West Seattle, Washington
16 Tuesday
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
“Reopened” is the word of the day, so far. WSDOT confirms Highway 99 is now fully open again, including the rebuilt bridge north of the Battery Street Tunnel; also, the ramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge to southbound I-5 is open again after a deadly motorcycle crash overnight, and the bridge exit to northbound 99 reopened late last night, after an hours-long closure caused by a fuel spill. Another note for today: School buses will be out on practice runs. And if you travel through SODO – take note that the Mariners have a day game today (12:40 pm).
(Added: Photo of truck, tweeted by Seattle Fire)
4:57 PM: In case you’re heading toward downtown (or beyond) sometime soon: Thanks to the tipster who just called to let us know about a truck stopped on the eastbound bridge near the Highway 99 exit, leaking fluid. It’s on the SFD 911 log as a “fuel spill.”
5:10 PM UPDATE: The exit to 99 is closed because of the cleanup, per this SDOT tweet:
UPDATE: EB W Sea Bridge ramp to NB SR99 will be closed indefinitely to clean truck fuel spill. pic.twitter.com/b9yot1NrM8
— seattledot (@seattledot) August 27, 2014
5:20 PM UPDATE: A text from Metro says that since the ramp is closed for now, Routes 21, 120, 125, and RapidRide C Line are rerouting onto 4th Avenue South.
5:28 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire estimates the spill at about 80 gallons. (added) SPD adds that “Portions of roads near Harbor Island will be closed for an extended period.” And now there’s also word of a crash *on* northbound 99 north of the ramp from the bridge, so even if you get onto 99 from points to the south, you might be in for some trouble.
5:47 PM UPDATE: The cleanup of what’s described over emergency radio as diesel fuel also involves checking storm drains to make sure the fuel doesn’t get into the river or Puget Sound.
6:45 PM UPDATE: SDOT says the ramp will be closed “for several hours” because the hazmat team is investigating.
9:28 PM UPDATE: SPD says it probably won’t reopen until midnight. Here’s the summary just posted on SPD Blotter:
Multiple city agencies responded to a diesel fuel spill after a semi-truck punctured its gas tank sending 80 gallons of fuel onto streets near Harbor Island during Tuesday evening’s commute.
Officers began receiving calls about a fuel leak at the Alaskan Way on-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge just before 4:45 p.m. As they arrived, they found roads in the area covered in diesel fuel, making the roads very slick, for approximately one mile leading up to where the fuel source was found. Officers discovered the disabled semi-truck at the on-ramp surrounded in a three-inch-deep pool of fuel.
The Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene and began sopping up the fuel as it sank into the ground and drained into the sewage system. It is still unknown the extent of damage the fuel may have caused. The United States Coast Guard was called to the scene to help prevent fuel from leaking into the Duwamish Waterway.
Officers spoke with the driver of the semi who said he was unsure of what punctured the tank, but he had been traveling in the direction of the leak. Officers scoured the area and found a raised curb that appeared to have been hit by the truck, tearing a hole in the exposed fuel tank.
Four other vehicle were damaged in collisions related to the fuel spill and many others were trapped in the spilled fuel.
The ramp is closed as crews continue to cleanup, but is expected to reopen around midnight.
11:45 PM: Checking the webcam that’s been zoomed in on the ramp, looks like it’s open.
Though Seattle Public Schools‘ first day of classes is still eight days away, you’ll see yellow school buses on the roads the next two days. Here’s the heads-up from driver Al:
Tomorrow and Thursday school bus drivers will be doing ‘dry runs’ of their routes, which means as early as 6 am, hundreds of school buses will be out-and-about following the directions given to us by the District to find and check out our pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as looking for any route-problems we may encounter on the streets.
Also happening during these two days are meetings at various schools between staff and the drivers, so some schools will see a number of buses parked in their load zones for a while.
This will likely happen for most of the day both days, and we thank you ahead of time for the public’s patience and understanding.
And thanks again to everybody sharing back-to-school news – editor@westseattleblog.com – same address for announcements and info once schools are open again, too!
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Today is the last day of the rest of the Highway 99 closure, from the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley Street. See a time lapse of the work in our reminder from last night; see the map in an earlier reminder. To check Metro routes, go here.
26TH/BARTON NOTE, 6:30 AM: A fire response across from Westwood Village is affecting traffic in that area.
6:57 AM: Now there’s another fire response, in High Point. Not a big fire but it’s on Sylvan Way a block south of Morgan and will likely affect traffic in that area for a while.
5:45 PM NOTE: In case you haven’t already seen the separate update, the eastbound bridge offramp to NB 99 is blocked right now because of a spill from a truck – described so far as a fuel spill – that’s being cleaned up.
Two notes before the night’s out:
That time lapse from WSDOT shows the work that’s been done on Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel – the section that’s scheduled to be closed one more day, until early Wednesday, as a bridge is rebuilt. With the Alaskan Way Viaduct back in action as of this (Monday) morning, the commute was OK by most accounts, but it’s also widely acknowledged that it was also an off-day for many trying to get vacation time in before Labor Day, so just in case everybody’s back tomorrow, don’t get complacent – check our morning traffic watch. (And thanks again to those who shared notes about how it went – and to the WSB’er who noticed when the SDOT cameras got “stuck”!)
ALSO ON TUESDAY: It’ll be the final day of “microsurfacing” in Arbor Heights and the revised map was causing some concern, explains Joe Szilagyi of the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council. He pursued answers with SDOT and discovered:
*The intersection of 100th and 33rd was surfaced today (contrary to the map), so the Tuesday work will NOT “trap” residents along several blocks – they will be able to get to 102nd via 33rd
*SDOT still expects to finish tomorrow, per SDOT, “including the area that was added on California/Fletcher and a segment on 112th that is getting a special test formulation.”
(Photo added: Courtesy of Maris, who was bicycling through the area)
2:17 PM: Thanks to Leeann for the tip – low-bridge commuters and others driving in the Harbor Island vicinity might need this heads-up: Protesters say they’ll be staging at the Spokane Street Fishing Pier, east of the low bridge, at 4 pm today. They are protesting an arriving ship operated by an Israel-based company, the Zim Chicago (which is off Manchester as of this writing, per MarineTraffic.com), in opposition to Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict. A similar protest is reported to have drawn more than 100 participants Saturday in Tacoma. The Port of Seattle’s schedule says Zim Chicago is coming in at Terminal 18.
6:03 PM: Yes, that’s why there’s a TV helicopter over the north end of West Seattle.
ADDED: One protester was arrested, per multiple reports (including the protest group itself).
(8:41 AM NOTE: SDOT cams have been stuck for an hour-plus. So we have added WSDOT Highway 99 cams below)
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Just so we’re all clear – While Highway 99 has reopened between the West Seattle Bridge and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel, it’s still closed for two more days from the tunnel north to Valley Street, while WSDOT rebuilds a bridge. So anyone still on The Viaduct this morning northbound past Seneca will have to exit at Western, and that’s likely to mean slow going. See the map in last night’s reminder. If you need to doublecheck your Metro route, go here.
ONE OTHER ROAD WORK NOTE: Here’s the updated map for Arbor Heights/south Fauntleroy microsurfacing, as it continues through tomorrow.
8:18 AM: No problems reported so far, on 99 or elsewhere – see the comments for some commute stories. Of course, this is a big week for vacation-taking, since schools reopen next week, but still, it’s good news.
8:41 AM: Commenter just noticed SDOT cams have been stuck at 7:21 am for a while. Here’s a WSDOT cam, which is NOT stuck:
And another one:
5:42 PM: With the Alaskan Way Viaduct out of commission this weekend, the exits on the Spokane Street Viaduct – east half of the West Seattle Bridge – are carrying more traffic. That might be complicating matters now that there’s a four-car crash near the 4th Avenue South exit. Big backup on the bridge, according to the nearest cam:
(“Live” views are on the WSB Traffic page.)
5:53 PM: Multiple lanes are closed and an officer was just heard (via scanner) saying they’ll be closed “a while.
7:12 PM UPDATE: SDOT has tweeted that the scene is clear.
FIRST REPORT, 12:57 PM: A car-motorcycle collision in the 4700 block of West Marginal Way has police blocking the road, so avoid that area. No word yet on injuries.
1:17 PM: We’re at the scene; West Marginal is blocked just south of T-107 Park. According to emergency radio, the motorcycle rider is a 58-year-old man who is being rushed to Harborview Medical Center, and a preliminary description of the collision indicated that he was riding “at traffic speed” when a pickup truck “pulled out in front of him.” His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, so they’ll be reopening the road after tow trucks arrive and clear wreckage.
(Click image to open full-size PDF version of map)
SDOT is now more than halfway through the microsurfacing work in Arbor Heights (and part of south Fauntleroy), and says there have been some changes along the way (as noticed by at least one commenter on our previous story), so it’s revised the map. From spokesperson Caylen Beaty:
The original map we provided contained some mapping errors, so I’ve attached the updated version. As the work has progressed this week, the contractor has been providing correct information to residents and posting “No Parking” signs at least three days in advance of the work.
The work is on track and we anticipate it will wrap up by next Tuesday, August 26. Our thanks to the Arbor Heights community for their attention and cooperation as we work to maintain the residential streets of Arbor Heights.
The microsurfacing plan was first announced back in January, when SDOT explained that this process is now used instead of chip seal to refresh residential streets.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
It’s Friday, and that means the much-discussed Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closure starts tonight. See maps/times here. In general, it starts at 10 pm, but there are provisions for allowing vehicles onto 99 to handle departures from the Seahawks game – for southbound 99, the Columbia St. entrance will stay open until midnight. One more reminder – from the West Seattle Bridge until the Battery Street Tunnel, it’s only closed until early Monday, but from there north to Valley Street on lower Queen Anne, the closure continues until early Wednesday. If you’re taking a bus that uses 99, check here for reroute info.
OTHER WEEKEND NOTES: The Alki Beach 5K for Northwest Hope and Healing closes Alki Avenue SW for a few hours on Sunday morning. That’s one of the various citywide non-Highway 99 alerts in this roundup published by SDOT.
8:25 AM: If you are headed westbound on the bridge, a safety alert was just broadcast regarding an overhead sign in danger of falling. Didn’t catch exactly where, except that it was on the Fauntleroy Expressway section, and it’s going to be checked out ASAP.
2:54 PM: It didn’t look like a major incident on the 911 log, but we’ve since learned from text and e-mail tips that a car crash in the 5200 block of Delridge Way has the road at least partly blocked, and drivers are having to turn around. We’re checking to see if anyone was hurt. (Thanks to Tim for sending the photo from a passing bus.)
6:03 PM UPDATE: According to Kyle Moore from Seattle Fire, one person was hurt and taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
We usually just link SDOT’s weekly citywide-alert roundup in our daily traffic watch – but this time around, seems to be worth sharing immediately, so here it is, featuring the Highway 99 closures (the Viaduct itself is ONLY involved in the weekend closure), plus Sunday morning’s Alki Avenue closure for the Alki Beach 5K, and more. Also please remember if you’re out late TONIGHT, the ramp to northbound 99 from the eastbound bridge will be closed overnight (10 pm tonight-5 am Friday) for work related to the weekend 99 closure. And if you need Metro reroute info – it’s here.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! The outbound signs are all reminding you of the looming Highway 99 closure. Remember that while many signs say “4-day closure,” it’s 2 days for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and 99 south of there to the West Seattle Bridge, all 4 days from the Battery Street Tunnel northbound to Valley St. (lower Queen Anne). See maps/times here. The preparation work that’s been happening overnight all week will also include closure tonight, 10 pm-5 am, of the West Seattle Bridge offramp to NB 99. Also of note:
CONTINUING ROAD WORK: Arbor Heights microsurfacing, and restriping all over the place.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: Next step in the Fauntleroy Way “Boulevard” project, a community meeting, which we learned on Wednesday is set for September 23rd.
ADDED 9:27 AM: Trouble on the 1st Avenue South Bridge’s northbound side:
@seattledot More fire trucks on scene on 1st Ave S Bridge, northbound traffic reduced to 1 lane on the bridge. pic.twitter.com/tm3AqDj7Bw
— seattledot (@seattledot) August 21, 2014
10:05 AM: SFD has cleared that scene. Meantime, we just received a text about a reported crash on the eastbound bridge – no further details yet.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to another late-summer commute. The morning starts with the road-work alerts:
ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING CONTINUES: Our Monday story includes the map of which streets are getting it and when.
STRIPE-PAINTING: Just one day after the SDOT alert about work crews here by week’s end, we spotted one out working on California SW yesterday. Keep your distance if you see them.
HIGHWAY 99 WORK, INCLUDING THE BIG CLOSURE: Overnight prep work is closing lanes nightly, getting ready for the big work that requires a two-phase closure beginning Friday night: See maps/times here.
7:31 AM UPDATE: Thanks to CC in comments and someone via phone for the tip – there’s a problem on the ramp from the eastbound bridge to Highway 99. (added) Julia says, “We just passed the ramp. A semi and smaller truck appear to have collided and blocking the ramp. Use other routes if you can.”
7:41 AM UPDATE: Annie tweets that she’s on the Route 120 bus and it just “took the SODO detour.”
7:57 AM UPDATE: The ramp is now clear, according to multiple reports including an SDOT tweet. Thanks for the updates (again, especially from bus riders and others who aren’t driving – if you see a problem while you ARE driving, please don’t call, text, tweet, etc. until you can do so safely and legally after arriving at your destination).
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Time to watch traffic, just in case, and to share alerts and transportation news:
ROXBURY PAVING TODAY: The city will be finishing the work between 25th and 27th SW.
ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING CONTINUES: The long-anticipated work is under way, as announced by SDOT on Monday. Kevin McClintic shares this view of one road post-treatment:
He says the street was kept closed for about four hours after application, and has some advice: “Keep your animals inside until the sealant dries, lest they get the stuff on their paws and they lick themselves crazy.”
NIGHTTIME LANE CLOSURES ON HIGHWAY 99: Announced on Monday, for the nights leading up to the big closure this weekend (and partly beyond). Speaking of which
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE STARTS FRIDAY NIGHT: The stretch from the West Seattle Bridge to the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed both ways all weekend; from the tunnel to Valley Street, it will be closed late Friday night-early Wednesday morning. See maps/times here.
PAINTING CREWS ON THE WAY: SDOT expects its road-painting crews to start work out our way by week’s end.
Another alert from SDOT – the “microsurfacing” work in Arbor Heights (and south Fauntleroy) is under way. You might already have seen the crews doing advance weed-clearing work along the roads in recent days. Here’s a larger map and full info. It’s been seven months since SDOT’s original announcement of this work.
SDOT has just sent out a general alert about crews repainting lines “on major arterial streets throughout the city” while the clear, dry weather lasts – 850 “lane miles” in all. Notes SDOT’s Marybeth Turner, “Re-marking the yellow, solid white and dashed white lines makes them easier to see, and the reflective beads in the paint also helps, enhancing safety.” The crews have already been through North Seattle and downtown, are in east Central Seattle now, and expected in our area later this week “where, if weather is favorable, they expect to complete striping in about three weeks.” The trucks carry signs warning you to keep away from the wet paint – please heed them!
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No major problems right now as the heart of the morning commute approaches. As reported here very early this morning, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run is back to three boats. Here’s what’s ahead this week:
ROXBURY PAVING, TUESDAY: The city has already ground down SW Roxbury from 25th to 27th but needed dry weather to repave, so that’s now set for tomorrow.
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE, STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT: The stretch from the West Seattle Bridge to the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed both ways all weekend; from the tunnel to Valley Street, it will be closed late Friday night-early Wednesday morning. See maps/times here.
ALKI SW CLOSURE NEXT SUNDAY: The Alki Beach 5K benefiting breast-cancer patients is next Sunday morning.
(WSB PHOTO: M/V Evergreen State idled at Vashon)
1:55 PM: Traffic was already expected to be heavy on the Washington State Ferries Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth runs today, because of a big event on Vashon Island, and now there’s word of a complication – a boat breakdown (the un-mothballed M/V Evergreen State) has put it on a two-boat schedule. Check here for the latest alerts.
10:54 PM: Late night now, and it’s still a two-boat schedule. We’ve seen some of the results firsthand, having to go to Vashon for a family-related event this afternoon, and finally on the boat back home right now (the Issaquah departed Vashon for Fauntleroy via Southworth about 10 minutes ago). No word if there’s any chance this will be fixed tomorrow, so if you’re planning a trip on the “triangle” route Sunday, add extra time to your plan.
While everything is status quo with the Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 north of the West Seattle Bridge THIS weekend, WSDOT reminds you that won’t be case by this time NEXT weekend. The map above shows the planned closure – for various reasons you can read about here – starting 10 pm next Friday night, August 22, with the exception of two access points for traffic exiting the Seahawks game until midnight. By Monday morning, August 25th, the WS Bridge-to-Battery St. Tunnel section should reopen, but the tunnel-to-Valley St. section will stay closed two more days:
Again, that all starts NEXT Friday night. And we’ll be reminding you daily in our regular WSB traffic coverage between now and then.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Weather is this morning’s primary commute challenge so far – wet roads around the area. Looking ahead to tonight and beyond:
CITYWIDE ALERTS FOR TONIGHT/WEEKEND … here’s the SDOT roundup, beginning with Hempfest starting this afternoon and the Seahawks‘ preseason game vs. San Diego, 7 pm tonight.
VASHON EVENT THIS WEEKEND: Washington State Ferries notes weekend traffic to/from Vashon is likely to be heavy because of the Raft Up kayak/canoe/music event expected to draw thousands.
REMEMBER – HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE, ONE WEEK AWAY! One week until Highway 99 closes from the West Seattle Bridge to Valley Street all weekend and then stays closed from the Battery St. Tunnel to Valley St. for two days beyond that.
ADDED 11:16 AM: ROXBURY RESCHEDULED – The repaving between 25th and 27th SW is now rescheduled for next Tuesday (August 19th) because dry weather is required.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Weather is the main challenge today – while we haven’t seen any word of West Seattle problems, the Vashon Water Taxi is running late because of fog. No major problems on the land routes closest to us (as of this writing, the camera views are fairly clear), but the fog is shifting, so give yourself extra time just in case.
ROAD CREW REMINDER: While there are small projects in multiple spots, the only official alert we have for today is tha this is scheduled to be the third and final day for Harbor Avenue median landscaping work.
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