(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:05 AM: Good morning! Highway 99 is the trouble spot in our area right now, just north of the 1st Avenue S. Bridge, if you come in from south of the West Seattle Bridge. Lanes are blocked in both directions.

Today’s notes:

35TH SW PAVING: The city is scheduled to continue the work on 35th SW between Morgan and Juneau that started Tuesday, almost a week ahead of what was previously announced.

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND 6 am-6 pm inspection closures for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and 99 north of the West Seattle Bridge both days this weekend, plus stretches to the north of that, in phases.

7:20 AM: The problem north of the 1st Avenue S. Bridge continues blocking most lanes (which is also backing up Highway 509), and if you’re contemplating East Marginal Way S., a crash is reported at 4th.

7:38 AM: From SDOT, an illustration of how this is affecting traffic south of downtown:

@seattledot backups are continuing to grow on SR 99 and SR 509 NB into the city: pic.twitter.com/Siyv9heUxS

— seattledot (@seattledot) October 15, 2014

And it’s raining.

7:51 AM: The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad will be investigating this, per radio communications. They expect that to take a few hours.

7:59 AM: In West Seattle, a three-car collision – no one hurt – is reported at Delridge/Genesee, blocking the bus lane. And right after we added this – police have spotted a 3-car crash at 40th/Morgan.

8:34 AM: According to SPD, the problem north of the 1st Avenue S. Bridge originated as a car/motorcycle crash. Its surface location is East Marginal/Fidalgo, and again, investigators will be at work there for hours, so if you are heading in from the south, find an alternate route.

8:46 AM: Jennifer Knutson shares a photo from 8th/Roxbury, where traffic is backed up because of the northbound 99 crash/investigation we’ve been tracking – this is a look at eastbound Roxbury:

Again, the 99 (East Marginal/Fidalgo) situation will be a problem for at least a few hours. We’ll update here whenever it reopens; even after we move on to other news atop the main WSB page, you can find the daily traffic watch linked atop the “BIG STORIES” list on the right sidebar, every weekday.

10:40 AM: East Marginal, aka surface 99, is now clear at the crash scene, all lanes open again.

(Added: Photo courtesy Deb)
The second round of 35th SW repaving has been accelerated – the Morgan-to-Juneau plan originally mentioned for next week – according to this update just in from SDOT:

Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation are working on 35th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Morgan Street and Southwest Juneau today and tomorrow, weather permitting.

They had planned to close part of the street, leaving one lane open in each direction from 8:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. each day. They have now decided to keep one southbound lane on 35th Avenue Southwest closed overnight for safety reasons. One southbound lane will remain open. If weather allows, they plan to complete paving the street tomorrow.

P.S. While we’re on the topic of 35th – next week is the meeting launching the safety project, 6:30 pm October 22nd @ Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (backstory here).

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Tuesday! Notes as we start our traffic watch:

SIDEWALK ALERT IN THE JUNCTION: Last time we checked on Monday, it hadn’t started yet, but the contractor for the California/Alaska/42nd two-building project has warned that it will be putting up new covered walkways this week, and while the work is under way, sidewalks will be closed alongside its site on California and Alaska. The alert says the work should be done by week’s end.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: Monthly meeting tonight, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, with a big decision to be made – endorse Seattle Transportation Benefit District Proposition 1 or not?

REMEMBER, THE VIADUCT … will be closed 6 am-6 pm both days this weekend, as part of an intricate Highway 99 closure scenario detailed here.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The new week is here, and we’re watching the roads – the weather, too, since it might be a rainy commute heading back this way later today.

LOOKING AHEAD, 2 NOTES: Next weekend’s Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closure has a few complications around the edges – here are the full details … Looking further ahead, just two more weeks left in the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s 7-day-a-week season; two weeks from today, on October 27th, the 5-day-a-week fall/winter schedule takes effect (preview it here).

7:36 AM: There’s a crash on the eastbound bridge at the ramp to northbound 99. Also, there is a medic response in The Junction at California/Alaska. Checking further on both.

7:47 AM: The incident in The Junction has closed Alaska both ways just west of California, according to SDOT. It’s delaying multiple routes, according to Metro. Also, per scanner, Traffic Collision Investigation Squad has been called, and that usually means the scene will be closed for some time.

7:54 AM: Clarification from the scanner: Eastbound Alaska is closed between California and 44th. Westbound is still open.

(Traffic camera showing Junction scene)
8:01 AM – JUNCTION INCIDENT UPDATE: There is a temporary stop set up on 44th if you need to catch an outbound bus. Meantime, we’re starting to get more information – a Metro bus is reported to have hit someone, who has been taken to the hospital.

8:15 AM – BRIDGE INCIDENT UPDATE: This has cleared, according to SDOT. No injuries reported.

(WSB photo)
8:17 AM – JUNCTION UPDATE: Metro says the buses that usually stop at the eastbound Alaska stops between 44th and California are using the stop on 44th north of Alaska instead.

8:36 AM: Still no details about exactly what happened in the Junction incident – police are still sorting out and can only confirm that a bus did hit someone. We’ll have a separate followup later when more info is available, likely within the hour. Meantime, Metro supervisor at the scene told us they would be advising people to use the outbound bus stop on Alaska east of 42nd.

8:43 AM: Seattle Fire says the person hit is a woman around 30 years old and describes her injuries as serious.

9:22 AM: We’ve just published our followup with more info, and will also update that when Alaska reopens.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! Foggy again, and that’s helping keep things slow (also delaying Fauntleroy-Southworth-Vashon ferries up to 25 minutes). Note that Seattle Public Schools have no classes today.

35TH SW REPAVING: SDOT will continue repaving 35th SW between Cambridge and Roxbury (map) today.

WEEKEND ALERTS: Here’s the citywide alert list for this weekend.

(added) MORE DETAILS OF NEXT WEEKEND’S HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURES: Here.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! We start with advisories:

35TH SW REPAVING: Today and tomorrow, SDOT will be repaving 35th SW between Cambridge and Roxbury (map). Sorry for the short notice – we hadn’t heard about it until checking with SDOT after spotting a portable sign on 35th yesterday afternoon; after our inquiry and initial report, they sent an advisory. (Though it says work hours are 8:30-5, the mobile sign said 7-7.)

VICE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: VP Joe Biden arrived at Boeing Field Wednesday evening and is here until mid-afternoon. He is expected to travel from downtown to Renton for an 11 am event at Renton Technical College, then back downtown to the Convention Center for a Democratic fundraising lunch, then to Boeing Field for takeoff in the 2 pm hour. Until then, be on motorcade alert.

Meantime, on the (non-campaign) trail:

POP-UP STOP FOR BICYCLE RIDERS: As noted in our late-night biznotes, West Seattle Cyclery plans a trailside stop under the bridge 6-9 am-ish today with “coffee, snacks, and on-the-spot service.”

(ADDED: Photo courtesy of West Seattle Bike Connections president Don Brubeck, who reports, “Lots of people were stopping for juice, coffee, bananas, baked goods and bike advice. A flat was fixed while I was there, and Brad (left) tells me I need a new bottom bracket.”)

ADDED 9:51 AM: Regional media reports via Twitter that VP Biden is or is about to be on the move to Renton. This means temporary stops along southbound I-5 (including the West Seattle Bridge ramp to it).

ADDED 2:44 PM: The vice presidential visit is ending – right about now (or perhaps it’s happened already) the motorcade is heading back to Boeing Field, which means more temporary stops on and near I-5.

Two road-work alerts we’ve discovered since today’s traffic watch:

35TH SW: Big lighted signboard advises road work is scheduled for 35th SW between Cambridge and Roxbury tomorrow and Friday, 7 am-7 pm. No SDOT announcement otherwise, so we have a message out to find out more, and will add the details when we get them. 2:24 PM update: SDOT says it’s paving and is about to send out this announcement:

Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will work on 35th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Roxbury and Southwest Cambridge streets on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 9 and 10. They will grind and repave the asphalt part of the street. (The street is part concrete and part asphalt.) One lane will remain open in each direction. Work hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SDOT tells us there is also a tentative plan, weather permitting, to pave 35th between Morgan and Juneau the week of October 21st.

(back to original report) ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT INSPECTION CLOSURES: Found in the fine print of the weekly Construction Lookahead, the next Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closures are penciled in for 6 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Foggy again in some spots, though the bridge/99 views look clearer today than they did at this time on Tuesday.

LANE CLOSURE REMINDER: Today’s the day SDOT plans to close the Spokane Street Viaduct‘s inside eastbound lane 10 am-2 pm, between 4th and 1st, for repairs.

VICE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to arrive this evening and stay through early tomorrow afternoon. The Boeing Field advisory indicates he’s arriving in the 6 pm hour tonight.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: What’s happening with SDOT‘s proposal to change RapidRide C Line routing in the heart of The Junction? Here’s the latest …

7:44 AM: Regular user of the low bridge? Just another reminder that SDOT now has a separate Twitter feed for bridge closures around the area (and tweeted just a few minutes ago that the low bridge is closed) at @SDOTbridges.

6:24 PM: If you’re heading this way from north of downtown – note that a crash has closed the southbound Battery Street Tunnel. Traffic is being diverted off at Denny Way, just before the tunnel.

7:18 PM: SDOT says a tow truck has arrived and the scene should be cleared soon.

7:40 PM: The tunnel has reopened.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Foggy as we head for the heart of the commute, and that’s the biggest challenge this morning, so far.

7:23 AM: For our Vashon Island friends – King County advises the Vashon Water Taxi is running up to 15 minutes late because of the fog. No advisories re: West Seattle, so far.

7:50 AM: If you’re headed toward Highway 509 via Roxbury and vicinity – note that police and fire are responding to a “heavy rescue” call at Olson and Myers. More when we get it.

7:55 AM: “Heavy rescue” means emergency responders might have to cut someone out of the wreckage – but scanner conversation says the people in the vehicle got out OK and won’t need that, so some SFD units are being canceled. A private ambulance is being called. Still likely to be affecting traffic.

8:50 AM – VICE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: We’ll hit this again tomorrow, but note that Vice President Biden‘s visit will be Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon, at least according to our interpretation of the Boeing Field advisory.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to a new week! Perhaps the biggest traffic note of the day, so far, would be expectations that the pm commute might ramp up a bit earlier tonight, with Seahawks fans trying to get to wherever they plan to watch tonight’s game (5:30 pm vs. Washington)

TRANSPORTATION NEWS OVER THE WEEKEND: Want to help look at the “big picture” in The Junction – what it would take to truly be a “transit community”? Join a tour and conversation Saturday … Speaking of The Junction, a signal-sequence change has drawn attention … Here are two alerts for later this week.

8:50 AM UPDATE: Northbound I-5 has a lane-blocking crash described as “south of I-90,” so that’s likely to be affecting the offramp from the east end of the bridge.

8:58 AM UPDATE: WSDOT says the crash has cleared.

Looking ahead to next week, two traffic alerts that might give you cause to plan ahead:

SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT: Just announced by SDOT:

Roadway Structures Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will close the left-hand, eastbound lane on the Spokane Street Viaduct from Fourth Avenue South to First Avenue South on October 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. The closure will allow crews to make pavement repairs on the viaduct.

VICE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: VP Joe Biden’s still on for a visit to Seattle next week, on Thursday (October 9). The full schedule hasn’t been announced but we do know he’s expected at a noon fundraising event for U.S. Senate candidates at the Convention Center downtown.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! Nothing out of the ordinary in the routes through/from West Seattle so far.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: Short and sweet – no major road work, as WSDOT says the Highway 99 work is done for now. The SDOT citywide weekend-alert list is short, too.

7:41 AM: SDOT reports a stall on the right shoulder of the eastbound bridge at the Delridge onramp. They’ve turned one of the cameras toward it – the one at top right of our four-camera display above – for now, anyway.

8:10 AM: Thanks for the sunrise photos this morning, after the beautiful sunset last night. This one is from Carolyn Newman:

Any time you need sunrise/sunset/moonrise/moonset times, forecasts, tides, the WSB West Seattle Weather page can help.

9:56 AM: Seen while driving through The Triangle a short time ago:

Tower-crane removal continuing at Spruce (ex-Hole), day 2 pic.twitter.com/xvJ2umpK9Q

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 3, 2014

Here’s our Thursday report on that.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
None of the trouble spots so far this morning are in our area. So while we keep watch on the commute ahead, here’s what else you should know:

SCHOOL-ZONE CAMERAS START TICKETING: After a month of issuing “warning” citations, the two new speed cameras on Roxbury start issuing “real” tickets today. Here’s our report from Monday.

OVERNIGHT HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: With the rain past, WSDOT is back on track with its overnight partial Highway 99 closures for road-surface work. Tonight, it’s scheduled to close northbound 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the stadium zone, 10 pm-5 am, which means bus reroutes, as well as the closure of the exit from the eastbound bridge.

JUNCTION/TRIANGLE NOTE: As mentioned here Wednesday, the tower crane for Spruce (the former “Hole” site at Fauntleroy/Alaska/39th) is coming down today, which might have some effects – if only the lookie-loo factor – at that busy intersection.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: Our partners at The Seattle Times take a closer look at the new monorail proposal you’ll see on the November ballot.

8:41 AM: Headed downtown again, for Day 3 of the development-appeal hearing we’ve been covering. (Our report on Day 2 goes live in a few minutes.) Two traffic notes as we head north: There’s a broken-down semi-truck on W. Marginal Way S. just before the exit to the northbound 1st Avenue S. Bridge. Could get dicey. Also, the low-hanging cables over Trenton at 25th – just east of Westwood Village – are still a hazard:

Neighbors say this was reported last night; police came out and put the streamers on, but the cable is still dangerously low. We’re going to try to find out if repairs are planned; this would seem like the kind of hazard that could and should be reported via 206-684-ROAD.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The commute is on – nothing out of the ordinary on routes through/from West Seattle so far.

DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT REMINDER: Seawall work resumes today and that means changes along the downtown waterfront, some involving transportation. Here’s the SDOT reminder.

8:42 AM: We’re commuting downtown again today (second day of the 3078 Avalon appeal hearing – here’s our report on day 1) and while the bridge was OK, 4th Avenue is more sluggish than we’ve experienced before, including several light cycles to get off the overpass and onto 4th.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing unusual on routes through/from West Seattle right now.

ROAD WORK: If weather permits, the state plans to close northbound 99 tonight between the West Seattle Bridge and the stadium zone, 10 pm-5 am.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: County Council members announced in dueling news releases Monday that they have taken action described as “sending back to committee” or “canceling” the February 2015 Metro bus cuts (which were to include killing Route 22), pending the outcome of the county budget process. Seattle Times (WSB partner) transportation reporter Mike Lindblom sorts it out, including possible implications for the transit-funding ballot measure you’ll be considering in a few weeks.

7:02 AM: Via Twitter, @cdawg2610 reports a possible stalled car on the eastbound bridge by the 99 overpass.

7:47 AM: The stalled vehicle is still there – in the left lane, per SDOT. You can also see it (as of this writing) on the WSDOT Spokane St. camera. The “low bridge” has just opened for marine traffic, so that’s not a good option right at the moment. The 1st Avenue S. bridge is showing its share of brake lights.

8:12 AM: SDOT just tweeted that the stalled vehicle has been cleared, but as always, “residual backups” remain.

8:42 AM: We’re headed downtown for a story this morning, so we’re trying the “back route.” After 25 minutes from Upper Fauntleroy, headed to the 1st Avenue S. Bridge via Highland Park and then 4th Avenue S., we are almost to 4th/Spokane.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to a brand-new week. The traffic watch is on. And so is the look ahead:

OVERNIGHT HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: If it’s not canceled for weather or another reason, work is scheduled overnight tonight on southbound 99, closing that side of the highway between our bridge and the stadium zone, 10 pm-5 am.

METRO REMINDER: The September service change took effect on Saturday. No West Seattle routes were among the cuts/reductions, but if you transfer to/from other routes, you might want to doublecheck the list.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is starting its second year with a list of 5 priorities it believes the city could and should address ASAP … ICYMI over the weekend – dog rescued on the bridge!

7:52 AM: Thanks to everyone in comments (also Lise and Maggie via Twitter) for word of the broken-down RapidRide bus on the eastbound bridge. Maggie also points out that WS buses have extra passengers this morning because the Vashon Water Taxi is out of service (mechanical trouble with Melissa Ann).

8:00 AM: SDOT says the stalled bus is cleared now (but as always, residual backups will take a while to clear).

(WSB photo tweet, substituted for traffic cam that originally was atop this report)
4:05 PM: Traffic alert for Fauntleroy Way alongside Lincoln Park, north of the ferry terminal – emergency crews are at the scene of what’s reported to be a motorcycle-car collision. Emergency radio communication describes the rider (added: a 52-year-old man) as having been thrown off his motorcycle after hitting the car, but not having lost consciousness. A Seattle Fire medic unit is arriving to take the rider to a hospital. This is in the southbound lanes, heading toward the dock, so if you have to head in that direction, we’d suggest waiting a while.

4:18 PM: Police have just allowed some northbound traffic through, but southbound (toward the ferry terminal) is still described as snarled, and people are reported to be using side streets, trying to get to the ferry dock any way they can.

4:24 PM: Coordination efforts are continuing, to try to move some traffic through the area. The victim, meantime, is en route to Harborview.

4:46 PM: An officer is directing traffic by the south parking lot to help keep things moving.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The morning traffic watch is on.

In the looking-ahead department, here’s the SDOT roundup of this weekend’s big, potentially traffic-affecting events. On Highway 99, more overnight closures are scheduled for the week ahead, weather permitting.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Another rainy morning, and slow going so far. A crash on the ramp from the eastbound bridge to southbound I-5 is reported to be contributing to slowdowns, partly blocking the ramp, though there’s no medic response, so apparently no injuries.

ROAD WORK: Today was announced as the day SDOT would close the inside lane on the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct after the morning commute for repairs – but work is often postponed when it rains, so we’ll be checking on its status.

7:53 AM: Texter reports a crash at 28th and 106th, possibly involving a school bus. We’re sending a crew to check it out. Meantime, the earlier crash on the ramp to southbound I-5 has cleared out of the travel lanes.

8:14 AM: The collision involves a car and Highline Public Schools bus and is in the middle of the intersection.

No injuries on the bus, we’re told; another bus has arrived for the kids to transfer onto. The driver of the car is being checked out. The scene should clear soon, as tow crews are arriving.

8:32 AM: If you’re just leaving, be forewarned – “bridge bad again,” reports commenter Jovan.

9:06 AM: A crash is reported on Highland Park Way hill. Haven’t yet heard which direction. (added) Just after typing that, we received a text saying two cars are in the ditch and the road is reduced to one lane going downhill. SFD is sending a second engine. Thanks as always for traffic tips – but of course, please only text/call us – 206-293-6302 – when it’s safe to do so (if you’re a passenger, OR once you’ve arrived at your destination).

(Photo added – thanks to Meg; note the vehicle off the road at left)
9:15 AM: Per scanner, Highland Park Way hill is closed in the uphill direction for now. We’d advise avoiding the hill entirely until there’s word the crash is clear.

9:49 AM: As Kam notes in comments, the hill is closed both ways now – they had let a few buses through, but then shut it down entirely – and scanner discussions indicate there’s a significant oil slick, so cleanup is likely to take a while.

11:26 AM: Per scanner, Highland Park Way hill has reopened, after cleanup, towing, etc.

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Wet roads now that the rain’s arrived, but no major problems overall on West Seattle-area routes.

OVERNIGHT HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURES: WSDOT’s schedule for this week continues:

Tuesday, Sept. 23 and Thursday, Sept. 25
Crews will close all lanes of northbound SR 99 between South Spokane and South Atlantic streets, and the eastbound South Spokane Street ramp to northbound SR 99, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.

Crews will close up to two lanes of southbound SR 99 between South Atlantic and South Spokane streets from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.

Wednesday, Sept. 24
Crews will close all lanes of southbound SR 99 between South Atlantic and South Spokane streets, and the Columbia Street on-ramp to southbound SR 99, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.

‘FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD’ OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT: The city is almost midway through design for major changes to Fauntleroy Way between the bridge and SW Alaska, in the “Fauntleroy Boulevard” project; the mayor’s budget, unveiled yesterday, includes $500,000 to finish the design. Tonight, 5-7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California), drop in and offer comments/ask questions at a key stage in the process, after taking a closer look at what’s planned so far.

4:42 PM: Note that tonight’s overnight Highway 99 closure has been canceled because of the rain.