We start again this morning with two views of the bridge.

For more cameras, including Viaduct views, see the WSB Traffic page. We have road-work alerts, too – 42nd SW in The Junction will be closed for utility work south of SW Alaska starting around 7 am; this weekend, there are lane closures on northbound I-5 again starting 9:30 pm tonight, as detailed here.

3:01 PM: 42nd SW will be closed for the next three days (Thursday-Friday-Saturday) in the 4700 block between Alaska and Edmunds in The Junction. Just received that word from the general contractor for the 42nd/Alaska/California project, Andersen Construction. They say the work requiring the closure will be done by Seattle Public Utilities, 7 am-6 pm; we’re checking on whether it’ll be a round-the-clock closure and how it will affect Jefferson Square access off 42nd, and will add the answers when we get them.

4:41 PM: Update – Jefferson Square will still be accessible from 42nd; this closure, like a previous one there, will be on the north side of the block.

6:12 AM: There’s the west-pointed view of the bridge .. here’s the east-pointed view:

And the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct:

More cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page. As always, we’ll update here if anything significant happens with potential effects on local commuters.

HIGHWAY 99 OVERPASS OPENS MONDAY: In case you missed this announcement Wednesday – the Atlantic Street overpass over Highway 99 in the stadium zone will open Monday.

6:21 AM: As noted in our coverage of this morning’s Fauntleroy garage fire, Metro is not routing RapidRide C Line buses on Wildwood between 45th SW and 47th SW for now. We’re trying to verify the reroute, since the message mentions Gatewood stops that are nowhere near the usual C Line route.

6:39 AM: Metro has a web update with more details explaining that reroute, which means RapidRide is not running on Fauntleroy Way right now, and skipping the ferry dock.

6:55 AM: Per radio communications, the roads there will reopen shortly, so the bus rerouting might not last too much longer.

7:06 AM: Metro just texted, RapidRide is back to regular routing.

7:16 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 just north of the ramp from the West Seattle Bridge – a crash has one lane blocked.

7:31 AM: And now there is tragedy on the westbound bridge, per scanner. Someone called police to report seeing a person get out of a car and jump off the bridge. The victim is reported to have been found below; the car has been found on the bridge. (Note: Any time we mention suicide, we mention this: Crisis Clinic‘s 24-hour line, 206-461-3222.)

7:56 AM: Our crew confirms that the emergency response under the bridge because of this is off the roadways and has not affected the lower bridge; it is open as usual.

Police were also on the high bridge, with the abandoned vehicle, which will be impounded for investigation.

POSTSCRIPT: Checking WSB archives, we note two bridge suicides last year, a 27-year-old man in January and a 54-year-old woman in May.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Midweek already. If you see something affecting the commute, please let us know – if you can text/call/comment safely/legally (you’re on a bus, you’re a carpool passenger, you’ve arrived at work, etc.) – 206-293-6302 is the number, any time. Thanks!

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Off to a foggy, and frosty, start. No road-work alerts for the daytime but two for late tonight into early Wednesday: all lanes of northbound I-5 will close at S. Dearborn 11 pm tonight to 4:30 am Wednesday, diverting onto the collector/distributor lanes . Also, 11 pm tonight to 5 am Wednesday (and again the night after that), the two left lanes of northbound I-5 will close at Olive Way.

(Reader photo)
7:33 PM: Dangerous Friday night on the roads – a crash reported to be car/pedestrian has northbound 35th SW closed at Henderson. Metro’s rerouting buses.

9:32 PM: Just went to check on the scene – all clear. No updates on circumstances, but if the injuries had been life-threatening, investigators will still be out, so at least the fact they’re not is a good sign.

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Finally just spoke with SFD about this. Spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl confirms the person hit was taken to the hospital but did NOT suffer life-threatening injuries.

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6:44 PM: There’s a heavy-rescue callout on southbound 99 at Lander, and it is reported to be a rollover crash. No other details yet but avoid southbound 99 if you are headed this way.

7:39 PM: Commenters report it’s slow northbound too, going past the crash scene.

9:35 PM: Absent official updates, we drove 99 through this stretch about 15 minutes ago to see if it was clear yet. It is – aside from some police on the right shoulder.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Our Friday watch begins. First note of the day – a WEEKEND ALERT if you are headed north; WSDOT is working on expansion joints on northbound I-5, just north of the West Seattle Bridge, and that means major lane closures from tonight through Sunday morning (they promise to finish long before the Seahawks game):

9 pm Friday, Jan. 17, through 10 am Sunday, Jan. 19

*Up to three of four lanes of northbound I-5 closed between South Spokane Street and Yesler Way.
*Access to and from I-90, S. Dearborn Street, and Edgar Martinez Drive South will remain open.
*Crews will keep at least one or two lanes of northbound I-5 open at all times through the construction zone area.

MONDAY REMINDERS: Monday is the King Day holiday, which brings transit/transportation changes – Metro’s on a “reduced-weekday” schedule, and the Water Taxis will NOT run. (Side note – if you’re interested in a little more info about the new boats being built, check this out.)

10:12 AM: Crash at Delridge/Alaska, per 911 log, and this photo was just texted to us:

We don’t know how it’s affecting traffic, but SFD has already cleared it and closed their part of the call, which suggests no major injuries.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As Thursday begins, we look ahead to the holiday weekend, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day observed on Monday. King County has already sent reminders that there will be NO Water Taxi service on Monday, and that Metro buses will be on the “reduced weekday” schedule.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Wednesday begins quietly. Updates as/if needed! Reminder – today, Seattle Public Schools get out two hours early, so watch for school buses, school zones, kids walking and riding bicycles, etc., earlier than usual.

8:08 AM: Slow going but no major problems. Two story links from Tuesday transportation coverage here, if you haven’t seen them already:

*County announces ballot proposal for Metro, road funding
*West Seattle Transportation Coalition Q/A with city, county, state reps

5:56 PM: For the homeward commute- crash on the westbound bridge, backing things up to I-5. Commenter “Enough” says it’s right by the 1st Avenue S. exit on the Spokane St. Viaduct section of the westbound bridge.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Tuesday! We start by looking ahead –

ROAD WORK TODAY: The city plans pavement repairs in the 2300 block of Sylvan/Orchard 8 am-5 pm; one lane will remain open, with flagger assistance in getting traffic to alternate. (Speaking of paving – if you missed it, on Monday we published the city’s list of where paving work is planned in West Seattle this year.)

TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS? Tonight’s the night to show up and show support for the West Seattle Transportation Coalition as it asks government reps from all levels – what’s the plan for our area’s transportation troubles?. 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), details here.

SOUTHBOUND I-5 CLOSURE: If you’ll be returning to West Seattle from points north late tonight/early Wednesday, avoid southbound I-5. It will be closed at King Street for sign installation, 11 pm-4:30 am.

8:24 AM: Multiple reports of trouble on northbound 99 – a crash just north of the bridge. No serious injuries reported at this point, so no SFD callout.

8:33 AM: From the scanner, police confirm two lanes blocked but are going to “try to move it to the shoulder” shortly.

8:41 AM: And now it sounds like one lane will remain blocked for a while. If you have yet to leave, passing up the 99 exit and using 1st or 4th to get into downtown might be a better bet. Tow trucks are now being requested.

9:11 AM: Traffic authorities say things are moving along closer to normally since all that was moved out of the main lanes.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Today’s commute arrives after another windy night, so once again, watch for branches and other debris if you’re heading out early. Might not calm down much before tonight, the forecast says.

TOMORROW – SHOW YOU CARE: Even if you don’t usually go to meetings, Tuesday night is an excellent time to make an exception to show up and show support for the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s campaign to get government at all levels to pay attention to our area’s unique transportation challenges. 6:30 pm Tuesday (January 14th) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), hear directly as city, county, and state reps answer the questions West Seattleites have long been asking.

Announced by SDOT: Weather permitting, paving crews will work in the 2300 block of Sylvan Way SW next Tuesday (January 14th), 8 am-5 pm: “One lane will remain open and traffic flaggers will assist alternating directions of traffic through the construction zone.”

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Morning is dawning after a blustery night – whatever your method of transportation, watch out for tree branches and other blown-about debris. And hang on for another round of windiness tonight into tomorrow. Speaking of which, here’s the SDOT advice for the 12s.

FERRY SCHEDULE CHANGING: If you use Washington State Ferries, note that its new seasonal schedule kicks in on Sunday; it has fewer runs on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 PM: As Thursday begins, we look ahead to next Tuesday (January 14th), your chance to show you care about West Seattle’s transportation challenges, just by being there when the WS Transportation Coalition hosts reps from all levels of government. They plan to talk not only about the problems, but also about what can be done to tackle them. 6:30 pm in the theater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details on the WSTC website. Meantime, today’s traffic watch continues…

7:52 AM: In Georgetown, what SDOT says is a medical response is blocking the two center lanes of 4th S. at Front St., and Metro has rerouted the 131 and 132 off 4th between Michigan and Lucile

8:09 AM: If you are/were commuting with Danielle McGarrityvia the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry, you might have seen this:

Thanks to Danielle for sending photos! P.S. The Georgetown scene on 4th is clear and 131/132 are back to their normal routes.

5:48 PM: If you’re heading onto southbound 99 from north of downtown – note there is a vehicle reported to be blocking one lane in the Battery Street Tunnel.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: Here we go again. Hoping everyone will get to work, school, etc., more easily than Tuesday. As always, we’ll update as necessary …

8:37 AM: No news is good news, in this case.

(Photo tweeted by @shermanscorner)
4:05 PM: Thanks to the caller who reported a crash at the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge, just as the Seattle Fire medic call appeared on the log. The caller said a motorcycle rider had gone down; radio communications from SFD confirm that, and describe the rider as “conscious and alert.”

4:10 PM: Just announced via radio: “The on-ramp from 1st to the West Seattle Bridge is going to be entirely shut down.”

4:21 PM: Update – sounds like the ramp will NOT be closed for long. Added a tweeted photo; @shermanscorner says the people who were on the ramp when the crash happened (we don’t have info on the circumstances) were directed to back up to clear it.

4:36 PM: Fire units have cleared from the scene – we haven’t heard official confirmation but the ramp was expected to reopen once that happened.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
5:58 AM: No ice to worry about this morning – it’s been rainy overnight and well above freezing. Today’s traffic advisory is for anyone who drives along the downtown waterfront: Starting this morning, Alaskan Way surface traffic between Madison and Pike shifts to the new temporary road under The Viaduct, to make way for seawall-replacement work. It’s all explained here.

7:09 AM: ‘Fender-bender’ on the eastbound bridge, says a tipster. No fire/medic callout.

7:36 AM: As commenters are noting, major bridge backup. And now there’s an aid callout.

8:01 AM: To clarify – the aid callout is for a DIFFERENT crash. The “fender-bender” was earlier and did not involve a fire/medics callout. Then came this one, which is just west of the exit to 99, and DID require a callout. If you haven’t left the house yet, and can wait, we highly suggest you do.

8:11 AM: One of the bridge cams is focused on the crash but we don’t know for how long, so here’s a screengrab for posterity:

8:20 AM: Tow truck spotted headed that way. Live traffic cam currently shows fire and police staged across three lanes, routing traffic around to the right. Commenters note that buses were not routed off the high bridge for some time.

8:23 AM: And until the camera pulled back again, it appeared the scene was clearing! (few minutes later) Police are still in the bus lane.

8:33 AM: Hate to be the bearer of bad news but now there is apparently a stalled vehicle parallel with Nucor, blocking a lane, per police, heard on the scanner.

8:43 AM: Per comments, that’s in the left lane. Meantime, just for the record – One commenter says it took an hour to get from Upper Fauntleroy to the Trader Joe’s vicinity; to the south, no better, @catfishianne said via Twitter that it took more than a hour to get from Roxbury Safeway to 99.

8:53 AM: Looks like the crash scene before the 99 exit is clear after about an hour and a half – here’s a screen grab of the camera a few minutes ago:

No update on the stalled car.

9:02 AM: The low bridge was open for marine traffic and is now reported to be back open to vehicles. One more note IF you commute beyond 99 onto Elliott along the north downtown waterfront and beyond – there is a rollover crash at Elliott/Harrison (map) that emergency crews are dealing with right now.

9:15 AM: If you waited to leave – note from the cameras (more views on our Traffic page) that it’s still very busy, even without new incidents to complicate things, and it’s still raining. Wait a while longer if you can; if you can’t, drive slowly and safely! We will continue to update here IF any additional incidents happen – the daily traffic update is always linked atop the “TOP STORIES” list on the WSB sidebar.

10:02 AM: On the peninsula, a school bus was involved in a collision at 12th/Henderson. (Added – photo courtesy of Keith – note the pickup on the sidewalk under the tree:)

No reports of injuries – fire/medics were NOT called out.

11:02 AM: An exchange of note via Twitter, involving newly inaugurated Mayor Ed Murray:

4:26 PM: A crash has closed the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge, though it doesn’t sound like it will be closed for long.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: School is back in session after winter break, which in turn means family-vacation time is over, so just about everyone will be back on the roads, the buses, the sidewalks, the trails, etc. Be careful until everyone’s used to each other again! If you see a problem, text or call us *if/when you can do so legally and safely*, not while behind the wheel – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

TRAFFIC ALERTS THIS WEEK: Late-night/early-morning I-5 closures – details here.

7:14 AM UPDATE: Multiple commenters are warning about icy/slick roads. WSDOT too, regionally, via Twitter:

Travel times aren't horrible but we've seen a ton of collisions. Please be cautious, it's very slippery out there.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 6, 2014

7:35 AM UPDATE: Not really a traffic update but if you see police in the Beach Drive/Richey Viewpoint/Weather Watch Park vicinity, they’re doublechecking on what some people called in as possible gunshots – one officer said over the radio that he was in the area, heard it, and is fairly sure it was fireworks.

7:41 AM: Back to those slick roads. Co-publisher Patrick Sand is just back from an errand and reports California SW through Gatewood is among them. We also have multiple reports about Sylvan Way, including this one from Linda in comments: “… Incredibly icy going up Morgan to 35th then down Sylvan way where a car had already spun out. A bit icy down Highland Park way, hit a patch making the right at the bottom of the hill and didn’t hit clear roads until I was on the freeway towards Burien.”

7:56 AM: Some consolation for the return to school, bridge traffic, etc. – a beautiful sunrise:

Thanks to Lise Thivierge for the photo from the Water Taxi dock at Seacrest.

8:18 AM: From the scanner – police have been called to check out someone sleeping and/or intoxicated on a Metro bus by Roxhill Park.

9:08 AM: Annie warns via Twitter that there’s debris as you head off southbound I-5 and onto the westbound West Seattle Bridge – some kind of “metal pipe.” As we noted on Twitter, when you can safely make a phone call, please report a hazard to 911 or (if a city roadway) 206-684-ROAD.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
After a rainy night, the weather‘s supposed to keep getting better as the weekend gets closer. So there’s a promising note with which to get the day going. Traffic-wise, a messy crash wreaked havoc with northbound 405 in Bellevue overnight, so if you commute out that way, check here for updates. No road-work advisories today, but if you missed our mention last night – late-night/early-morning closures are planned next week on I-5; details are here.

You might already have seen the signage, at the entrance to northbound I-5 from the West Seattle Bridge – closures are coming up next week. Too many details to fit onto signs, but here’s the full text of a preview sent today by WSDOT:

Drivers should prepare for a series of lane and ramp closures on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 in the University District and SODO starting Monday, Jan. 6.

Some of the closures require crews to close all lanes of northbound or southbound I-5 in order to install highway-wide crossbeam sections of the overhead sign bridge. When I-5 is closed, traffic will be shifted to the collector-distributor or signed detours will direct drivers off and on the highway.

Closure highlights:

Monday, Jan. 6 to the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7:

Northbound I-5
Two right lanes of northbound I-5 at Edgar Martinez Drive S. and the Edgar Martinez Drive S. off-ramp will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 7 to the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 8:

Southbound I-5
Driver alert: All lanes of southbound I-5 at S. King Street will close from 11 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. All traffic will be shifted to the collector-distributor which runs parallel to mainline I-5.
Northbound I-5
Three left lanes of northbound I-5 between South Spokane Street and the entrance to the Express Lanes will close from midnight to 5 a.m.
Two left lanes of northbound I-5 at Olive Way and the University Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 8 to the morning of Thursday, Jan. 9:

Northbound I-5
Driver alert: From 11 p.m. until 4 a.m., multiple lanes and ramps on northbound I-5 will close between South Spokane Street and the Olive Way off-ramp.
All lanes of northbound I-5 will close from 2 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. between the Seneca Street exit and Olive Way.
The Cherry Street off-ramp and Olive Way off-ramp will close from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m.
The Express Lanes will operate northbound for the duration of the closure.

Thursday, Jan. 9 to the morning of Friday, Jan. 10:

Southbound I-5
Driver alert: From 11 p.m. until 4 a.m., multiple lanes and the Northeast 50th off-ramp from southbound I-5 will close between Northgate Way and the Northeast 50th Street off-ramp.
All lanes of southbound I-5 will close from 2 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. in the vicinity of Northeast 85th Street.
The northeast 50th Street off-ramp will close from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m.
The Express Lanes will operate southbound for the duration of the closure.

Northbound I-5
· Driver alert: All lanes of northbound I-5 at S. Dearborn Street will close from 11 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. All northbound traffic will be shifted to the collector-distributor which runs parallel to mainline I-5.

For a full listing of next week’s I-5 lane closures associated with sign bridge replacement work, go here: wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/Construction/i5Construction.htm

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Back to work today? Whether you are or not, normal schedules are resuming – Metro, for starters, is back to a regular weekday schedule today. The Water Taxi is back in service.

First – please allow us a moment to thank you and EVERYONE for traffic/transit coverage collaboration in 2013 – especially bus riders and carpool passengers who can safely and legally text/call/e-mail with real-time updates, but also those who use other ways to share as-it-happens information, procured perhaps via the view from a downtown office overlooking The Viaduct or a home overlooking The Bridge or a busy local road, or provided through a call or text when you get to your destination, sending word about a problem you passed. It’s all vitally important, as reinforced during big events including the doubled-deicer bridge closure one month ago today (second-most-commented WSB story of the year). So, on we go into 2014.

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Transit reminder again today – if you ride Metro, remember that the regular schedules don’t resume until AFTER the New Year’s holiday; today is again the “Reduced Weekday/No UW” schedule. Same thing tomorrow; then Wednesday (New Year’s Day), it’s a Sunday schedule (and no Water Taxi). Hoping for another quiet semi-holiday commute today, but we’re on watch just in case.