West Seattle, Washington
29 Wednesday
(UPDATED 4:41 PM with new post-incident info from SPD)
11:51 AM: The traffic backup on the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct looks more like afternoon commute right now than lunchtime. SPD says it’s because of a lost load – reportedly a “12-foot spool.” SDOT says it’s at Seneca Street and blocking the right lane. WSDOT describes it as “a truck striking the Seneca St. overpass.” More to come.
11:59 AM: Now SDOT says the southbound Viaduct is closed at the Battery Street Tunnel.
12:04 PM: Update from SFD:
Forklift being brought in to reposition the load from SB SR99 Ax @ Seneca. SB Lanes shut down at Battery St Tunnel. @seattledot @SeattlePD
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) April 29, 2015
Here’s a picture from the scene. (Added: Alan sent this photo looking southwestward toward the trouble spot, taken in the early going:)
12:16 PM UPDATE: The Columbia Street onramp to 99 remains open, per SDOT. And they’ve just announced they’re opening a lane beyond that.
12:29 PM: Southbound 99 is being closed again from the BSTunnel and Western – but again, access from Columbia Street is *not* affected. WSDOT now says, “Forklifts from the Viaduct project are going to the semi on the SB 99 Viaduct to help secure the large spools of wire.” (Added: Photo sent by Ben:)
750-1,000 lb spool precariously perched on truck on viaduct. Battery tunnel & Elliot will be intermittently closed pic.twitter.com/ZigTOvVj76
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) April 29, 2015
1 PM: They’re still working to clear the situation.
2 spools on the truck. Authorities working to secure them and get everything moving again pic.twitter.com/HEZgYDhC7x
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) April 29, 2015
1:52 PM: SPD says the semitruck driver will be cited. They’re close to clearing the scene.
1:57 PM: Reopened!
2:18 PM: It did not go unnoticed that all this happened one day after a City Council committee was debriefed on the 9-hour fish-truck crash closure – also on SB 99 – last month (here’s our coverage of the debrief). The mayor’s office just tweeted this:
Thank you @SeattlePD, @SeattleFire & @seattledot for working together to resolve a difficult accident on SR99 & to reopen the highway.
— Ed Murray (@MayorEdMurray) April 29, 2015
We’re adding, above, some additional images that came in during the operation to clear the spools. Thanks to everyone who sent photos!
4:41 PM: Just in via SPD Blotter, including an update on the Viaduct’s structural status and the fine faced by the trucker:
olice received 911 reports at 11:34 AM that a semi-truck had lost a load of two 12-foot spools—each weighing between 700 and 1,000 pounds—on the southbound lanes of the viaduct, near Columbia Street. At least one of the spools struck the underside of the upper level of the viaduct, dislodging the massive load from the truck’s flatbed trailer.
Officers blocked traffic onto the viaduct between the Battery Street Tunnel and Stewart Street while officials from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Fire Department and Seattle City Light worked to bring in heavy equipment to remove the spools.
Crews were able to use a bulldozer to re-load and secure the spools back on the semi-truck, which was moved to a construction area. Officials reopened the viaduct shortly before 2 PM. Today’s efforts to clear SR99 were significantly aided by planning and partnerships developed after another incident involving a semi-truck in March, which led to a nine-hour closure of the viaduct.
The Seattle Department of Transportation Commercial Vehicle Enforcement team cited the semi driver for “no oversized permit,” a violation of a state permit, and for “hitting a structure with impaired clearance.” The driver received $482 in citations, and could potentially face fines totaling thousands of dollars to cover the costs of the efforts to remove the spools. Oversized loads are not permitted on the portion of the viaduct where today’s collision occurred.
Officials have confiscated the driver’s commercial transportation permit, which he will need to reapply for before he can transport the load anywhere.
State officials say the spools—which were reportedly headed for Alabama—appear to have only caused minor damage to the viaduct. They will conduct a further assessment later this evening.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:12 AM: One traffic incident of note as we get going today – SDOT has just reported a stalled vehicle blocking the right lane in the northbound Battery Street Tunnel, which could affect NB Alaskan Way Viaduct traffic if it goes on for a while.
7:15 AM: SDOT has upgraded that to “northbound Battery St. Tunnel closed.”
7:19 AM: And – just heard via scanner – it’s been cleared.
7:59 AM: Texter says SPD has bus-lane enforcement out today at eastbound bridge offramp to 99. (Thanks as always for alerts – when you can text safely/legally, e.g. from a bus or a passenger seat or when you arrive at your destination – 206-293-6302.)
**We covered the early-afternoon Viaduct closure separately. And now that it’s afternoon, another problem’s been unfolding:
4:22 PM: The eastbound bridge isn’t a hot spot this time of day but just in case you have to head that way:
UPDATE: Right lane has been reopened on EB W Sea Bridge at I-5. Left lane still blocked pic.twitter.com/UNuj3lUgYz
— seattledot (@seattledot) April 29, 2015
UPDATE: SB SR 99 ramp to West Seattle Br is blocked due to a collision.Use caution & expect delays pic.twitter.com/6yqOgiyj6P
— seattledot (@seattledot) April 28, 2015
1:26 PM: Headed toward southbound 99 to get home? You’ll need to take an alternate route – as shown in SDOT’s tweet above, the ramp from SB 99 to the West Seattle Bridge is blocked right now. So SB I-5 or 1st Avenue S. are your alternate routes to the bridge until this is cleared. (Thanks to the texter who tipped us to this!)
2:06 PM: SDOT just reported that this crash has cleared and the ramp from southbound 99 to the westbound bridge is open again.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:28 AM: Tuesday morning’s commute is off to a breezy start. Two road/trail-work alerts, too:
ALKI TRAIL IN 3400 BLOCK OF HARBOR: As previewed here on Monday, SDOT is making changes for safety’s sake, and work is scheduled to start today.
24TH/MYRTLE LANE CLOSURES: As mentioned Sunday night, westbound Myrtle at 24th will be restricted in the daytime today and tomorrow as part of work related to the nearby Delridge/Orchard CSO project.
ADDED 7:27 AM: Traffic’s still quiet. So one more mention of note today, the City Council Transportation Committee meets at 9:30 am. The agenda includes the periodic update from SDOT director Scott Kubly; as previewed here last Friday with the document prepared for his appearance, it includes several West Seattle project updates.
1:28 PM: Ramp from SB 99 to the westbound bridge is blocked right now. We’re updating this separately.
3:25 PM: Announced by SDOT this afternoon:
The Seattle Department of Transportation will realign the Alki Trail at the driveway of 3400 Harbor Avenue Southwest (several hundred yards north of Spokane Street). Moving the trail away from the building at the driveway will improve visibility for drivers exiting the building parking lot and for bicyclists and pedestrians using the trail. Please see the [above] aerial visual with realignment super-imposed.
Construction is scheduled to begin tomorrow, April 28, and take up to three weeks to complete. Work will occur weekdays from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. with pedestrians and bicyclists detoured away from the building into an adjacent temporary pathway currently used to provide on-street parking. A single general traffic lane in each direction will be maintained, although they lanes will be narrowed to accommodate the work zone and temporary trail through the area. Access to building storefronts will also be maintained.
We had been asked recently about some parking changes in the area and are following up to ask if that was related to this.
ADDED 6:19 PM: SDOT’s Marybeth Turner responded to our question about the parking changes:
To make way for the trail’s new location, the truck load zone in front of 3400 Harbor Ave SW will be relocated approximately 23 feet to the south. Two on-street parking spots, one just north of the driveway and one just south of the driveway (for the relocated load zone) will be permanently removed.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! A new month will start before the week ends. But first, let’s get through Monday. Transportation-related notes:
ROAD-WORK UPDATES: Newest 47th/Admiral project info here; newest Delridge/Orchard project info here.
WHITTAKER CRANE: The first of two tower cranes for The Whittaker at Fauntleroy/Edmunds/Alaska is expected today, according to what the project team told us last week. We’ll be checking the area later to see if it’s bringing any additional traffic effects.
THINKING ABOUT TRYING TWO WHEELS? Bike Month is almost here, and Bike To Work Day is two weeks from Friday. Might be time to try two wheels. Tonight at 6, you’re invited to explore the concept at a free bicycle-commuting workshop presented by West Seattle Bike Connections at Delridge Library.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning and happy Friday! We start with project notes:
47TH/ADMIRAL SIGNAL: Concrete pouring could start on the south side of the intersection today, for new curbs and sidewalk, if the weather doesn’t interfere. The detailed update is here.
DELRIDGE/ORCHARD PROJECT UPDATE: In case you missed it – we published an update from Seattle Public Utilities, including added traffic effects at Myrtle next week.
And a transportation-news note:
LIGHT RAIL FOR WEST SEATTLE? After its Thursday board meeting, Sound Transit explained what’s next (“major public-involvement effort”) for its work toward the next ballot measure.
9:59 AM: If you’re headed toward 1st through SODO, you might try 4th instead, because of this:
Northbound 1st Ave S is currently blocked after S Lander St by a @SeattleFire response. Use alt routes &expect delays pic.twitter.com/p2w6qBPYTo
— seattledot (@seattledot) April 24, 2015
4:33 PM NOTE: SPU has e-mailed to say the Delridge/Orchard/Myrtle work mentioned earlier has been moved up: “The lane restriction on SW Myrtle St. at 24th Ave. SW has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29 (as opposed to 4/29 and 4/30, as previously announced).”
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:20 AM: Good morning! One issue in the area, as the commute gets going – a crash on NB 99 at the 1st Avenue South Bridge, blocking the carpool lane.
6:40 AM: WSDOT says the 1st Ave. S. Bridge problem “is clearing.”
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No trouble reported in, or from, West Seattle so far this morning – the weather is sunnier than expected, though, so don’t forget your shades!
One traffic alert for tonight: Southbound Highway 509 in Burien will close 8 pm-5 am tonight, tomorrow night, and two nights next week – details here.
From WSDOT:
Drivers heading to Burien or Sea-Tac Airport should prepare for up to four full closures of southbound State Route 509 over the next seven nights.
Closure details
· Wednesday, April 22 to the morning of Friday, April 24 and Monday, April 27 to the morning of Wednesday, April 29 – All southbound lanes of SR 509 from SR 518/Southwest 148th Street to South 160th Street will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly.
· Drivers will follow a short signed detour [onto 1st Avenue S.]. The southbound SR 509 exit to SR 518 and the airport will remain open.
· This work is weather dependent.
During the closures, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will grind and repave sections of the highway near SR 518. The work is part of the SR 509 project to replace the asphalt on a four-mile section of the roadway.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:38 AM: No West Seattle trouble spots thus far in the Tuesday commute.
12:38 PM: Trouble on the ferry run:
The Issaquah is out of service due to necessary repairs. The Fauntleroy/Vashon/ Southworth route will begin operating the two-boat schedule with the 12:20pm sailing from Fauntleroy. The two-boat schedule will be in effect until further notice.
You can view the 2-boat schedule at: wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/Default.aspx
(WSB photo, wider look at scene, substituted for originally published cameraphone pic)
6:31 PM: A crash is blocking Fauntleroy/Alaska both ways – avoid the area for now.
ADDED 6:37 PM: Two cars and a motorcycle are involved, our crew at the scene is told, and three people are being taken to the hospital – the motorcycle rider to Harborview via SFD medic unit, two people from the cars via private ambulance. The collision happened near the southeast corner of the intersection (by Les Schwab Tires). No life-threatening injuries, and TCIS is not being called out, so this might be cleared soon.
6:55 PM UPDATE: From SDOT:
UPDATE: Collision: Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Alaska St. Only NB lanes remain blocked. Tow truck is at the scene. pic.twitter.com/WAfeiHQMH4
— seattledot (@seattledot) April 21, 2015
7:40 PM: Scene’s clear, per SDOT.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We start with one traffic alert: Henderson Place is still closed north of Barton for the investigation of the second of two serious overnight West Seattle crashes. Use 9th SW instead.
Otherwise: For the first time since April 3rd, all the schools are back in session – last week was Seattle Public Schools‘ spring break, the week before that saw many private schools out. So please be extra, extra careful as everyone gets readjusted to routine. That’s today’s big reminder – no new road work on the schedule – so, the traffic watch is on.
7:15 PM: No serious injuries so far as we’ve heard, but a three-car crash is blocking Sylvan Way at Sylvan Heights (map), west of Delridge, east of High Point, so if you were heading that way, you’ll need to use another east-west route between Delridge and 35th (SW Holden, perhaps). No estimate yet how long this will last.
8:08 PM: Via the scanner, we learn the road has just reopened.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No trouble spots so far in or from West Seattle. Of note: It’s the last weekday of spring break for Seattle Public Schools and the independent schools that follow its calendar, so traffic volumes will invariably rise on Monday.
WEEKEND NOTES: Biggest traffic alert for the weekend – westbound I-90 lanes have more work this weekend just east of the city, so vehicles will be diverted into the express lanes. Also on the lookahead, SODO notes – the Mariners are at home this weekend, evening games tonight and Saturday, afternoon game Sunday (which is Salute to Armed Forces Day, and that could mean flyovers).
4:37 PM: A crash on the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct this past half-hour has cleared, but some residual backups are reported.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing of note on the roads so far but we do have a major problem on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run. Most recent update from WSF:
The Issaquah is out of service for necessary repairs. The 7:05am sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon and Southworth is cancelled. The following sailings may also be affected until repairs can be made: 7:30am Vashon to Southworth, 7:55am Southworth to Vashon and Fauntleroy.
Please check the online schedule to view sailing times. Updates will occur as information becomes available.
8:01 AM: Aside from the ferry trouble, no incidents. So it’s on with our Throwback Thursday Traffic photo of the week, from the Seattle Municipal Archives. You’ll probably recognize this spot in what’s now The Triangle:
The date: November 1957. The intersection: Fauntleroy/37th. Click the image to go to the Muni Archives page with a larger version of the photo, so you can take a closer look.
8:42 AM: Ferry update – M/V Issaquah is still out and runs are still being canceled – keep watch on the WSF website for the latest.
9:26 AM: WSF says the Issaquah is fixed and is returning to service with “a late 9:20 am departure from Southworth to Vashon and Fauntleroy.”
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. No incidents in or from West Seattle so far this morning. One update on ongoing work:
UPDATE ON 47TH/ADMIRAL SIGNAL/CROSSWALKS: From SDOT:
Construction is scheduled to begin this week on the south side of 47th Avenue SW and SW Waite Street. We anticipated beginning demolition of the southeast and southwest corners as soon as Monday but the work has been slightly delayed. Residents and businesses can now expect demolition at the southeast corner as soon as (today), April 15, and at the southwest corner on Thursday, April 16. The corners will be impacted for approximately two weeks while crews prepare signal pole foundations and pour new curbs and sidewalk. Access to Alki Mail & Dispatch will be maintained at all times.
Corners may be closed to pedestrians and bicyclists during work. People walking and biking will need to follow marked detours or find an alternate route.
As we’ve previously mentioned, there will be a lull of activity between work at the corners of this intersection and installation of the signal. Construction at the intersection will slow down at the end of April while we wait for the delivery of signal equipment. We will continue to keep you informed as more information is available related to installation and configuration of the new signal.
SPEAKING OF ADMIRAL: Watch for our report on last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, with SDOT’s briefing on two projects – adding bicycle lanes between California and 63rd, and reducing neighborhood speed limits in the WSHS vicinity.
10:26 AM: If you’re heading up from Harbor Avenue to California Avenue, a crash is blocking the uphill lane – thanks to the tipster who texted us. Does not appear from the SFD log that there were serious (if any) injuries.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Tuesday, April 14th. No road work alerts for today beyond continuing projects. Speaking of which …
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TONIGHT: How’s the 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalks project going? You’re likely to find out tonight when ANA meets at 7 pm, The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander). The agenda also includes SDOT briefings on a future bicycle-lane project along Admiral Way west of California and the 20 mph zone planned in the WSHS area.
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION TONIGHT: JuNO’s 6:30 pm agenda at the Senior Center of West Seattle also includes an SDOT rep, talking about RPZ criteria – of extra interest now in the wake of the citywide parking-study report covered here last night.
Earlier in the day …
CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 9:30 am at City Hall (or watch live online or on TV via Seattle Channel), with a busy agenda including updates on Bicycle Master Plan Implementation and the Freight Master Plan.
Survey du jour:
QUESTIONS ABOUT METRO: Answer them and be part of an international survey about transit.
Now, on to traffic watch – updates if/when anything of note happens.
The northbound Battery Street Tunnel is closed for a collision. Use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/zbRToxcTqT
— seattledot (@seattledot) April 13, 2015
2:03 PM: Don’t know yet how long this will last – but heads up if you are heading north: The Alaskan Way Viaduct might be a trouble spot for a while, because the collision shown in SDOT’s tweet has closed the northbound Battery Street Tunnel. No Seattle Fire callout, which likely means no serious injuries, if any. Updates when we get them.
2:20 PM: The Incident Response Team is on scene, says SDOT.
2:42 PM: Open again.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy spring break to everyone who’s off this week, and welcome back to everyone who’s been away. Our Monday watch is on. And we are looking ahead:
TRANSPORTATION THIS WEEK:
*This morning’s City Council briefing will include a tunnel-project update around 10:30 am (watch live via Seattle Channel – accompanying documents are linked from the agenda, with lots of charts related to Viaduct settling)
*Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting (7 pm, The Sanctuary) will include an SDOT briefing on the early-stage plan for a bicycle lane on Admiral Way between California and 63rd SW. (Also see the document that will be shown to the City Council Transportation Committee earlier in the day.) Plans for a 20 mph speed limit on residential streets around West Seattle High School will be discussed too.
*On Wednesday night, another West Seattle presentation about the draft transportation levy is set for the Delridge District Council meeting (7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center). Also that night, the agenda for the quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting (7 pm, The Kenney [WSB sponsor]) includes several transportation topics.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We’re on watch for Thursday. But first, our weekly feature:
THROWBACK THURSDAY, ROAD EDITION: Thanks to Alan in Highland Park for digging up more historic road views from the Municipal Archives, where we’ve been going lately to get this report into the “Throwback Thursday” online meme. Here’s what part of 9th SW in HPark looked like in 1932:
Click the image to see the page with the largest image of that scene. Alan believes it’s near SW Trenton, looking south, and points to this distinctive house as part of the evidence.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Trouble-free morning through and from West Seattle so far. So, the transportation headlines:
SW ROXBURY PLAN: Officially announced last night and set for implementation starting in August, SDOT’s Roxbury plan will “rechannelize” the road from 17th to 35th – one lane each way plus a center turn lane – and involve some simpler changes on the eastern stretch, including a speed-limit reduction. Sidewalks will be installed on the last sidewalkless stretch, which is on the south side of Roxbury east of 30th..
NEW VASHON WATER TAXI STARTS RUNNING THIS AFTERNOON: King County says M/V Sally Fox – twin to the future new West Seattle Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard – will take over the Seattle-Vashon run starting at 4:30 this afternoon.
VIADUCT STILL SETTLING: Results of the recent inspection closure are now public.
HOLDEN STAIRWAY GOATS: While the stairway from 20th to Delridge on Holden remains open, its north side is fenced off with the Rent-A-Ruminant goats at work, as covered here (and spotlighted by TV too).
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No incidents reported so far on the routes through/from West Seattle. A few notes:
STAIRWAY GOATS: We reported last Friday on SDOT’s plan to bring in Rent-A-Ruminant goats this week to clear overgrowth along the stairway that goes up Holden from Delridge. At the time, SDOT expected them to be at work by 8 am today, but they now tell us the start is likely to be between 11 am and 2 pm. We’ll update when there’s a sighting.
‘ROXBURY REVEAL’ TONIGHT AT WWRHAH: Tonight’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting (6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library) will include first word of SDOT’s final plan for making SW Roxbury safer.
Also, a reminder –
ROAD CLOSURE: The SW Waite closure on the north/northwest side of the 47th/Admiral signal/crosswalks project continues – thanks to Jed for tweeting this photo:
#waite street @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/ZdxY7hzpW0
— N Jed Murdock (@jedmurdock) April 7, 2015
The closure is expected to last all week.
| 32 COMMENTS