(Four WS-relevant views – more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. No incidents so far, but we do have road-work alerts:

ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING: Starts today – see the map and announcement here.

49TH SW CLOSURE: Seattle Public Utilities is closing 49th SW between Edmunds and Alaska for sewer repairs.

48TH SW CLOSURE STARTING TOMORROW: Another project announced by SPU starts tomorrow:

Beginning September 10, Seattle Public Utilities will repair sewer lines on 48th Avenue SW between SW Juneau Street and SW Raymond Street. This work will require closing 48th Avenue SW to through traffic. Local access will be available with the assistance of a traffic flagger. Work may take up to five days to complete with hours from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The lanes will remain closed for the duration of work hours, and will be opened to traffic after non-work hours. Metro bus 37 will run as normal.

35TH SW PAVING STARTING TOMORROW: Preparation for SDOT‘s 35th and Roxbury rechannelization work continues, and starting tomorrow, 35th will be repaved between SW Cambridge and SW Barton – here’s that announcement.

Also, though Seattle Public Schools are NOT opening today because of the Seattle Education Association strike announced last night – with picketing planned at all SPS campuses 8:30 am-3 pm today – some independent schools do start the year today:

BACK TO SCHOOL: This is the first day at the new Westside School campus (34th SW & SW 104th) as well as Explorer West Middle School (10015 28th SW) and West Seattle Montessori (11215 15th SW); all three are WSB sponsors.

Last Friday, we showed you the start of preparation work for SW Roxbury rechannelization and other changes. SDOT had said it would be staging for and working on the 35th SW changes – as announced in July (presentation above) – concurrently, and has just sent this update:

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) crews will begin re-paving 35th Avenue SW between SW Cambridge and SW Barton streets Thursday, September 10. This work will occur from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is expected to take one week.

In addition, SDOT crews will begin re-channeling SW Roxbury Street and 35th Avenue SW after the repaving work has begun. Work will occur from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. for about two to three weeks, weather permitting. Crews will also modify traffic signals and signal detection systems.

What to expect:

• Re-paving on 35th Avenue SW between SW Cambridge and SW Barton streets

• Re-channelization on:
• SW Roxbury Street between 17th Avenue SW and 35th Avenue SW
• 35th Avenue SW between SW Roxbury Street and SW Morgan Street
• SW Barton Street between 34th Avenue SW and 36th Avenue SW

Paving and signal work will occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and channelization work between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Expect periodic lane closures in construction areas and temporary parking restrictions. Moderate construction noise is expected when the existing pavement markings are removed.

This work is part of the 35th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street Road Safety Corridor Project, which aims to make streets safer and more accessible for everyone. The projects are expected to be completed by mid-October. SDOT appreciates the public’s patience while this work is being completed.

We note that the SDOT announcement today mentions “Roxbury to Morgan” for 35th, while it was “Roxbury to Willow” when announced in mid-July, so we’re following up on that.

Meantime, you can see the Roxbury plan in our coverage of the announcement last April.

3:24 PM NOTE: Project manager Jim Curtin confirms the rechannelization remains Roxbury to **Willow,** not Morgan.

(Four WS-relevant views – main bridge cameras weren’t working as of early morning – more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. Here’s what you need to know as the holiday-shortened week begins:

ROAD WORK TODAY: Seattle Public Utilities’ closure of 49th SW between Edmunds and Alaska could start as early as today.

REMINDER FOR TOMORROW: The rescheduled microsurfacing work in Arbor Heights is scheduled to start Wednesday – see the map and announcement we published last week.

BACK TO SCHOOL: In addition to the parochial schools that have already started their year, independent Tilden School (California SW & SW Dakota; WSB sponsor) starts back today (easing in with a half-day, dismissal at noon). The rest of the independent schools start back tomorrow. That as you likely know is also supposed to be Seattle Public Schools‘ first day of classes, but might see the start of a strike instead.

EXTENDED WATER-TAXI SERVICE TONIGHT … because of the Mariners game.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:11 AM: No incidents in the area so far. But here’s one West Seattle bus cancellation announced by Metro so far this morning:

LABOR DAY TRANSIT REMINDERS: On Monday (September 7th), Metro will be on a Sunday schedule. So will the West Seattle Water Taxi run, and the Washington State Ferries Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route. Sound Transit Route 560 will be on its “weekend” schedule.

8:05 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 downtown – if you are headed out, you might consider an alternate route:

The SFD real-time 911 log lists this as a medic response.

Two road-work alerts for next week, to keep in mind before you check out for the long holiday weekend:

ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING RESCHEDULED: The work originally scheduled for this week was postponed because of the stormy weather – and now, SDOT says it’s set the new dates, next Wednesday and Thursday, September 9th and 10th. However, they can’t just do it all as originally scheduled because SW 104th Street, now home to the new Westside School campus, is part of the project area, so they’re working on a specific plan for 104th. Otherwise, the rest of the area is getting neighborhood notifications of the new schedule today. We’ll have an update when the 104th plan is finalized and added in.

49TH SW CLOSURE: From Seattle Public Utilities:

Seattle Public Utilities will repair the sewer line near the intersection of 49th Avenue SW and SW Edmunds Street. This work will require closing 49th Avenue SW to through traffic between SW Alaska Street and SW Edmunds Street. Local access will be available with the assistance of a traffic flagger. Contractor crews plan to start work the week of September 8. Work will take up to five business days to complete with hours of 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The lanes will remain closed for the duration of work hours and will be opened to traffic after non-work hours. Metro bus 37 will run as normal.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in our area or on the major outbound routes.

BACK TO SCHOOL: The local parochial schools are all back in session as of yesterday. And if you travel south of West Seattle, note that today is the first day of classes for Highline Public Schools (White Center and beyond).

SEAHAWKS GAME TONIGHT: The West Seattle Water Taxi will have extended service for tonight’s pre-season home game vs. the Raiders.

LABOR DAY TRANSIT PREVIEW: Monday (September 7th) is the holiday, and Metro will be on a Sunday schedule. So will the WS Water Taxi run.

ADDED 8:23 AM – ‘TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY’: Still relatively quiet. So how about a “Traffic Throwback Thursday” view from the Seattle Municipal Archives?

Click the photo to go to a city webpage with a larger view. The SMA says that building, photographed in 1914, was at 4525 44th SW – which would put it right across the street from the microhousing project the SW Design Review Board is looking at tonight.

ADDED 8:46 AM: Thanks to Doug for tweeting that a vehicle’s broken down on the bridge by the 99 offramp – but it’s off to the side, so not much trouble, so far.

ADDED 4:45 PM: Today’s two bus cancellation announcements:

Earlier:

8:36 PM: A crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge has closed the ramp to NB Highway 99, according to SDOT. We’re hearing that no one is seriously injured, so the closure might not last too long.

9:23 PM UPDATE: SDOT says the crash is clear and the ramp is open again.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: Good morning. More rain due later today.

BACK TO SCHOOL: As of today, all the local parochial schools are back in session – today is the first day for Hope Lutheran and Holy Family (whose area of Roxbury has school-zone cameras – see the enforcement schedule here).

METRO CANCELLATIONS: In our followup published last night, a King County Department of Transportation spokesperson explained that cancellations aren’t new but their efforts to notify riders via texts/tweets are, while also responding to our questions about hiring efforts, since personnel shortages are behind the cancellations. So far this morning, one announced cancellation in West Seattle, the Route 37 run at 6:46 am.

ADDED 7:55 AM – SPEAKING OF TRANSIT: Just tweeted by Amanda Kay Helmick (who co-chairs the WS Transportation Coalition and Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council):

10:12 AM: We’re following up on that bus bench, by the way. Meantime, in addition to the 49th/Graham crash we’re covering, there’s a stalled vehicle reported to be partly blocking the Admiral offramp on the westbound West Seattle Bridge – tow truck has been requested.

ADDED 2:17 PM: In subsequent tweets, Helmick had said she was told the bench was removed because homeless people were sleeping on it. Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer cites loitering and drug dealing:

The bench in this shelter was removed April 20 at the request of Metro Transit Police due to chronic loitering and drug dealing* in the bus shelter. Removing the bench can often discourage this type of activity in a bus shelter. We don’t like to remove any benches needed by our customers, but it is an option we use when needed to try to reduce security issues in a bus shelter that otherwise drive customers away.

We’re monitoring and are open to further discussions with the community about solutions that work for this location. We’ve had two walking tours in this area with community leaders, Seattle Police and Metro Transit Police. We are always open to working with social service groups and law enforcement to address homeless and security issues beyond Metro’s control.

Metro staff were notified and plan to remove the giant rocks found in the shelter so riders don’t accidentally trip and become injured.

We covered both of those walking tours – most recently, at the end of March, about 3 weeks before the bench-removal date mentioned by Switzer; the previous one was 15 months earlier, at the end of 2013. Our coverage noted that liquor was mentioned as a problem at that bus stop – with four places to get it nearby.

2:32 PM: *Referring to the asterisk and struck-out text above – at the exact moment we were publishing that update, Switzer sent a note saying that Metro Transit Police corrected themselves in a followup note to him, saying it was alcohol, not drug dealing, that was the problem at this stop.

3:02 PM: Back to bus cancellations – just tweeted:

4:58 PM: Avoid Barton between Roxhill Park and the east end of Westwood Village – a potential-hazmat response has blocked off the street. Also, while this is bound to be causing some bus problems, there were more *unrelated-to-this* cancellations noted by Metro – we’re posting them here for the record:

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:10 AM: Soggy and slow going out there – no specific incidents reported in our area so far.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Parochial schools are returning this week – today is the first day of school for Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle) and the second day for Holy Rosary (42nd/Genesee), so be mindful of school zones, buses, and crosswalks. Also, we’re told the buses that serve Seattle Public Schools will be out practicing routes.

7:14 AM – TRANSIT ALERT JUST IN: Tweeted and texted by Metro:

4:36 PM – THREE MORE TRANSIT ALERTS: We have a question out to Metro about how much longer these seemingly daily cancellations will continue. Meantime, three more tweeted/texted this afternoon, noted here for the record:

5:53 PM – ANOTHER ONE:

Fifth tweeted/texted WS Metro cancellation today.

6:24 PM: As Jeff from KCDOT mentions in comments, that one is back on (we were in transit to a meeting when the “back on” text/tweet came in):

We’ll have Metro’s explanation/update in a separate story later this evening.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:21 AM: Good morning! West Seattle’s last sizable power outage ended overnight, and that means the Highland Park Way hill should be open again; if you discover otherwise, please let us know – text/call 206-293-6302 (when you can do so safely & legally, if you’re not a passenger – thanks!).

ROAD-WORK ALERT: If not delayed by weather, today is the scheduled start of microsurfacing work in Arbor Heights – here’s the map and flyer.

10:18 AM UPDATE: SDOT says it has indeed delayed the microsurfacing work: “Due to the rain over the weekend and the rain in the forecast this week, we are postponing the work until dry weather returns to the forecast. The treatment is not effective when applied in wet conditions. Streets scheduled for Monday or Tuesday work will not be closed at this time. We will microsurface the scheduled roads within the next 2 weeks. Two to three days before the work begins, we will notify residents, businesses and organizations along streets to be closed and post ‘No Parking’ signs.”

7:36 AM: Thanks to Jason for the photo from an early-morning crash on a notoriously tricky stretch of road, the Olson Place curve at the east end of Roxbury. He reports it involved one car, whose driver crashed into a pole. Only one engine was dispatched, no medic unit, so it does not appear to have involved major injuries. It rained most of the night, so take extra care wherever you’re going this morning – we’re off to check on other potential trouble spots, including Highland Park Way, reported still closed at dawn, and the 35th SW/Avalon/Alaska tree situation.

8:31 AM: We’re out on rounds now.

35th SW is open again and the tree is out of the wires, in pieces on the ground (photo above). The sidewalk remains taped off.

(Photo from Margaret)
The Highland Park Way hill remains closed, with cleanup crews visible from the Holden intersection (photo above).

(Added: We also checked on Olson, scene of the crash at the top of this story, and it’s clear.)

8:59 AM: If you’re heading out of West Seattle, take note that you won’t be able to get past Seneca Street on NB 99 for a while: There’s a crash at Western, and the Battery Street Tunnel has been closed both ways because of “weather conditions,” according to SPD. We’ll update when this changes.

9:28 AM: No ETA yet for when this will be cleared, so if you have to head north, avoid the Viaduct/Highway 99. Here’s the closest SDOT camera – refresh our page to see the newest image:

10:06 AM: The tunnel has reopened.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:25 AM: The rain has returned, as forecast; tomorrow is expected to be more intense than today. Meanwhile, a transit alert just tweeted and texted by Metro:

We’ll be asking King County DOT later if it was the same problem as chronicled here last Friday, a driver shortage.

7:40 AM: Sue notes in comments that the 7:18 am Route 55 also was canceled (texted/tweeted with half an hour’s warning).

8:19 AM: Also a reminder that the SW Myrtle closure from 17th SW westward to Sanislo is expected to continue today; the repaving work represents the start of work related to the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway. We’ll check on the progress later. Meantime, the rain has just picked up again.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, no incidents in or from West Seattle.

ROAD-CLOSURE REMINDER: As reported here on Wednesday, SW Myrtle is closed from 17th SW to 21st SW for repaving, as the official start of work on the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway. The closure is expected to last through tomorrow.

SUNDAY FERRY ALERT: An annual motorcycle rally on Vashon this Sunday (August 30th) brings an alert from Washington State Ferries:

Drivers should anticipate heavier than normal motorcycle traffic on Vashon Island this Sunday, Aug. 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To expedite processing through the tollbooth, riders are encouraged to pre-purchase their ferry tickets online or at a kiosk at any terminal. Due to construction at the Vashon terminal, extra caution is advised when driving through the construction zone.

8:20 AM: Texter reports a stall on NB 99 – trying to find out more.

6:21 PM: Thanks to the texter who tipped us to this: SFD and SPD are responding to a crash reported on the westbound bridge near the Highway 99 overpass.

6:27 PM: Two left lanes are blocked. Here’s the view from SDOT via Twitter:

Looks like this will be a problem if you’re getting on the westbound bridge from I-5 but not if you’re getting on it from 99.

8:05 PM: All clear as of about half an hour ago (sorry for the delayed update).

Thanks to Lesley for the tip about SW Myrtle being closed from 17th SW to 21st SW, near Sanislo Elementary. We’ve subsequently confirmed that the crumbling road is being repaved as work gets under way on the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway project. First, here’s the flyer about the Myrtle repaving, which is expected to continue through Friday:

That means it will be done in plenty of time for the start of school, which is two weeks from today. Meantime, here’s the flyer that has the “big picture” view of the project, which will be under construction for the next four months or so:

If you want to just cut to the heart of what this is about, here’s the explanation on the official webpage:

The greenway will run north-south, connecting White Center to the West Seattle Bridge trail. The greenway route will run generally along 17th Avenue SW in the south and 21st Avenue SW in the north. … Some of the changes will include:

*Crossing improvements at arterial intersections including striped crosswalks, curb extensions and flashing beacons
*Repaving SW Myrtle Street between 17th and 21st Avenue SW
*Speed humps and all-way stops where need, generally about one per block
*Way-finding signage and pavement markings throughout
*Spot pavement repairs to improve roadway user safety
*The greenway route was selected based on various factors, including evaluating streets for low car volumes, speeds and collisions, road grade (or steepness), and input we heard from the community.

SDOT is working with Seattle Public Utilities to design curb extensions with natural drainage systems along 17th Avenue SW, between SW Henderson Street and SW Kenyon Street.

Next phase of the project, after the SW Myrtle repaving, will be sidewalk and crossing improvements on SW Andover between 21st and 22nd; that’s scheduled to start September 1st.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:06 AM: Good morning. No incidents on routes in our area so far.

TRANSIT ALERT: Second cancellation this morning for this route:

Transit Alert – Route 116 northbound to downtown Seattle due to leave the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal at 7:30 AM has been canceled.

— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 26, 2015

The 5:40 am run also was canceled.

7:54 AM: Still no incidents, but one more note – day home game for the Mariners today, so the stadium zone will be busy at midday and mid-afternoon. The M’s play the Oakland A’s at 12:40 pm.

8:29 AM: “Happy Wed” says in comments that there’s a stalled vehicle in the right lane on the bridge just east of 35th. The 35th/Fauntleroy SDOT camera is down; nearest one is this one by Walking on Logs, not showing the stall.

6:24 PM: Covering separately – a crash reported on the westbound bridge at the Highway 99 overpass. Thanks for the tip!

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:30 AM: Good morning! No road-work alerts today. One transportation-news note to start with:

TUNNEL MACHINE’S FRONT END TO CONTINUE ITS DESCENT: According to WSDOT‘s online updates, contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners spent most of Monday slowly lifting and rotating the repaired front end of the Highway 99 tunneling machine, then starting the process of lowering it into the access pit. That process will continue this morning.

There’s also an early transit alert:

6:36 AM: Now, a Water Taxi alert – The county says the 6:15 am departure was missed because the Spirit of Kingston is having “mechanical issues,” so backup boat Melissa Ann is taking over the West Seattle-Downtown route starting with the 6:45 run from Seacrest.

1:39 PM: A brief power outage that closed the Fauntleroy ferry terminal is now over, according to WSF, and operations are returning to normal.

3:37 PM: Water Taxi trouble again – a “fueling delay” has canceled the 3:45 pm trip from Pier 50; King County DOT says service will resume with the 4 pm trip from Seacrest.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Uneventful commute so far, both in West Seattle and on the major outbound routes.

FERRY CHANGES: From Washington State Ferries:

Starting (today), customers are advised to prepare for at least a week of longer-than-usual wait times due to a temporary vessel downsizing on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route. The temporary downsizing is needed to maintain a full, system-wide sailing schedule while the Tokitae and Elwha are out of service for necessary repairs and maintenance. The F/V/S route will be served by the 124-car Issaquah, 87-car Tillikum and 87-car Evergreen State.

4:52 PM: Thanks for the messages about some kind of bus delay downtown. Apparently a bus was stalled at 2nd and Columbia. SDOT says it’s cleared.

Two road reminders:

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: From the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley Street, 99 is closed both ways all weekend, for realignment onto newly built roadway. The Viaduct is open but if you’re heading northbound, you’ll have to exit at Western (as shown in the “live” webcam image above); if you want to use it southbound to West Seattle, you’ll have to get onto it (or back onto it) south of the tunnel.

ALKI BEACH 5K TOMORROW: Alki and Harbor Avenues will be off-limits to vehicles for about three hours Sunday morning before and during the Alki Beach 5K, a benefit for breast-cancer patients.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:48 AM: It’s been a quiet commute, regionally as well as locally. So, the weekend reminders:

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE STARTS TONIGHT: From late tonight until very early Monday (we’ll update if it ends sooner), between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley St. in lower Queen Anne, Highway 99/Aurora Avenue will be closed so crews can realign it onto a newly built section of road – details and maps here.

ALKI BEACH 5K & OTHER WEEKEND EVENTS: Sunday morning, Alki and Harbor Avenues close for a few hours for the 9 am walk/run to raise money for Northwest Hope and Healing. It’s one of the events spotlighted in SDOT’s citywide weekend roundup.

ADDED 10:31 AM: In case anyone else was wondering – a commenter asked about missed 56/57 buses this morning; we asked Metro via Twitter, and here’s the response:

12:04 PM: A car is reported to have hit a power pole and brought it down in the 5400 block of W. Marginal Way SW. Two people were in the car; no major injuries reported so far.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:23 AM: No incidents in, or headed out of, West Seattle, but showery weather is back and slowing things down in some areas. One big reminder:

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: WSDOT is closing Highway 99 in both directions between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley St. in lower Queen Anne from Friday night to early Monday, to move traffic onto a new section of road – details and maps here. The Alaskan Way Viaduct will remain open, but if you’re heading north, for example, you’ll have to exit at Western.

ADDED 7:42 AM – ‘TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY’ PHOTO: From the Seattle Municipal Archives, an August 1962 view of the then-under-construction Fauntleroy approach to the West Seattle Bridge:

Click the image for a larger view. The archives have a wide variety of related images, including this gathering labeled as groundbreaking at 34th/Fauntleroy just under a year earlier, in September 1961.

8:32 AM: Problem on northbound I-5 downtown:

4:25 PM: Just in case you’ll be on 99 south of the Aurora Bridge this pm: