(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:39 AM: Good morning! Nothing big so far this morning but if you use 1st Avenue South, SDOT is reporting this:

7:46 AM: Looking ahead to the weekend, here’s the citywide list of big events, including the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki on Saturday (10 am-6 pm with the Pirates expected ashore around 2:15). Also, it’s the third weekend of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market in its new home on California SW between Alaska and Oregon, which is off-limits to vehicles 7 am-4 pm Sunday as a result (market hours are 10 am-2 pm).

(WSB photo)
10:11 AM: Two cars have collided and are blocking all but one lane – the outside southbound lane – at 35th and Cambridge. A private ambulance has arrived for one person who medics have been checking out; two tow trucks are arriving, too, so it should clear before long.

10:25 AM: Police report that all lanes are open again.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:07 AM: So far, no trouble headed outbound from West Seattle.

7:33 AM – TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Since it’s quiet – we’ve gone back into the Seattle Municipal Archives for a look back. No date for this photo, but you can narrow it down fairly well since it was taken during the construction of the “high bridge” in the early ’80s:

Click the image to go to an SMA page where you’ll see the photo in a much-larger size (when you do, scroll right for a closer look at the vehicles waiting to cross, including early ’80s-era buses).

8:03 AM: Thanks to the texter for alerting us to a crash at 40th/Oregon. They report a driver and motorcyclist involved; the SFD 911 log says it’s an “aid response,” which generally means injuries are NOT major.

8:08 AM: Per scanner, eastbound traffic on Oregon will be diverted at 41st. If you usually use Oregon to head outbound, avoid it TFN – head for Alaska, or even 35th, to get to the bridge.

9:32 AM POSTSCRIPT: After arriving at the crash scene and finding out traffic was no longer being diverted, we ourselves had to divert to the 47th/Andover fire (separate story). But WSB’s Christopher Boffoli covered the crash for us too:

He reports:

Driver of the small silver car told police she was headed westbound on Oregon when the motorcycle, headed southbound on 40th, ran the stop sign and they collided. The woman driving the car said it was her birthday today. She had two very small children with her but everyone was OK. Scared and a little shaken up but physically fine.

Again, this is more than an hour ago now, and as far as we know, the scene is clear. The motorcycle rider was transported by private ambulance, indicating non-life-threatening injuries.

9:59 AM: We’re checking out another crash now – 35th and Cambridge, reported to be blocking all lanes. Update as soon as our crew arrives – we’ll break it out into a separate story if it seems major. (We did – and then it cleared fairly quickly.)

10:42 AM: If you will be riding Metro downtown this Saturday, you might want to know about this advisory we just received:

On Saturday, June 27 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the bus stops northbound and southbound on 3rd Av at Virginia St will be closed due to construction. Affected buses will operate via their regular routes, but will not serve the regular stops at Virginia St.

During this closure, board or exit northbound routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 16, 24, 26, 28, 33, and the RapidRide D Line and RapidRide E Line at the temporary stop northbound on 3rd Av just north of Lenora St.

Board or exit southbound routes 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 16, 21, 27, 33, 40, 120, 124, 131, 132, and the RapidRide C Line and RapidRide E Line at the temporary stop southbound on 3rd Av just north of Lenora St.

Riders can also board or exit buses at their regularly scheduled and posted stops prior to or after Virginia and Lenora streets.

Visit the Metro Service Advisories page for specific stop information.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:36 AM: After a short delay for what turned out to be a small fire in South Delridge (we’re still updating here), the overall traffic watch is on.

8:01 AM – TRANSPORTATION NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: From Tuesday coverage here and elsewhere, in case you missed it:

*11th/Holden pedestrian-safety beacon going in
*47th/Admiral/Waite signal & crosswalks update, plus a reader concern
*Council committee keeps property-tax plan for transportation levy

8:23 AM: Via Twitter, we’re getting reports of at least two SPD traffic-enforcement areas this morning – on the bridge (thanks to Joe for the tip; he saw at least five drivers/riders “lined up” for citations) and at 35th/Morgan (thanks to Randall for that tip).

8:35 AM: And thanks to Lola for mentioning an orange-cone hazard (usually they mark hazards; this time they WERE the hazard) on the bridge; an SDOT tweet suggests they’ve been handled.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:41 AM: Nothing to report so far on the outbound commute.

Meantime, it’s the last scheduled day for this closure in The Junction:

8:50 AM: Still quiet. Meantime, in case you’ve been wondering about the ongoing Delridge/Orchard work, this is the latest from Seattle Public Utilities:

The daytime single-lane restriction on SW Orchard Street (east of Delridge Way SW) will remain in place off-and-on through the end of July as crews complete paving and striping. As has been the case throughout this project, the lane may be closed Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and will be opened to traffic during non-work hours. During closures, all westbound traffic will be diverted to the eastbound lane with the assistance of a traffic flagger.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! It’s the first full day of summer, which arrived with the solstice just after 9:30 Sunday morning. As usual, we start with alerts:

42ND SW NORTH OF ALASKA: This closure for road-repair work is scheduled to continue through tomorrow, according to SDOT.

47TH/ADMIRAL/WAITE SIGNAL & CROSSWALKS: This is in the final stages of work, so remember that if you’re planning to travel this way.

ALKI AVENUE RAMP WORK: We noticed equipment staged in the area where SDOT says work will continue this week.

VESSEL CHANGE ON VASHON WATER TAXI: Melissa Ann is handling the Vashon Water Taxi run this morning while Sally Fox is out of service for maintenance. This doesn’t directly affect the West Seattle Water Taxi run, but because of its lesser capacity, it could have some effects on the Washington State Ferries run from Vashon and the Metro bus routes from Vashon that run through West Seattle.

When we tweeted that photo a few hours ago, we THOUGHT the work at 42nd/Alaska was continuing through tomorrow. But SDOT has just announced it’s stretching through Tuesday:

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation are restoring pavement at 42th Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street following work on underground utilities at that location. Their expected completion time has been updated to 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

During this work the crews are closing 42nd Avenue SW north of SW Alaska Street. Local access is permitted on the north end of 42nd at SW Oregon Street. Also, the bus lane is closed westbound on Alaska approaching 42nd and just through the intersection.

If you can’t tell from our photo, the free West Seattle Junction Association parking lot on 42nd *is* open – the “road closed” sign is only halfway up the block – and that’ll be especially important to remember on Sunday, when California will be closed between Alaska and Oregon 7 am-4 pm for the second in-the-street edition of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (market hours are 10 am-2 pm).

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning and happy Friday! We start with an alert for today and weekend previews:

JUNCTION ROAD WORK: 42nd SW north of SW Alaska will be closed for road repairs most of today and tomorrow, per SDOT’s announcement published here Thursday.

OTHER ONGOING PROJECTS OF NOTE: Curb ramps at two Alki SW spots – info here … Murray CSO Control Project work at 48th/Beach Drive/Lincoln Park Way – info here … 47th/Admiral/Waite signal & crosswalks – info here.

SATURDAY – FESTIVALS: Though neither of these Saturday events involves road closures, remember the Morgan Junction Community Festival (10:30 am-6 pm) and Westwood Village Street Fair (10 am-6 pm) when you’re out and about tomorrow.

SUNDAY – FARMERS’ MARKET IN THE STREET: This Sunday will be the second one for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market in its new home, California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska. While market hours on Sundays are 10 am-2 pm, that block will be closed to parking and vehicle traffic 7 am-4 pm.

Seattle Police are investigating a crash at 16th and Kenyon (map). No major injuries reported – no medic unit dispatched – but officers at the scene just advised dispatchers that 16th will be closed both ways at the scene for a while.

42nd SW will be closed to through traffic north of SW Alaska for the next two days, SDOT just announced:

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will restore pavement at 42th Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street following work on underground utilities at that location. They plan to start work at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Friday) and to complete the work by 4 p.m. on Saturday.

During this work the crews will close 42nd Avenue SW north of SW Alaska Street. Local access will be permitted on the north end 42nd at SW Oregon Street. Also, the bus lane will be closed westbound on SW Alaska Street approaching 42nd Ave Southwest and just through the Intersection.

That “local” access will be primarily so you can get to businesses, including QFC, we verified with SDOT.

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

CITYWIDE WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Now that we’re moving into summer-event season, SDOT takes its weekly look at what’s ahead around the city; this edition includes Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, though no street closures are involved. If you’ve been away or mega-busy, by the way, remember on Sunday that the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is now on California SW between Alaska and Oregon and that block is off-limits to vehicles 7 am-4 pm Sundays. (The debut drew more than three times as many people as usually attend, market management says!)

5 PM: Alki traffic alert – thanks to Suzanne for info on the crash, and the photo:

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Quiet commute so far. Two alerts to mention:

ALKI SW RAMP WORK: SDOT announced yesterday that you’ll see work crews installing two curb ramps at crossings on Alki Ave. SW over the span of about a week and a half, starting today.

47TH/ADMIRAL/WAITE SIGNAL & CROSSWALKS: If you’re traveling through this area, you might have to pause as the final phase of work intensifies, as noted here on Tuesday.

9:09 AM: Traffic still sludgingly slow, per commenters … no incidents on the 911 log or scanner.

(Photo courtesy Raquel – substituted for earlier traffic-camera image)
4:17 PM: Big emergency response on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge by 4th Avenue South – closing all but the exit lane at that spot. More to come.

4:22 PM: Police are going to try to divert people off at 1st Avenue South but we’ve just heard from Erica, who passed the crash going the other way, and says it looks like multiple vehicles involved as well as one car that’s on its side, and there’s already an eastbound backup. (Here’s an earlier view, tweeted by SDOT:)

4:26 PM: Emergency vehicles are also in one westbound lane parallel with 4th, so if you’re planning on getting to the westbound bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill, this could be a problem.

(Photo courtesy Brian Baum)
4:44 PM: That westbound lane is clear, but the eastbound lanes remain blocked at 4th, with everybody forced to get off the bridge at 1st Avenue South.

4:51 PM: Per scanner, police are hoping to have one lane – likely the outside lane – open shortly. But even with most of the commute going the other way, that still will mean big backups.

4:57 PM: And here it is, one lane open:

Don’t take the low bridge as a backup any time soon – also via scanner, it’s going to swing open soon for “a large boat” to get through.

5:27 PM: The bridge is fully open again, after about an hour and 10 minutes.

WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: SPD confirms something we thought we had heard on the scanner – the 32-year-old driver had at least one warrant out for his arrest. They also confirm an “active DUI investigation” in the case. We are also asking SFD for any final information about injuries and will add whatever we learn there.

The :15 video panorama shows you what’s happening at the 47th/Admiral/Waite crosswalk project today, as the final phase of work intensifies. A bit dusty (and this part of the work had eastbound traffic stopped while we were there):

SDOT had announced about a week ago that the signal equipment had arrived, so the final phase of installing it and marking crosswalks around the intersection would launch. Thanks to everybody who messaged us about the stepped-up work today!

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy last day of school to Seattle Public Schools students! No problems reported in the outbound commute so far. Two notes:

BEACH DRIVE/LINCOLN PARK WAY/48TH: The major work previewed in last Friday’s alert had not begun as of end-of-day Monday, and we saw no signs of staging, but will check again today.

(Added 8:55 am – that’s a Monday aerial of the project – and, at lower right, the inland side of Lowman Beach Park – just received from West Seattle pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen.)

SEACREST BOAT LAUNCH REPLACEMENT: Part of the parking lot at Seacrest will be closed again today during work to replace the small boat launch, announced last week. We noted a crane had arrived by end of day Monday.

7:31 AM: While covering the Polar Pioneer departure, we’ve also been keeping an eye on traffic as always. Keeping this short unless there’s an incident to report – you’ll find the cameras here; please also remember the Beach Drive/Lincoln Park Way/48th SW alert starting today.

8:19 AM: Just went through the aforementioned area – the street-cutting work hasn’t started yet, no sign of staging, either, just a couple concrete trucks on the south end of Beach Drive.

7:39 AM: Traffic reminder before we get to today’s other highlights: The northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed, and scheduled to stay that way until 3:30 pm (we’ll update if it reopens earlier), because of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon/Half Marathon. See the full citywide closure list here.

4:04 PM: As pointed out in comments, 99 reopened an hour ago.

4:06 PM: Thought this one would be clear by peak pm commute, but it isn’t yet, so: A crash is blocking the right lane of the westbound bridge, Spokane Street Viaduct section, right by the 1st Avenue South ramps and Harbor Island exit. Scanner-monitored discussion seems to indicate tow availability is an issue. So if you are heading this way sometime soon, southbound 99 might be a better bet than anything to the east of it.

4:51 PM UPDATE: The traffic camera has been turned, so we can’t see the original scene, but checking other cameras, the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct seems to be moving OK. However, we’ve just heard police dispatched to the Marginal/Chelan/Delridge/etc. intersection for this afternoon’s anti-Shell protest. Can’t tell from the SDOT cameras what’s happening there (except that police are just arriving, and then going out of frame); we’re on the way to check it out.

5 PM: Also happening now: A mid-level SFD response on Bradford west of Avalon. They’re handling a deck fire.

5:25 PM: The fire response is way uphill from Avalon toward the Bradford dead-end, not affecting traffic. We also have just passed the five-ways intersection; police and a few demonstrators, one with a megaphone, are visible, and westbound traffic on West Marginal is backed up to a block south of the bridges.

5:35 PM: Passing back westbound 10 minutes later – the demonstrators aren’t there any more; a group of bicycle officers are under the flyover a short way north off the spur of West Marginal.

5:42 PM: TW pointed out in comments that RapidRide C Line is running slow; Metro has just texted to blame “traffic.” No further elaboration.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! It’s been quiet outbound, so far. Looking ahead:

THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING: As mentioned here, “Shell No” protesters say they will be back at Chelan/Marginal/etc. 4-6 pm.

SATURDAY: 5 am-3:30 pm, northbound Highway 99 will be closed from south of West Seattle to north of the Battery Street Tunnel for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon/Half-Marathon, along with other closures.

SUNDAY: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market moves into its new home, California SW between Alaska and Oregon (see the vendor map here). Hours remain the same, 10 am-2 pm; no parking/vehicles on that block 7 am-4 pm. The 44th/Alaska lot, previously home to the market, will be open for parking. … Also on Sunday, Washington State Ferries‘ summer schedule takes effect.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, nothing out of the ordinary reported in the outbound commute.

SATURDAY CLOSURE ON NORTHBOUND 99: Daily reminder that northbound Highway 99, including the Alaskan Way Viaduct, from south of West Seattle to lower Queen Anne, is one of the roads around the area Saturday that will be closed to vehicles during the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon/Half Marathon. The 99 closure is scheduled for 5 am-3:30 pm Saturday. See all marathon-related area closures here.

7:33 AM: The return of Traffic Throwback Thursday: Can you place this 1955 view described as “30th and Avalon slide”? Looks like an eastward view toward what’s now Nucor.

Click the picture to see a Seattle Municipal Archives page with a larger version of the image.

7:42 AM: If you’re heading this way from north of downtown soon – Southbound 99 has a problem:

A crash also is reported on northbound 4th Avenue S. at Spokane – the SFD response is closed so it might not be a long-running problem.

8:03 AM: SDOT just tweeted that the scene on NB 4th Avenue S. is clear and all lanes are open. The southbound Battery St. Tunnel is NOT, yet.

8:15 AM: And now the southbound Battery St. Tunnel **is** open again, per SDOT. The surface is wet, though. There was some confusion about whether the NB side had been affected; Marco tweeted that while signage suggested it was, it was NOT, and remained open through this.

8:24 AM – ANOTHER WEEKEND NOTE: Haven’t mentioned this yet but Sunday brings the summer-schedule change for Washington State Ferries.

8:25 AM: The “low bridge” has closed to vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians so that vessel(s) can pass. If you didn’t already know this – the closures and reopenings are all noted on the @SDOTbridges Twitter account, as is this one.

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:12 AM: As the heart of today’s morning commute approaches, nothing unusual is reported in or from our area so far.

7:24 AM: Two notes – reminder that if you travel Delridge Way past the Boren Building next hour, you might see something related to SDOT director Scott Kubly‘s visit to promote safety. We’re not exactly sure yet what form it’ll take but we’ll be there to report. And another reminder that the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct, from south of West Seattle to lower Queen Anne, is one of the roads around the area Saturday that will be closed to vehicles during the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon/Half Marathon. The 99 closure is scheduled for 5 am-3:30 pm Saturday. See the full area closure list here.

7:55 AM: Texter says a police officer on the bridge is “waving random people over.” Can’t help but wonder if it’s part of the aforementioned SDOT safety event … let us know if you were among the “random” people waved over. We’re in a backup on Avalon, in the meantime, checking something out while on the way to the event on Delridge.

8:05 AM: Never mind – via Twitter, people who’ve seen this say it’s just the usual patrol for bus-lane violators. No camera pointed in that direction right now. Meantime, we’re still heading eastbound, currently in the Andover-to-Delridge queue.

8:12 AM: SDOT’s camera on the five-way intersection isn’t working this morning, so we’ve just gone by to doublecheck the presumed absence of protesters. None in sight; today’s backups just seem to be “regular” backups.

8:18 AM: Headed southbound on Delridge, we stopped at a corner where a woman waited to cross with a baby in a stroller. **Ten cars passed by northbound, nobody stopped.** We waved our arms out the window trying to get the attention of the northbound drivers. Somebody southbound even went around us in the center turn lane. Why would you not stop for two minutes to let the woman and baby cross the street?

8:31 AM: Now at the Boren Building, where the event actually involves both schools housed here (the media advisory had only mentioned Arbor Heights, but STEM kids are here too).

They’re not actually stopping people on Delridge but rather in the parking lot pulling up to the south entrance of the building. Swag bags branded Vision Zero (which the advisory said are “grant-funded”) are being distributed. The $5 coffee cards mentioned in the original advisory are for Starbucks. We’re listening in as Kubly quizzes kids about safety know-how. Crosswalk refreshers seem in order. This school building will get two new crosswalks soon, by the way – one midblock going to the main entrance, one on the south end at Graham.

9:07 AM: Thanks to the texter who just sent word of a crash on Sylvan Way by Home Depot – blocking “uphill and the turn lane,” they report. One SFD unit just dispatched.

11:07 AM: Thanks to the texter who just tipped us that the 10:40 ferry from Vashon to Fauntleroy is running late because of a medical issue involving a passenger. Vessel Watch says it’s expected to dock around 11:13 am.