11:43 AM: Thanks to the texter who called our attention to the low-bridge problem. No ETA yet.

NOON UPDATE: SDOT says the low bridge is working again.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:31 AM: As we start today’s traffic watch, crews are headed to a crash reported at Austin/Holden, which the map shows as at the top of the Highland Park Way hill. Separate story possible, depending on what we find at the scene. Updates here in the meantime.

7:44 AM: Our crew is at the intersection (photo above). Two cars; traffic is getting around in all directions, but slowly. Medics are checking out two people.

(Photo courtesy @slightlynorth via Twitter)
7:52 AM: No one will need to be taken to the hospital, we’re told at the scene. At some point tow trucks will be brought in to clear the damaged vehicles, so this will still be slow going for a while.

8:14 AM: Seattle Fire has cleared the scene but police are still there, awaiting the tow trucks, and have asked dispatchers to find out how much longer they’ll be waiting.

8:50 AM: No update from that scene – we’ll have to go back for a look later (no traffic cameras in the area). Meantime, in comments, trouble on the bridge. And from Washington State Ferries, official word is now in that the long-planned Vashon dock project starts Friday morning, which means effects along the route:

Starting at 7:30 a.m., Friday, July 31, construction to seismically upgrade the 60-year-old Vashon ferry dock will begin. During construction, vehicles will not be allowed to wait on the dock. Southworth-bound vehicles will stage in the right lane of 103rd Ave. SW, the left lane will remain open to one-way through traffic. Fauntleroy-bound vehicles will be staged on Vashon Highway SW. Motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians will be able to wait for ferries at the terminal building. Motorcycles heading to Southworth or Fauntleroy may access the dock from 103rd Ave. SW. Flaggers stationed at the terminal entrance will direct traffic and assist ADA customers with drop-off and pick-up.

For more on this, see the WSF bulletins.

9:05 AM: Thanks to the texter who just told us the Highland Park Way/Holden crash scene is now completely clear.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning!

ALERTS: SDOT plans work on Klickitat Way today through Thursday … At the Fauntleroy ferry dock, more overnight pavement repairs are planned.

THURSDAY-SUNDAY I-90 REMINDER: Every day this week, we’re reminding you about the Thursday-Sunday I-90 bridge closures during Blue Angels practices/performances – two on Thursday and one per day Friday-Sunday.

9:09 AM: If you haven’t left yet, don’t head for northbound I-5 – a crash is blocking two lanes just north of the exit from the West Seattle Bridge.

9:24 AM: Per WSDOT (and “Happy Tuesday” in comments), the scene is clear.

Just in from SDOT:

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will close the left southbound lane on Klickitat Way Southwest between Spokane Street and 11th Avenue Southwest for landscape maintenance. The left lane will be closed from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each day from Tuesday, July 28 until Thursday, July 30. Some delays are possible; drive carefully.

Not sure about that location? Here’s a map.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, no incidents this Friday morning.

SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Here’s the latest from WSDOT – the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will close 6-9 pm tomorrow night for the Seafair Pirate Run.

SATURDAY TRANSIT ALERTS: For the run and the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown, road closures will affect transit service mid-afternoon through late evening.

CITYWIDE WEEKEND NOTES: Here’s SDOT‘s roundup of events that might affect traffic, including a mention of the Alki Art Fair on Saturday/Sunday – no road closures; shuttle-bus service is available.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing out of the ordinary so far in today’s outbound commute.

SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: According to Metro’s alert for Saturday night’s Seafair Pirate Run and Torchlight Parade downtown, the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for about an hour – time approximate but the race runs approximately 6:30-7:30 pm – and the southbound side won’t be affected at all. Remember that the parade itself spans the length of downtown, Seattle Center to the International District, mostly on 4th Avenue, and that will result in closures for most of the evening.

ADDED 8:05 AM – TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY: From the Seattle Municipal Archives, dated August 1916, a streetcar scene, identified only as Donald Street:

Click the photo to go to its page on the SMA site. We believe this is North Admiral, as maps show Donald St. only in the Hamilton Viewpoint vicinity.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, nothing major happening in the outbound commute. Looking ahead:

SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Exact times haven’t been announced yet, but the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for a few hours Saturday in connection with the Seafair Pirate Run (6:30 pm); that precedes the Seafair Torchlight Parade, which brings surface-street closures through downtown until late evening, particularly the parade route itself on 4th Avenue from Seattle Center to the International District.

ALKI ART FAIR SATURDAY/SUNDAY: Watch for a preview here later today. No street closures, but the beach will be busy, and there is a transportation note – free shuttle bus; details on the festival website’s home page.

7:40 AM: The bridge is “almost at a standstill,” notes one bus rider; no incidents that we’re seeing/hearing about.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:22 AM: It’s raining for the first time in a long time, so be careful out there. That’s the big commute news so far this morning.

7:29 AM: Via Twitter, Liz says traffic’s backed all the way up the hill on Fauntleroy. We’re not seeing any reports of an incident or stall, so might just be the rain.

8:28 AM: If you head toward Top Hat, Boulevard Park, and beyond to Burien for work/shopping/etc., be aware of a power outage involving almost 8,000 homes and businesses – shown on the Seattle City Light map here.

8:52 AM: Trouble on the ramp from the eastbound bridge to southbound I-5:

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The temperature is down 30 degrees from where it peaked Sunday on the hottest day of the year, and so far, no traffic trouble through/from West Seattle. However, we do have a ferry alert, one that follows advance warning:

TWO-BOAT SCHEDULE ON FAUNTLEROY/VASHON/SOUTHWORTH: Because of repairs involving vessels elsewhere in the system, this route is being served by M/V Issaquah and Cathlamet on the two-boat schedule, with unscheduled supplementary service by the 34-vehicle Hiyu. WSF says this could last three days. Check ferries’ statuses on this WSF run, or any other, here.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: A few links. First, the Seattle Times gets an advance copy of an independent analysis saying the city needs to do a better job of clearing crashes (most notably, the fish-truck fiasco) – read Mike Lindblom‘s report here … At 21st/Genesee in Pigeon Point, neighbors painted a new “street mural” on Sunday in hopes it will help slow traffic … A different West Seattle street-painting project on Sunday did not go so well.

SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Early heads-up – this Saturday night brings the Seafair Pirate Run before the Torchlight Parade, and that means a few hours of Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. More details as the week goes on.

8:34 AM: Crash on the eastbound bridge near the 4th Avenue South exit. Thanks to the person who texted us about it. SDOT shows the bridge-cam image:

Jeremy reports via Twitter:

8:45 AM: The Seattle Fire units have cleared the scene, suggesting no major injuries.

8:55 AM: Now one lane blocked, and not for long, per scanner. But SDOT warns the lower bridge is about to swing open for vessel traffic, so don’t use that as an alternate route for a while.

9 AM: Crash scene now cleared, but SDOT says backups still stretch all the way across the eastbound bridge.

3:45 PM: Trouble on southbound 99:

(“Live” view from WSDOT camera looking northbound on Fauntleroy Way)
Thanks to SmokeyCretin and Erin for reports that southbound Fauntleroy Way has been backing up again this afternoon from the ferry dock as far as The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Various complicating factors today: As mentioned in our morning traffic/transit report, there’s a swim meet at Colman Pool again today (tomorrow too, so it’s closed to the public); also, the Vashon Island Strawberry Festival starts tonight, meaning more westbound traffic. So if you don’t absolutely have to use that stretch of road, don’t. Also keep in mind the WSF alert for next Monday and beyond, when they’ll be downsizing to a 2-boat schedule.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Standard outbound commute so far, as Friday morning proceeds. Reminders for your Saturday:

GRAND PARADE & FLOAT DODGER 5K TOMORROW: On Saturday morning, California SW will close from The Admiral District to The Junction for the West Seattle Grand Parade, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, until the end of the parade in early afternoon. No-parking signs should be in place on side streets to be used for parade staging and for Metro rerouting (see those reroutes on the Metro website), starting as early as 6 am Saturday. (P.S. Hiawatha Community Center, at the start of the parade route, also hosts the Mediterranean Fantasy Festival all weekend – so be aware it’s a VERY busy, as well as fun, place!)

FARMERS’ MARKET ON SUNDAY: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market returns to California between Oregon and Alaska on Sunday, its home since mid-June; the market hours are 10 am-2 pm, while the road closure is set for 7 am-4 pm.

CITYWIDE WEEKEND ALERTS: If you’re wondering what else might affect you as you travel around the city this weekend – tonight, for example, there’s a big soccer match at the CLink – here’s the SDOT alert.

8:19 AM: If you’re going to Lincoln Park today – try the bus. A caller says that with a swim meet at Colman Pool today (it’s closed to the public as a result, and that will be in our daily preview later this morning), the parking lots are filling/filled. (We’ll be checking on this shortly.)

ONE MORE WEEKEND ALERT: In White Center, this weekend brings the Jubilee Days street festival on 17th SW south of Roxbury and, on Sunday, the parade (see the route here).

9:00 AM: Crash reported at 35th/Avalon. Don’t know the severity yet.

9:20 AM: We sent a crew to check it out, since SDOT cameras in the area are broken, but in the meantime, we’ve heard via scanner that the intersection IS OPEN.

Thanks to the tipster who just let us know about a crash on the westbound bridge, right before the Fauntleroy end. Seattle Fire has been dispatched to check out those involved – reportedly including a motorcycle rider – the passerby said everybody “looked OK.” But this will cause some backup until sorted out. Updates to come.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing out of the ordinary reported for this morning’s outbound commute. So we launch again with reminders about Saturday:

GRAND PARADE & FLOAT DODGER 5K ON SATURDAY: California SW will close from The Admiral District to The Junction for the West Seattle Grand Parade, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, early morning until the end of the parade in early afternoon. By today, no-parking signs should be up on side streets that’ll be used for staging and for Metro rerouting (those reroutes are on the Metro website); parade organizers say Metro is making those changes earlier in the morning, so some no-parking signs will have times as early as 6 am Saturday.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 35TH SW PLAN? As reported here, SDOT has announced a two-phase plan for 35th SW, starting with rechannelization “within the next couple months” between Roxbury and Willow. Your first chance to ask questions following last night’s meeting is tonight’s second meeting – featuring the same presentation – 6 pm at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson).

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:23 AM: No incidents in or from West Seattle so far this morning. If you’re using the Fauntleroy ferry dock, note that the north tollbooth will be closed 7:30 am-2 pm today, as the adjacent Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project wraps up – 2 pm celebration this Saturday, including the reopening of Cove Park north of the dock.

ALSO ON SATURDAY: California SW will close from The Admiral District to The Junction for the West Seattle Grand Parade, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, reopening when the parade ends in early afternoon. Watch for no-parking signs on side streets that will be used for staging and for Metro rerouting (now posted on the Metro website); parade organizers advise paying close attention to what’s on the signs, as parking restrictions and reroutes will start earlier this year.

Meantime, big transportation news is hours away:

35TH SW PLAN: 7 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way), SDOT’s plan for 35th SW goes public. We’re told the mayor will be there. If you can’t make it to tonight’s meeting, a second one has been scheduled for tomorrow, 6 pm, at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson).

7:48 AM: If you’re headed northbound from south of the West Seattle Bridge, two problems right now – a crash blocking one lane on NB Highway 99 at Cloverdale, and a crash reported at 4th and Michigan (no specifics).

10:05 AM: Another NB 99 crash south of here – this time at West Marginal Way. Police are en route.

10:35 AM: Heads up for possible Fauntleroy Way southbound backups again this afternoon. Washington State Ferries says one of the conditions that factored into them is continuing today: “Due to emergent dock repairs at the Vashon terminal, single-lane loading and offloading will continue until further notice. Drivers and passengers can expect delays and are advised to plan accordingly.”

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No incidents so far this morning on the routes through/from West Seattle. One alert for today:

LANE CLOSURE AT FAUNTLEROY FERRY TERMINAL: As the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project wraps up, the north lane at the ferry terminal next door is scheduled for closure until 2 pm today: “Crews will restripe the ferry holding lane and crosswalk, and install wiring for the north toll booth.”

LOOKING AHEAD: The West Seattle Grand Parade is next Saturday (July 18th), preceded by the Float Dodger 5K, and California SW will be closed from Lander to Edmunds that day until early afternoon while it’s all under way (watch for transit info later this week). And next Sunday (July 19th), the West Seattle Farmers’ Market returns to California SW between Alaska and Oregon, so the 7 am-4 pm Sunday road closure resumes.

4:50 PM: Thanks to everybody who messaged us about a crash in the 7600 block of Fauntleroy Way SW. Traffic is alternating at the scene, near SW Austin, and that is causing big trouble with ferry-bound traffic, so if you’re trying to get to the Fauntleroy terminal, we’d advise approaching from the south instead of the north. According to Tim, a pickup truck hit parked cars and ended up on its side.

5:05 PM: SDOT says that’s cleared. But now there’s a crash at Delridge and Holden.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Again today, no trouble on the outbound routes yet, but the big Junction reminder through Sunday night:

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST (co-sponsored by WSB) happens in The Junction today through Sunday; streets closed to vehicle traffic are California between Genesee and Edmunds (Oregon remains open to through traffic) and Alaska between 42nd and 44th. Metro reroutes are linked here.

Thanks for the tips – we’ve just checked out a two-car crash that’s blocking northbound 35th at the bridge entrance at Fauntleroy Way. Police at the scene tell us one person was taken to the hospital, and also that the scene shouldn’t be blocked too much longer. But if you’re headed toward the bridge – try Avalon instead of Fauntleroy, for now.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Quiet on the outbound routes so far. So we start with recaps and previews:

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: Three stories from Tuesday –
*35th SW plan – extra meeting added, and word the mayor will be at the first one
*47th/Admiral signal – “completion celebration” planned next Tuesday
*Tunnel-project updates, including those big yellow stacks

And the big street festival is almost here:

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST (co-sponsored by WSB) happens in The Junction this coming Friday-Saturday-Sunday (July 10-11-12); streets close to vehicle traffic starting at 6 pm Thursday – California between Genesee and Edmunds (Oregon remains open to through traffic) and Alaska between 42nd and 44th. Metro announced its Summer Fest reroutes on Tuesday – they’re listed/linked here.

One more note:

SOUND TRANSIT 3 SURVEY: Today is the deadline for you to answer Sound Transit’s survey about next year’s ballot measure. One big question for our area: Should it include light rail for West Seattle? But that’s just part of it. The survey starts here.

8:39 AM: First problem of the morning for our area – a crash on the eastbound bridge at 99. No further details yet – it’s not on camera, though the backup certainly is.

8:47 AM: SDOT has turned around the camera and it shows the crash right AT the ramp (see the top-left image on this story – every time you refresh, it’ll show you the newest image). One tipster advises taking the low bridge to avoid the jam. Police are strategizing how to get traffic around it – potentially using the bus lane for general traffic, temporarily.

9:03 AM: From the scanner: Police are trying to direct traffic into the lanes that’ll get people around the wreck, but so far it doesn’t sound to be getting too much compliance.

9:19 AM: Crash still blocking two lanes at last report. We’ll update when we hear it’s cleared. And a reminder from Metro that this is affecting buses on the bridge too:

9:32 AM: SFD is headed to a “natural-gas leak” callout at 35th and Findlay – so be alert to possible traffic effects there.

9:46 AM: No major effects from that; meantime, the wreck on the bridge is cleared, but it’ll take a while for backups to subside.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:27 AM: Good morning! Only problem in the area so far this morning has been for people heading north toward the 1st Avenue South Bridge from White Center southward – a crash on NB 509 at Cloverdale. The most recent report says it’s cleared off to the shoulder, though.

This week’s big reminder:

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST (co-sponsored by WSB) happens in The Junction this coming Friday-Saturday-Sunday (July 10-11-12); streets close to vehicle traffic starting at 6 pm Thursday for setup – California between Genesee and Edmunds (Oregon remains open to through traffic) and Alaska between 42nd and 44th – so we’re sounding the alert early. More countdown coverage later today. No transit-reroute info on Metro‘s site yet, but that’ll be part of our coverage and previews when it appears.

7:37 AM: New problem – per WSDOT, “On the I-5 northbound on-ramp from West Seattle Bridge, there is a disabled vehicle partially blocking the ramp.”

7:52 AM: Update from WSDOT – that vehicle’s been cleared from the ramp.

8:57 AM: Crash at California/Fauntleroy – no details but be aware if you’re headed that way.

12:57 PM: Keeping the promise we mentioned above – Summer Fest reroutes for Metro have just gone public – we’ve put them all in one list, here.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Welcome to back-to-work Monday. Transit services are back to normal schedules, since the holiday observances and changes were on Friday and Saturday, but we suspect traffic will be a little lighter, with some people taking an extra day off.

LOOKING AHEAD: West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB) takes over the heart of The Junction this coming Friday-Saturday-Sunday (July 10-11-12), with street closures starting at 6 pm Thursday for setup – California between Genesee and Edmunds (Oregon will stay open to through traffic), Alaska between 42nd and 44th – so we’re sounding the alert early. Watch for our countdown reports resuming later today, and “live” festival coverage.