Looking at the week ahead, there’s one major road closure likely to affect people going to/from West Seattle – next Friday night/Saturday morning (August 16th-17th), Highway 99 will be closed both ways between the West Seattle Bridge and the stadium area for lane-shifting. The northbound closure is scheduled for 10 pm Friday to 8 am Saturday; the southbound closure, from 10 pm Friday to noon Saturday. (We’ll include reminders in our weekday traffic/transit-tracking reports as the week goes on.)

Thanks to WSB’er “Smokeycretin9” for photos of, and an update on, the road work that’s been under way since Thursday on SW Roxbury in the 23rd-24th vicinity (mentioned again today in our daily traffic/transit tracker). He says it appears this work, described by SDOT only as replacement of a concrete panel in the road, will take care of the notorious “bump” in the area. But in the meantime, the work’s scheduled to continue until 5 or so, and he says “Roxbury is down to one lane for both directions with flaggers directing traffic. Traffic is backing up into White Center going West and past Safeway going East.” So if you’re heading that way, you might consider an alternate route.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! The SDOT Construction Lookahead says the work on Roxbury between 23rd and 24th – replacing a concrete panel – is expected to continue all day today, 9 am-5 pm. Looking ahead to the weekend – here’s the citywide lineup of events that might affect traffic.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, nothing out of the ordinary on West Seattle’s outbound routes. As always, we’ll add updates here if that changes.

EARLY WARNING: If you missed the announcement last night, SDOT has sent early warning that a key connector between Highland Park/Puget Ridge and Delridge will be closed for five weekdays starting August 19th – details here.

A two-car crash this past hour did serious damage to the signal equipment at 8th and Roxbury – as shown in our photo – and the light is not working as a result. That means it’ll be slow going in that intersection for a while; a police officer is on site to direct traffic. No one was hurt in the crash.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:11 AM: The morning commute is off to a quiet start. No road work or closure advisories for today, except for an alert that the Mariners play a day game, which means that the southbound 99 ramp to Atlantic will be closed for about an hour in the late afternoon to try to help traffic keep flowing.

Looking way ahead – the weekend of August 16-19, there will be two closures of note for our area, including an all-weekend closure of the northbound I-5 ramp to the West Seattle Bridge – scroll to the SODO section of the weekly Construction Lookahead.

7:46 AM UPDATE: There’s a crash on the eastbound bridge – thanks to Jay for the tip in comments. Also, there is a crash at East Marginal and Spokane – east of the low bridge – described on the scanner as “bicycle vs. bicycle.” Fire has been called out for possible injury/ies on that one but not for the bridge crash, which has closed the middle lane, per SDOT via Twitter.

7:55 AM UPDATE: Per scanner, the two bicycles collided head-on. One rider is “up and walking around” with minor injuries, while the other one, a 30-year-old man, will be taken to the hospital.

8:01 AM UPDATE: Also per scanner, southbound East Marginal is closed at Spokane because of the aforementioned collision.

8:17 AM UPDATE: That scene is open to traffic, and we have just heard that the high-bridge car-crash scene is clearing too. No injuries reported in that one.

8:54 AM UPDATE: If you’re using Highland Park Way as an alternative – you might run into trouble there too; SFD has responded to an aid call for an incident at HP Way and W. Marginal Way SW describing as a bicyclist falling. No medic unit dispatched, though, so the injuries sound non-major, so far.

5:53 PM: Bridge update:

@westseattleblog stalled vehicle just after curve heading east on WSB. Kind of in a blind spot so use caution.

— mjs1980 (@mjs1980) August 8, 2013

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing unusual on the routes out of West Seattle so far today. Two reminders: SDOT is scheduled to be working all day, as late as 7 pm, on westbound Roxbury, closing one lane between 15th/16th SW; tonight, the Battery Street Tunnel has an overnight closure – 10 pm to 5 am on the southbound side, midnight to 5 am (or starting two hours after the M’s game if that runs later than 10) on the northbound side.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Here’s what’s ahead for this week:

TUESDAY & THURSDAY: Road work 7 am-7 pm each of those two days on the westbound side of SW Roxbury. On Tuesday, one westbound lane will be closed between 15th and 16th SW; on Thursday, one westbound lane will be closed between 23rd and 24th SW.

OVERNIGHT TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY: 10 pm-5 am Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, the southbound Battery St. Tunnel will be closed on Highway 99. There will also be a northbound closure but it won’t start until about midnight, or “two hours after the Mariners’ game ends.”

3:46 PM: Police have closed the entrance to the eastbound bridge at Fauntleroy; crews are responding to an aid call further east of that point. We don’t know how long it’ll last, so for now, if you’re about to head east, use the Delridge entrance, which appears to be open (not sure about Admiral but we’re checking). Thank you to the person who texted first word of the shutdown! 206-293-6302 any time, day or night (but only when you can text or call safely and legally).

4:03 PM: Thanks to LT for confirming the Admiral entrance remains open as well as Delridge – so use either of those until Fauntleroy reopens (the image above is SDOT’s “live” camera).

4:09 PM: It’s open again.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Two reminders and a look ahead – First, a road-work reminder; city crews will continue repaving the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW. Second reminder – the I-90 bridge closes for the Seafair airshow 1:15 pm-2:40 pm today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Third, a look ahead to next week: Tuesday night into Wednesday morning (August 6-7), the Highway 99 Battery Street Tunnel will be closed overnight for work – southbound 10 pm-5 am, northbound approximately midnight-5 am (the actual start time will be 2 hours after the Mariners game ends).

1:47 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Tim for the tip – a spun-out van is on the outside edge of the crest of the eastbound high bridge – here’s an image grabbed from the camera a few minutes ago:

Remember that since it hasn’t rained for a while, the roads will be slick with oil and other material that’s soaked in since last time. (And even as we update this story, we hear someone losing traction as they round the corner near HQ …)

6:07 PM: Thanks to multiple tipsters for mentioning a crash that has affected the westbound bridge – though we can’t tell from available traffic cameras whether it still is; one car apparently wound up off the highway near Walking on Logs. Kevin says City Light was there when he went by. No injuries, judging by the absence of an SFD listing on the 911 log.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to August, and another murky morning, with the forecast including a chance of showers. Today’s road-work alert: City crews are scheduled to start a two-day repaving project in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
If you’re heading southbound on 99 from north of West Seattle, there’s a problem at the 1st Avenue South Bridge. Otherwise, the major outbound routes are OK – aside from the fog. If you are driving California SW in the Morgan Junction area, it’s the second day for repaving work between Fauntleroy and Graham. Then tomorrow and Friday, crews will move to the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW.

I-90 BRIDGE CLOSURES AHEAD: If you missed the note last night – though this year’s Seafair air show is Blue Angels-less, it still will require I-90 bridge closures each day, this Friday through Sunday. The times are a bit different, too, says WSDOT: 1:15 pm-2:40 pm each day.

TUNNELING UNDER WAY: No traffic effects at this point but “Bertha,” the Highway 99 tunnel-boring machine, is now officially on the job, as of late yesterday. This WSDOT webpage breaks down the sections in which the work will be done.

WSDOT says that even though the Blue Angels aren’t here for Seafair because of federal budgeting changes, the I-90 bridge still has to close daily this coming Friday through Sunday for the jets that are starring in the air show instead, the Patriots Jet Team. I-90 will be closed from I-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island, 1:15-2:40 pm each day, Friday 8/2, Saturday 8/3, and Sunday 8/4. Adjacent ramps will close too. Read the full announcement here.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:35 AM: One traffic reminder for today – the city is scheduled to repave a section of California SW north of Morgan Junction, between Graham and Fauntleroy, over the next two days, 9 am-5 pm, keeping one lane open in each direction.

7:47 AM: Multiple commenters report a stalled bus on northbound 99 near the tunnel-boring machine launch pit (where, incidentally, digging is scheduled to begin today). This photo tweeted earlier by WSDOT shows where it’s stuck on the rise.

7:51 AM: … and now the bus has been cleared. Backups, as you are likely well aware, will take longer to dissipate.

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: Happy Monday! One traffic note for today – while the current phase of the Delridge repaving work does NOT require detours, related work on SW Orchard east of Delridge will require traffic to alternate use of a single lane every day this week – here’s the announcement.

9:09 AM: Again today, commenters have mentioned an SPD motorcycle officer stationed – standing – by the exit lane to northbound 99, watching for bus-lane violators. “Like a sentry,” as Joe put it, sending this photo:

Joe took the photo as his RapidRide bus passed.

Washington State Ferries says there’s a 90-minute wait out of Fauntleroy right now because the Klahowya is out of service and that’s taken the run to Vashon and Southworth down to two boats. Check here for the latest.

(Live view from a north-facing Highway 99 camera, one of the views on the WSB Traffic page)
One more reminder if you’ll be outside West Seattle tonight – or headed outbound: Tonight’s Seafair Torchlight Run and Parade bring some road closures you might need to know about:

*Northbound Highway 99 closed for the run, West Seattle Bridge to Western Ave. exit, approximately 5:30-8 pm
*Other street closures tonight for the run and the parade that follows: Listed in the city’s weekend lineup
*Bus reroutes were listed in this WSB preview

More parade information coming up in our West Seattle Saturday daily preview, since as usual, there are local participants!

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, this morning’s commute challenges aren’t on the routes leaving here. But here’s another reminder about the weekend traffic alerts:

*Friday night/early Saturday, midnight to 5 am, I-5 southbound under the Convention Center downtown will be closed for fire-system testing
*Saturday night, the Seafair Torchlight Run will close northbound Highway 99 from approximately 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm. There will also be bus changes downtown because of the run and the Seafair Torchlight Parade that follows.

ADDED 11:51 AM: Details of those bus changes:

Riders should plan ahead and prepare for rerouted bus service and potential delays on Saturday, July 27, from about 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., as Metro Transit shifts 35 bus routes in the Seattle Center, downtown Seattle and Alaskan Way Viaduct areas for the Seafair Torchlight fun runs and parade. Other transit and traffic delays can be expected Saturday as a major event at Key Arena lets out, the Capitol Hill Block Party rocks on and the Mariners are in town.

Ride transit to Torchlight

While most buses that operate on surface streets in the Seattle Center and downtown Seattle areas will be rerouted, riding transit is still the best way to get to these events, as traffic will be congested and parking downtown will be limited. Rerouted buses go to within one or two blocks of the parade route.

Friday-Sunday: Pine Street weekend bus service revisions

Part of the impacts start Friday evening, July 26, when Pine Street bus service is rerouted until midday Sunday due to the grandstand placement at Fourth Avenue.

Saturday evening bus service revisions
While the parade begins at 7:30 p.m., transit service changes begin earlier. From about 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27, until the end of the parade, the entire length of Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle will be closed, and nearly all east/west streets will also be blocked at Fourth Avenue. Many buses will be rerouted and there will likely be schedule delays. Delays in one area can cause delays at other points along a bus’s routing.

Buses with reroutes include RapidRide C and D lines, Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 26, 28, 33, 36, 40, 43, 47, 49, 66, 70, 83, 84, 99, 120, 125, 131, 132, and Sound Transit routes 522, 545 and 554. Refer to the posted information for each route to see what stops might be missed.

During the Seafair Torchlight Run events, starting prior to the parade at about 5:30 p.m., the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for about one hour until the runners clear that area. Northbound Viaduct buses will operate via I-5 during this time. The southbound Viaduct is not affected and will remain open.

Starting at 6 p.m., while the Seattle Center area is affected by parade activities, Metro will operate a Route 4 shuttle about every 20 minutes to and from Nob Hill Avenue. At Seattle Center board the Route 4 shuttle northbound on First Avenue North, just south of Republican Street. It will serve all regularly posted bus stops along its route.

Also starting at 6 p.m. – and until traffic and crowds clear afterward – Metro bus routes 120, 124, 125, 131 and 132 will serve a temporary bus stop southbound on Third Avenue between Pike and Union streets, instead of their usual stop between Pine and Pike streets. South of Union Street they will serve their regularly posted stops along Third Avenue.

Most transit service will return to its regular routing and stops at 10:30 p.m., except Pine Street service will remain rerouted until about midday Sunday when the parade grandstand is removed.

4:54 PM: Headed outbound? Beware northbound 99, which is down to one lane because of a crash in the Lander vicinity.

Another road-work project next week in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement from SDOT:

Drivers should expect congestion on Alki Avenue Southwest next Thursday and Friday, August 1-2. Seattle Department of Transportation paving crews will work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue Southwest removing the old roadway surface and laying new asphalt. One lane of traffic will remain open for each direction of traffic. The Alki Trail, all crosswalks and sidewalks will remain open.

This is in addition to the repaving work first reported here yesterday – California SW between Graham and Fauntleroy, scheduled for next Tuesday-Wednesday, July 30-31, right before the Alki project.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:08 AM: Good morning! Just got a text about a problem you might notice if you drive Roxbury to Olson to Highway 509 – a tree in “the uphill lanes.”

Meanwhile, another reminder about two traffic alerts for this weekend:

*Friday night/early Saturday, midnight to 5 am, all southbound lanes of I-5 under the Convention Center downtown will be closed for fire-system testing
*Saturday night, the Seafair Torchlight Run will close northbound Highway 99 from approximately 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm. There will also be bus changes downtown because of the run and the Seafair Torchlight Parade that follows.

8:17 AM UPDATE: The tree on Olson is cleared, according to a FB comment from Donn (thanks!). One more note: If you travel through/work in SODO, note that there’s a day game for the Mariners today.

Between The Junction and Morgan Junction, over the past year or so, California SW has been getting repaved a block or two at a time. Another section is on the schedule: According to the West Seattle section of SDOT‘s weekly “Construction Lookahead,” California SW will be repaved between Graham and Fauntleroy in Morgan Junction next week, Tuesday-Wednesday, July 30-31. That’s part of the stretch that the Morgan Community Association had pitched for repaving with city grant money (here’s our January story). Elsewhere on California SW, recently repaved sections include: Frontenac to Myrtle last month and Dawson to Findlay in April.