntleroy webcam, so the closure is over in that direction. The westbound side is still closed (work crews are visible on the “bridge deck” camera).

6:56 AM: And the westbound side has just reopened – we’re seeing regular traffic via the webcam.

(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)

7:06 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle right now.

One big reminder for tonight:

BRIDGE CLOSURE: The west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed starting right before midnight so that SDOT crews can replace 18 jersey barriers damaged in crashes. SDOT says it should be open again by 9 am Saturday:

The West Seattle Bridge (WSB) will be closed to through traffic in both directions between 35th Ave SW and the Harbor Avenue/Avalon Way exit. Crews will begin closing lanes at 11:30 p.m. Friday with full closure by midnight. A detour will be in place for eastbound and westbound travelers on the WSB. The detour for eastbound traffic is via SW Avalon Way, SW Spokane St and back onto the WSB. The detour for westbound traffic is via the Harbor Avenue/Avalon Way exit to SW Avalon Way to Fauntleroy Way SW.

WEEKEND CITYWIDE ALERTS: Here’s SDOT’s roundup of major happenings around the city this weekend, including the Mariners’ regular-season-ending home series and tonight’s UW-Stanford game at Husky Stadium.

7:20 AM: Road-work notes:

35TH SW NORTH OF ALASKA: The pavement repairs in the northbound lanes between Alaska and Avalon should be done by this afternoon, SDOT told us yesterday.

ADMIRAL WAY WORK DELAYED TO NEXT WEEK: SDOT now says the work west of California won’t start until next Wednesday.

VIADUCT CLOSURE OCTOBER 8-9: The SDOT website still lists next weekend, 6 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th, for the next Alaskan Way Viaduct maintenance/inspection closure. WSDOT hasn’t announced it yet, though, so we’re checking with them this morning. (UPDATE: Yes, it IS on, WSDOT confirms, for NEXT weekend. Details will be out on Monday.)

7:52 AM – BEAUTY SHOT: Still no traffic trouble so we’re sharing a beautiful sunrise view from the Water Taxi dock at Seacrest this morning, just shared by Rahel O’Mara:

The Water Taxi remains on its 7-day-a-week schedule for one more month – the 5-day-a-week schedule starts on Monday, October 31st.

11:40 AM: Thanks to the person who texted that unannounced road-repair work is under way on the bridge deck, eastbound around 1st Avenue South – that is apparently backing up the high-rise in a big way. We’re asking SDOT if there’s any ETA on completion.

2:44 PM: If you’re headed southbound on I-5, note that the ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge is blocked right now:

Our photo from early this morning looks south toward where the pavement is torn up across both lanes of northbound 35th SW just north of Alaska, as WSB readers first started pointing out during Wednesday’s afternoon/evening commute, when encountering the resulting bottleneck without warning. After publishing an item about it last night, we contacted SDOT this morning to ask about it, as promised, and to find out how long the work will last. The reply, from SDOT spokesperson Sue Romero:

There was a lapse in timing of communicating on this specific project, therefore the work began without notification. In response to complaints from the public about the street, our crews are removing and replacing some concrete panels on 35th between SW Snoqualmie and SW Alaska. The work should be completed tomorrow and all lanes open by Friday afternoon.

So be forewarned, the lane closures will be continuing for the pm commute today – that caused some backup off the westbound bridge yesterday, coupled with a stalled vehicle by the last curve.

(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: One lane is reported blocked by a crash on the NB 1st Avenue South Bridge. And as promised, we’re off to check on the two lanes of NB 35th SW south of Avalon where torn-up pavement caused traffic trouble yesterday afternoon.

7:20 AM: Just checked. Yes, two lanes of 35th are still closed with torn-up pavement between Alaska and Avalon. This will be a bottleneck, albeit a relatively short one.

7:34 AM: The 1st Ave. S. Bridge crash has cleared.

10:53 AM: SDOT says the pavement work will continue into tomorrow. Separate update ahead.

Several people have pointed out the traffic snarl caused by a section of northbound 35th Avenue SW being torn up between Avalon and Alaska, near West Seattle Stadium. There was no advance warning of, nor alert about, this, so we don’t know (yet) exactly what’s being done here nor whether it’s related to the almost-complete mixed-use project nearby. But unless a crew returns sometime tonight, this could still be in place tomorrow morning, so this is a heads-up that you might want to avoid the area while outbound, if you can.

We’ll check on it by 7 am for an update in our morning traffic coverage, so check for an update on whether it’s fixed by then.

(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)

7:25 AM: No incidents to report so far this morning, in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes from here.

TODAY’S ALERTS
*Seattle Public Schools get out two hours early today
*Work on the Admiral Way Safety Project starts today
*SODO alert: Sounders FC game @ 7:30 pm (vs. Chicago)

WEEKEND REMINDER:
*West Seattle Bridge west-end closure 12-9 am Saturday to replace damaged jersey barriers

8:02 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 – a medic response in the Convention Center area. Left two lanes are blocked, according to WSDOT.

8:16 AM: That scene is reported to be almost fully blocked. And you know how morning NB I-5 backups compound quickly. So if you’re heading out soon, we’d advise not trying to get onto NB I-5 for a while.

8:47 AM: The NB I-5 crash scene is now down to one lane blocked. The backup, of course, will take a while to ease.

10:33 AM NOTE: We checked the Admiral Way project zone a bit earlier this morning – no signs of crews yet – we’ll check back later.

(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: No incidents to report so far this morning.

THIS WEEK’S ALERTS
*Spokane St. project continues east of the low bridge
*Work on the Admiral Way Safety Project starts tomorrow
*Seattle Public Schools get out two hours early tomorrow
*West Seattle Bridge west-end closure 12-9 am Saturday to replace damaged jersey barriers

7:42 AM: Crash reported at West Marginal S & Holden, which is the entrance to the NB 1st Ave S. Bridge.

7:48 AM: SDOT reports a crash in the bus lane on the EB West Seattle Bridge.

8:07 AM: Update on the W Marginal/Holden crash – WSDOT now shows it on SB 99 south of the 1st Ave S Bridge, not NB.

8:44 AM: SDOT says the West Seattle Bridge crash has cleared.

(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! No incidents reported so far in or from West Seattle.

THIS WEEK’S ALERTS
*Spokane St. project continues east of the low bridge
*South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) starts the fall quarter today
*Seattle Public Schools will be out two hours early on Wednesday
*West Seattle Bridge west-end closure next Saturday morning for jersey-barrier replacement

8:05 AM: Still no incidents to report.

If you haven’t been paying close attention to the weekly reminders as the Spokane Street repaving (and more) project continues east of the low bridge – take note that for the second time this month, a weekend of reduced access to Harbor Island is ahead, starting late TONIGHT:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers that there will be multiple lane closures and detours in the vicinity of Harbor Island on SW Spokane St, Klickitat Ave SW, and SW Manning St starting Friday evening, September 23, through Monday morning, September 26. The closures are needed to perform pavement repairs and asphalt overlay of the existing roadways.

Drivers traveling between downtown and West Seattle are advised to take the West Seattle “High Bridge” as there will be detours and closures accessing the “Low Bridge.”

From 11 p.m. on Friday, September 23 until 5 a.m. on Monday, September 26, travelers can expect the following:

· Eastbound traffic on the Spokane Street Swing Bridge going to Harbor Island will be detoured past 11th Ave SW to E Marginal Way, onto SW Spokane St and access Harbor Island via Spokane Pl. Westbound off-ramps from SR99 and the Spokane St Viaduct to Harbor Island will remain open and provide direct access to the businesses and fueling operations on Harbor Island via Spokane Pl.

· Westbound traffic to West Seattle and Delridge Way via the “Low Bridge” will be detoured to Spokane Pl, onto Klickitat Ave SW to Harbor Island where drivers will be directed south and cross the swing bridge by turning left at the intersection of SW Spokane St and 11th Ave SW. Eastbound traffic coming into Seattle via the swing bridge can expect significant delays as both eastbound and westbound traffic will alternate in a single lane at times.

· Bike and pedestrian traffic are reminded to please stay on the West Seattle Bridge Trail in order to traverse the work zone as the pedestrian crossing remains closed at 11th Ave SW.

The asphalt overlay work is part of SDOT’s SW Spokane St Arterial Paving Project to repave SW Spokane St from SW Klickitat Way to East Marginal Way S. The project began in August and is expected to take up to three months to complete.

(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)

7:06 AM: Good morning and welcome to the first full day of fall. No incidents reported in or from West Seattle.

Weekend reminders:

SEATTLE SUMMER PARKWAYS ON ALKI THIS SUNDAY: The Seattle Summer Parkways event on Sunday will include parking/traffic changes all day on Harbor and Alki Avenues along with activities:

More info here, including the schedule of what’s happening where and when along the route.

CITYWIDE WEEKEND ALERTS: Here’s the SDOT-compiled list of major events around the city this weekend.

Two advance closure alerts first published Thursday afternoon, in case you missed them:

OVERNIGHT BRIDGE CLOSURE: One week from tonight, to replace damaged barriers.

NEXT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Two weeks away, the next twice-yearly inspection/maintenance shutdown.

8:36 AM: Still incident-free.

9:54 AM: Crash on NB 99 at Lander.

(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)

6:45 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far. Autumn officially arrives at 7:21 am.

SUNDAY REMINDER: Don’t forget that the Seattle Summer Parkways event on Sunday will include parking/traffic changes on Harbor and Alki Avenues all day – here are the details.

(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! No incidents in/from West Seattle right now.

STADIUM ZONE TODAY: The Mariners play a day game (12:40 pm vs. Toronto).

SUNDAY REMINDER: Seattle Summer Parkways event means parking/traffic changes on Harbor and Alki Avenues all day Sunday – we published the newest info here last night.

7:29 AM: Crash reported at Delridge and Genesee, but the SFD response cleared quickly, so no major injuries.

7:57 AM: No further word on that, nor any other incidents.

WEST SEATTLE GREENWAY SURVEY: If you have a few minutes, the city has a new survey. It was billed as being about helping choose a route for the next West Seattle greenway; we took a quick look and it includes a lot of other questions about transportation and how you use it. The survey starts here.

8:47 AM: Still “normal.” Another bit of transportation-related news:

ART FOR NEW DOWNTOWN WATER TAXI TERMINAL: When Colman Dock is overhauled, Pier 50 – where the West Seattle and Vashon water taxis dock – will be too. Just found this link via Twitter – an artist has been commissioned for a public-art project at the new dock.

5:28 PM: Thanks for all the texts – surface traffic between SODO and West Seattle is still being affected by a crash involving a Sounder train that happened at 3rd and Holgate about an hour ago. Holgate is still closed, according to SDOT, and will be TFN, and with a Mariners’ game tonight, that’s extra congestion, so don’t take the surface route.

5:46 PM: Holgate has just reopened.

(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)

6:53 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle right now.

LOOKING AHEAD: In the stadium zone, Mariners are home vs. Toronto again tonight (7:10 pm) … Remember that next Sunday (September 25th) the water-side lane of Alki and Harbor Avenues will close all day for Seattle Summer Parkways between 55th and Don Armeni, and Alki will fully close between 63rd and 55th. Our next detailed update is coming up later this morning.

SPEED LIMIT @ CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE TODAY: 2 pm today, the City Council Transportation Committee takes up the proposal to make 20 mph the speed limit for non-arterial streets around the city.

8:17 AM: Washington State Ferries says Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is running 15 minutes late because of “a disabled vehicle.’ And a texter reports a collision st 26th/Andover.

9:54 AM: Thanks to the caller who just pointed out that there’s a heavy rescue on NB I-5 at Mercer – big backup. Two lanes open now, according to WSDOT.

(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: Welcome to Monday. Roads are wet and while there are no specific incidents in/from West Seattle and vicinity, traffic is reported to be slow around the region, so give yourself extra time. Today’s reminders:

SPOKANE ST. PROJECT: SDOT hasn’t updated the website for the project east of the low bridge, but here’s the newest flyer, with details on this week’s plan, as the three-month project arrives around its midway point.

WSF SCHEDULE: Washington State Ferries‘ fall schedule is now in effect.

7:27 AM: Just took a spin around the live video cameras. The slow spots are the usual ones – exit lane to 99, Spokane Street Viaduct approaching the exit lanes for 5.

8:04 AM: Metro just texted that “The bus stop on Columbia Street [downtown] at 2nd Ave. will be relocated to SB 3rd Ave. north of Columbia on 9/20 [tomorrow], 9 am-3 pm.”

9:02 AM: Low-bridge problem, tweeted by SDOT:

(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: As we start this morning’s traffic coverage, we’re getting word of a crash at 34th and Barton. A caller says a motorcycle rider is involved. We are heading over to check, but avoid that area.

6:56 AM: SDOT says Barton is blocked eastbound at the scene.

7:05 AM: Per scanner, police are also going to block Barton westbound, at 32nd SW. No word yet on injuries.

7:14 AM: And now police are reported to be reopening SW Barton.

7:30 AM: Our crew photographed the motorcycle, which has been uprighted.

The rider had collided with the black car seen in the background of our photo and has been taken to Harborview Medical Center, but his injuries weren’t life-threatening, which is why the scene was reopened so quickly.

7:32 AM: On to what else is happening:

Today is PARKing Day, which expands to two days this year, in which businesses/organizations were invited to get permission to turn parking spaces into temporary mini-parks. The only one in West Seattle this year is at Westwood Village, alongside Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor). See the citywide map here.

CITYWIDE WEEKEND PREVIEW: Along with PARKing Day, the Mariners are at home starting tonight, the Sounders play at CenturyLink tomorrow, and in South Park, the Fiestas Patrias parade travels along 14th Avenue South starting at 11 am Saturday – here’s SDOT’s citywide weekend roundup.

8:33 AM: Via SDOT, a crash at 45th/Alaska – the SFD response, however, has already closed.

9:28 AM: Via scanner, report of a crash at 36th/Raymond, “car not drivable.”