(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. It’s the first weekday of summer break for Seattle Public Schools. Also, one week until the Fourth of July holiday. Traffic notes:

BRIDGE CLOSURES CONTINUE: Again tonight, 9 pm-5 am, the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed as the Fauntleroy Expressway earthquake-safety-cushion re-replacements continue.

MARINERS OFF TONIGHT: No stadium activity in SODO tonight, but the M’s play Pittsburgh at home tomorrow, 7:10 pm.

ARBOR HEIGHTS PAVING TOMORROW: As announced by SDOT last week, paving is planned on SW 106th between 35th and 39th, tomorrow and Wednesday.

9:47 PM: Not only is it the time of night when the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is closing for Fauntleroy Expressway work – there’s also a westbound crash right now, too:

If you have to head this way any time soon – wait, or think about an alternate route. Thanks to Evin for first word of this via Twitter.

UPDATE: From SDOT:

(WSB photo)

3:31 PM: A two-vehicle crash at 35th and Avalon is tying things up right now at that busy intersection. At the scene, our crew was told one person is hurt and going to the hospital via private ambulance. Avoid the area.

3:39 PM: Per scanner, “all eastbound lanes on Avalon are clear” at the crash scene.

3:47 PM: Tow truck is reported to be on scene now – lanes will be blocked temporarily until it’s done.

4:04 PM: SDOT cameras show the scene is clear.

(Scroll down for the latest)

3:10 PM: President Obama is due to land at Sea-Tac Airport shortly, and once his motorcade is on the move, that’ll mean rolling slowdowns between there and downtown Seattle. West Seattle Bridge access to I-5 is usually temporarily closed too.

3:15 PM: Just heard an estimate that Air Force One is “about 20 minutes out.” According to Seattle Times political reporter Jim Brunner via Twitter, the greeting party at Sea-Tac includes County Executive Dow Constantine, Mayor Ed Murray, and Governor Jay Inslee.

3:33 PM: As shown on KING‘s live stream, Air Force One has landed at Sea-Tac.

3:50 PM: The live stream now shows the motorcade on the move away from the tarmac. I-5 ramps are reported to be closed, so if you’re heading eastbound, this will affect the West Seattle Bridge for a bit. Again, the President is headed downtown, for a dinner fundraiser, and then out of downtown for a private-residence fundraiser after 8 pm, and then will be staying overnight downtown, until leaving by 9:45 am Saturday.

4:07 PM: According to the view of the east end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge via SDOT video feed, I-5 northbound is open again, as is the ramp to it (moving slowly, but that’s fairly usual), and the President is arriving downtown.

We’ll update this report if there are any alerts to share later.

7:20 PM: Just a note – the “secret” location for the President’s second stop tonight has finally been made public. The Times says it’s a residence in Medina (scroll to the 6:15 pm update). So sometime after 8 pm, when the President leaves the downtown Seattle fundraiser, he’ll be headed to the Eastside and back downtown, until heading to Sea-Tac and flying back out Saturday morning.

8 AM SATURDAY: The President is still expected to be departing within the next hour and a half or so, so if you’re headed eastbound, heads-up for bridge ramp closures when the motorcade heads to Sea-Tac from downtown.

9:06 AM SATURDAY: Scanner indicates I-5 ramps are closing.

9:19 AM SATURDAY: Motorcade reported to be on the move.

9:26 AM SATURDAY: Ramp closures over.

(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)

6:48 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle right now. Today’s big traffic lookahead:

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: President Obama is due in this pm from the Bay Area to headline a political fundraising dinner at the Convention Center downtown, and is staying overnight. The Boeing Field advisory kicks in at 3:15 pm today and lasts until 9:45 am Saturday, so his arrival/departure will be somewhere in that window. His motorcade usually uses I-5, and when it’s about to pass, the ramps from the West Seattle Bridge are usually closed, so watch for updates here.

7 AM: Just texted and tweeted by Metro, a West Seattle bus cancellation:

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: We should also note that Seattle Public Schools‘ last day of classes is today, with one-hour early dismissal.

8:09 AM – PRESIDENTIAL VISIT UPDATE: Found the official schedule on the White House website. 3:20 pm arrival projected; 6:55 speech at the dinner fundraiser; then at 8:25 pm, he’s due to speak at a “private residence” fundraiser, and after that it’ll be back to downtown Seattle for an overnight stay – the downtown security zone is detailed by SPD here. He’s supposed to depart by 9:45 am Saturday, as mentioned earlier.

3:18 PM: We’ve launched a separate update now that the President is on the way – find it here.

In case you’re on the move this early morning, no more bridge detours until Sunday night – the final closure of the week on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge ended early. When we crossed back westward at 12:20 am after a short trip downtown, we noticed the closure was ending, and double-verified via cameras once we got back to HQ.

(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)

6:05 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 north of the West Seattle Bridge – a crash at Yesler is blocking two lanes and backing up 5 in a big way. There’s also trouble on SB 5 in the same area, if you happen to be heading this way instead of outbound.

TRAFFIC-AFFECTING PREVIEWS: The Fauntleroy Expressway work continues on its Sunday-Thursday schedule, so 9 pm-5 am tonight would be the last scheduled session for the week, closing the west end of the bridge overnight … Paving work is scheduled to continue on 26th SW, southbound between Barton and Cambridge, just south of Westwood Village … President Obama visits Seattle Friday pm, leaving Saturday, specific times not yet announced.

6:50 AM: The NB I-5 crash has been cleared. But now there’s a crash on southbound 99 before the exit to the West Seattle Bridge.

9:22 AM: A WSDOT e-mail alert says that crash scene finally cleared a short time ago.

(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)

6:16 AM: Good morning – quiet commute so far. What you need to know:

BRIDGE ‘BUMP’: The Fauntleroy Expressway end of the West Seattle Bridge will have a “bump” today and some subsequent days because of how the work has changed; it’ll also be closed again tonight, 9 pm-5 am.

26TH SW WORK: One block of southbound 26th SW is closed, between Barton and Cambridge, while SDOT finishes the pavement-repair work that started back in April.

PRESIDENT ON FRIDAY: President Obama returns to Seattle for a fundraising dinner at the Convention Center downtown on Friday night. This report says he’ll be staying overnight and leaving Saturday.

For the past month-plus, the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion re-replacement work has happened in overnight hours, with no residual effects the next day. Starting tomorrow, SDOT just announced tonight, you will notice a bump toward the west end of the bridge, some days – here’s why:

Contractors replacing the bearing pads on the Fauntleroy Expressway are well over halfway to finishing their work, but are now working where the bridge turns in or out of West Seattle (west of SW Avalon Way) where setting the jacks used to raise the bridge is more challenging and a slower process.

Having worked from east to west, crews up to this point have been able to set the jacks from a flat paved surface below. As the bridge crosses over Avalon, crews are forced to work from the dirt hillside below, a more challenging work environment.

Until now, crews have generally been able to replace the bearing pads on both sides of the expansion joints each night, such that motorists notice no difference when they drive the segment the next day. The work at each expansion joint now expected to take two nights, there will be a several-inch differential on one side of the roadway at the joint until the bearing pad replacement on the other side of the roadway is completed the next night.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• The contractor will place a temporary asphalt patch to smooth the transition for motorists. However, drivers are cautioned to expect the bump and encouraged to adjust their speed accordingly. Additional signage will be placed to alert motorists of the bump condition.

• The situation will become evident tomorrow morning, June 22, when motorists will first encounter the above described asphalt wedge. This evening crews will complete work on one side of the Expressway at the turn, but won’t complete the other side until Wednesday evening. The wedge will be in place in the interim. This condition will be repeated over the next few weeks as the crews move to other expansion joints.

• Motorists should also expect some short temporary daytime lane closures tomorrow and on subsequent days as crews may need to make sure the asphalt patch remains in good condition.

(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 so far, in West Seattle or on the outbound routes. Two notes, looking ahead:

BRIDGE CLOSURE TONIGHT: Fauntleroy Expressway earthquake-safety work continues, and the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed 9 pm-5 am.

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT FRIDAY: Full details are yet to come, but President Obama returns to Seattle for a political fundraiser – this time, on behalf of Governor Inslee – this Friday, and since it’s billed as a dinner event, that might have some effect on your Friday pm commute. We’ll update as information becomes available.

Also, thanks in advance again today for tips if you see something and can call or text safely/legally (not from the driver’s seat) – 206-293-6302 – the live online 911 log is down for maintenance again until 5 pm.

7:24 AM: We’ll mention this in today’s calendar-highlights preview too, but be aware that tonight will be especially busy at and around the Southwest Athletic Complex because Chief Sealth International and West Seattle High Schools are graduating back-to-back, 5 pm and 8 pm.

7:38 AM: SPD responded a short time ago to a report of someone walking up the Spokane/Avalon/etc. ramp to the eastbound bridge. Julie messaged us to say she called in the report. We haven’t heard how this turned out – let us know if you saw the police response, maybe while passing in a bus.

(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 reported currently in/from West Seattle. One challenge this morning: The Seattle Fire real-time 911 log page is down, so tips are more important than ever today if you see something that’s likely going to affect how people are getting around – if you can call or text as a passenger, or once you get to where you’re going, our 24/7 hotline is 206-293-6302.

Meantime, the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-safety work continues on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge, so it will be closed again tonight 9 pm-5 am.

7:12 AM: This just came in from Metro via text and tweet; though it’s half an hour after the reported missed trip, we’re noting it for the record:

8:19 AM: Still quiet. So we’ll take a moment to remind you that Seattle Public Schools are still in session this week – last day Friday. The district immediately south of here, Highline Public Schools, has been out since last Friday; most if not all independent schools have finished for the year, too.

(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)

7:24 AM: Good morning. Quiet Friday so far. So here are the weekend reminders:

SATURDAY VIADUCT CLOSURE: The northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will close for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. The closure is set to start around 4 am Saturday and could run as late as 3 pm but authorities promise to reopen roads as soon as all the runners clear each section. (The race website’s full list of closures projects a 10:30 am reopening.)

MORGAN JUNCTION COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: The small dead-end side streets Beveridge and Eddy are part of the festival zone off the west side of California north of Fauntleroy, 10 am-5 pm Saturday.

NEXT BRIDGE CLOSURE SUNDAY NIGHT: No closures on Friday or Saturday nights as usual for the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-safety work on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge; Sunday night’s closure will be the regular 9 pm-5 am 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)

6:37 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle, but traffic to and from the Fauntleroy ferry dock may be heavier today because the south Vashon Island ferry run is temporarily out of service while its vessel gets an underwater inspection (explained here, and yes, that’s why TV crews are at the dock, and why there’s a TV helicopter over Fauntleroy right now).

Tonight’s also the final overnight closure of the west end of the bridge for this week – and remember that it will have a late start (10:30 pm) because of the Copa America Centenario soccer match at CenturyLink Field.

6:54 AM: TV helicopter over Fauntleroy again (see above). Meantime, a cancellation just tweeted/texted by Metro:

6:59 AM: And another Metro cancellation:

7:11 AM: Washington State Ferries just announced that the south Vashon ferry run will be in service again shortly – passed its underwater inspection – meaning no more fears of extra Fauntleroy traffic today, so the TV helicopter should be leaving.

(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 Wednesday. No incidents in or from West Seattle right now. Tonight’s closure of the west end of the bridge is back to the usual time frame, 9 pm-5 am.

6:58 AM: Still quiet. Transportation-issue note: If you’re interested in the city’s Draft Freight Master Plan – comment period under way until July 8th – a briefing is planned for tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). This map shows which West Seattle roads are proposed for designation as “major” and “minor” freight routes.

7:51 AM: Some trouble on northbound I-5 – crash blocking at least one lane near I-90, so that might affect the always-slow-anyway flow from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge.

8:18 PM: Trouble for some heading out from the south end of West Seattle, or points south:

(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: Good morning! So far, no incidents in/through/from West Seattle. Reminder for tonight:

OVERNIGHT BRIDGE CLOSURE STARTS LATER: The ongoing closures of the west end of the bridge start later if a major event is expected to have a certain level of attendance, and that’s the case tonight because of the big Copa America Centenario soccer game downtown. Tonight’s closure is scheduled for 11 pm-5 am. (If you haven’t been on the westbound bridge on a late night during the closures, it means you will have to exit at Delridge.)

(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)

6:33 AM: Good morning. No incidents to report so far in/from West Seattle.

BRIDGE CLOSURES CONTINUE: Again tonight, the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will close 9 pm-5 am for the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-safety project. As announced last week, the closures start later Tuesday and Thursday nights.

VIADUCT CLOSURE NEXT SATURDAY: Early reminder that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is next Saturday (June 18th), and that means road closures including the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct from 4 am-10:30 am.

(WSB photo from last month)

Going into the fifth week of overnight closures for the west end of the West Seattle Bridge so earthquake-safety cushions can be re-replaced, we have word of two changes next week: SDOT says the Tuesday and Thursday night closures (June 14 and 16) will start later, because of “the large crowds expected to attend Copa America Centenario soccer games at CenturyLink Field on those evenings.” Tuesday night’s closure will run 11 pm-5 am, and on Thursday, it’ll be 10:30 pm-5 am. The project to re-replace 674 “bearing pads” is expected to require up to 50 overnight closures, usually Sunday-Thursday nights, so the bridge deck can be jacked up for that work; so far, by our county, it’s 17 closures in. (Don’t worry, we’ll remind you about all this next week in our morning traffic coverage, as usual.)

(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 – if you’re heading toward West Seattle, we have a bridge problem right now, a crash on the westbound bridge, near the 1st Avenue South on/offramp.

7:13 AM: Now, the first outbound problem of the day – WSDOT reports an expansion-joint problem on northbound 5 near Seneca, and that means a lane is closed as crews head to check it out.

7:23 AM: That situation has the right lane of northbound I-5 closed and backups are building already. Meantime, the westbound bridge crash isn’t clear yet.

7:26 AM: As discussed in comments, the problem on the westbound bridge is affecting the 1st Avenue South on/offramp and that’s led to a chain reaction affecting the 1st Avenue offramp on the eastbound side. Police have been dispatched to try to break it up.

7:37 AM: According to the scanner, the westbound bridge crash has cleared and police have 1st Avenue S. going again. However, the expansion-joint problem on northbound I-5 is not likely to be a quick fix, so you might consider an alternative, or delay.

8:08 AM: Even the alternatives have challenges – Jennifer tweeted that the low bridge is backed up, with a “long line of trucks.”

10:43 AM: The northbound I-5 lane closure is finally over, according to WSDOT via Twitter, though traffic is still ugly out there, per commenters.

Traffic on the eastbound bridge looks a little more like morning than afternoon right now because of a crash blocking 1 1/2 lanes by the 4th Avenue exit. Two cars are involved, no injuries reported, police are on scene, as you can see in our screengrab from the “live” camera, taken a couple minutes ago. If you have to head eastbound, we’d suggest waiting a while.

(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)

6:31 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

BRIDGE CLOSURE: Tonight, 9 pm-5 am, another closure of the west end of the bridge, last one for the week, as the Fauntleroy Expressway earthquake-safety-cushion project continues. If you are headed westbound, you’ll have to exit at (or before) Delridge. If going westbound, you won’t be able to enter the bridge at 35th/Fauntleroy. Next closure after tonight will be Sunday night.

8:09 AM: Michael tweets that truck traffic is heavy on lower Spokane. (Seems to happen every Thursday.)

8:59 AM: A texter warns of “gravel all over the left lane to I-5 north up from Spokane Street.”