West Seattle, Washington
02 Thursday
(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.
(UPDATED MONDAY MORNING with police announcement that pedestrian died)
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand, looking southeast from 35th/Graham)
9:34 PM: A car-pedestrian crash at 35th and Graham has closed 35th, at Morgan on the south.
(This photo and next one by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
9:41 PM: The pedestrian has been taken to Harborview. Injuries are serious enough that the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is being called out, so 35th may be closed a while, between Morgan and just north of Graham.
10:25 PM: Christopher Boffoli is at the scene now for WSB and says police tell him the victim is in surgery with injuries including broken leg, broken pelvis, and internal bleeding.
12:44 AM: Just went back over to check; 35th is still closed between Morgan and Raymond.
8:21 AM: Seattle Police say this morning that the pedestrian died. From the update on SPD Blotter:
At around 9:15 pm, a Ford sedan was traveling northbound on 35th Avenue SW. As the Ford entered the intersection of SW Graham Street, the Ford struck a pedestrian. The Seattle Fire Department responded and transported the man to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, the man succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
As is routine, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer responded to the scene and evaluated the male driver of the Ford. There were no signs of any impairment on the part of the driver.
This is the same intersection where a bicycle rider was killed in 2006 after colliding with a van.
8:55 AM: SPD did not have ages for either the driver or the pedestrian at the time of its update. Seattle Fire tells us the pedestrian was 69 years old.
5:58 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identifies him as James R. St. Clair.
(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Here’s hoping for another low-key commute. A reminder again today about Metro running at a lower service level until after New Year’s Day – again today, it’s the “reduced weekday/no UW” schedule.
(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
It’s back-to-work for some, so we’re back on traffic/transit watch. One note about the latter – remember that Metro is at a lower service level between Christmas and New Year’s, so today’s it’s the “reduced weekday/no UW” schedule. The Water Taxi, by the way, IS back in service today.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. As you’d expect, quiet, as reinforced by this tweet from the WSDOT person watching metro-area highways:
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, were singing because there's no traffic at all. My heart is growing 3 sizes!
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) December 24, 2013
One more reminder that the holiday schedule changes start today for Metro riders, as outlined here – today it’s the “reduced weekday” schedule.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
First commute of winter, which arrived on Saturday. Two notes, to begin: If you’ll be driving late tonight or early morning, remember the northbound I-5 closure at Dearborn, just north of I-90, 9 tonight through 4:30 am Tuesday. If you are a Metro rider, the holiday schedule changes begin tomorrow – as outlined here.
Noticed a sign for this while on an off-peninsula errand earlier today: Northbound I-5 will be closed at S. Dearborn (just north of I-90), 9 pm Monday night until 4:30 am Tuesday, for, the Construction Lookahead says, “installation of a new overhead sign structure.” As a result: “Traffic will be detoured to the northbound collector-distributor. The Northbound I-5 off-ramp to Edgar Martinez Dr. S. will also be closed.”
(WSB photo added 3:25 pm)
3:14 PM: Thanks to Rose for letting us know about a crash at 26th/Nevada (map) in North Delridge. She says six cars are involved. Our crew is still on the way to check it out, but we’ve already heard radio communications about the need for four tow trucks at the scene, so it sounds like this will take a while to clear. No other details yet, but it does not appear anyone suffered major injuries.
3:20 PM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene confirms six damaged vehicles and two private ambulances. Prior radio communications suggest some of the vehicles might have been struck while parked, as police said they hadn’t reached all the owners yet. The crash has blocked 26th north of Genesee – which is part of the Delridge Neighborhood Greenway.
3:27 PM UPDATE: One person has been taken to the hospital, we’re told. Added a photo atop this story; still working on getting a count of how many of the vehicles were moving at the time of the collision and how many were parked.
(WSB photo, looking north on 26th)
3:36 PM UPDATE: At least three were parked (on the west side of Nevada), we’ve learned while talking to people at the scene. The tow trucks have arrived, and the ambulances have departed, so this is getting closer to cleanup.
5:31 PM UPDATE: The street has since reopened (just went over to check for sure).
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Will it snow tomorrow morning or not? Mixed opinions out there, and even the National Weather Service is hedging its bets. But that’s TOMORROW – first, time to get started keeping watch on today.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
One week until Christmas, three days until the winter solstice, and the forecast is threatening wintry weather again – possibly Thursday night/Friday morning. So check back for the mid-morning/mid-afternoon/mid-evening forecast updates, just in case.
Looking ahead even further – Metro is out with its traditional reminder about reduced service not only around Christmas and New Year’s, but the week inbetween; here’s the announcement.
7:42 AM: Bertha points out that southbound Highway 509 is closed at 128th in Burien because of a rollover crash – so if you head that way, you’ll want to use an alternate route. Reopening is now estimated around 9, according to KING 5’s Tracy Taylor. The crash involved five vehicles, per the State Patrol, which says two people are in critical condition – a vehicle came down an embankment onto the roadway, rolled, and hit the other vehicles.
9:59 AM: 509 is open.
Roadway is open! pic.twitter.com/uFktnSP1uP
— Trooper Chris Webb (@wspd2pio) December 18, 2013
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:30 AM: No major problems reported on the routes out of West Seattle so far this morning. Another reminder: This week’s overnight lane (and more) closures for I-5 through downtown include a full northbound closure tonight into tomorrow morning.
7:51 AM UPDATE: Multiple reports of a crash – no injuries reported or responded to at this point but still multiple cars, blocking a lane – on the eastbound bridge from Fauntleroy.
8:12 AM: Can’t see it from the pedestrian walkover – so if it’s still not cleared, it’s somewhere east of there. Meantime, from comments, a crash reported at Delridge/Andover.
8:37 AM: Both of the aforementioned situations are reported to have cleared. Meantime, here’s a traffic view we hadn’t noticed before, via the city Travelers Info Map:
At right, that’s the former “Hole,” aka Spruce, as the view looks westbound on Alaska from Fauntleroy. We’ll add it to the cameras on the WSB Traffic page, along with anything else we find that we don’t already have.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
And we’re off – headed into the final full week before things tend to slow down for Christmas and New Year’s. One big traffic alert for this morning:
NORTHBOUND CALIFORNIA CLOSURE: Today’s the day the project at 4730 California in The Junction has a big concrete pour (for its parking garage). Northbound California will be closed between Edmunds and Alaska until about noon, according to the alert published here last week. We’ll update here if anything changes.
LATER THIS WEEK: If you are a late-night driver, note some overnight lane (and more) closures for I-5 through downtown this week, especially the full northbound closure Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.
In case you have late-night driving ahead on the north side of downtown: Highway 99 is reopening early. It’s been closed since 3 am Saturday between the Battery St. Tunnel and Valley St., but SDOT says the work is done and 99 is fully reopened, with surface-street closures ending shortly too. Heads up for a big overnight closure this week: I-5 northbound, Dearborn to Spring, will close 9 pm Tuesday to 4:30 am Wednesday for sign installation.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: Happy Friday! No major incidents reported on West Seattle outbound routes so far. One update on the weekend closure of Highway 99 from the Battery Street Tunnel northward to Valley Street – it will begin at 3 am Saturday, according to SDOT, a few hours later than first announced.
7:08 AM: There’s an incident on the Admiral Way hill at City View, north of the high-rise bridge approach. A texter says a bicycle rider is down; the 911 log describes it as an aid response. We’re heading over to see what we can find out.
7:13 AM: Per scanner, the bicycle rider “just fell off,” no collision, so police are clearing that scene.
7:35 AM: Fire is clear too – Admiral Way traffic appears normal, both ways. Meantime, WSDOT tweeted about a stall by the eastbound West Seattle Bridge ramp to northbound I-5; the Incident Response Team is already on scene clearing it.
8:30 AM: There’s word of a sign down in the road, possibly with sharp edges that might be a “tire hazard” (as the dispatcher put it), at Delridge/Spokane. Police are responding but if you’re headed that way, slow down and look to see what you might be about to run over…
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: One highway closure of note for next week:
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Crews will close all lanes of northbound I-5 overnight between South Dearborn Street and Spring Street. The first lane will close at 9 p.m. and the second lane will close at 10 p.m. Crews will close the remaining lanes by 11 p.m. and reopen all lanes by 4:30 a.m. During the full closure, traffic will be diverted to the northbound collector-distributor lanes.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Here’s the live look at both major views of the high bridge. (Westbound view has been removed – stuck on old view.
Now, the weekend reminder – Highway 99 north of downtown will be closed late Friday night until early Monday morning, from the Battery Street Tunnel to Valley St., because of the ongoing Mercer work; details here.
7:35 AM: Commenters report trouble on W. Marginal Way. A crash was on the 911 log for the 5900 block but SFD is shown as having cleared.
7:52 AM: Commenter Amy says traffic is being allowed around that scene in alternating directions. We’re heading over to check it out.
8:08 AM: Our crew has just driven through the area and it appears to be clear now.
8:33 AM: Police are checking out word of a possible stalled or otherwise stopped vehicle on the eastbound bridge. Out of camera range with the westward view broken, so we’re waiting to hear confirmation.
8:45 AM: The stalled vehicle is confirmed, blocking the right lane parallel with Nucor.
9:02 AM: Per radio discussion, the vehicle is moved out of the lane, while help is awaited.
9:40 AM: Problem now on northbound 99, reported in comments and via Twitter. This traffic cam shows the backup:
(Live picture, so if you see this later, it will look normal, but we saved a frame grab for posterity.)
5:16 PM: In case you got stuck in a slowdown past South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) on 16th, it was a car fire:
Fire’s out and car’s about to be towed. No other details so far, but the road should open all the way up shortly if it hasn’t already.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Wednesday! No major incidents in the commute zone so far.
Now that it’s Wednesday, a weekend reminder – 99 north of downtown is closing again this weekend as part of the Mercer project, so from late Friday night until Monday morning, northbound 99 traffic will be detoured off at Western.
5:04 PM: Heads up if you are heading home: 3-vehicle crash on southbound I-5 right at West Seattle Bridge exit.
6:19 PM: That crash is reported to have been cleared – though SB I-5 has been backed up six miles or so because of that and other problems. However, new trouble: Crash reported on the westbound high-rise West Seattle Bridge.
Another road-closure alert for The Junction as two major construction projects continue. This is just in from Compass Construction, general contractor for the apartment/retail building at 4730 California SW:
Compass Construction will pour the garage parking slab on December 16th.
Northbound California Avenue SW will be closed during the pour from SW Edmunds Street to SW Alaska St. Uniformed police officers will direct traffic around the closure. Due to the size of the pour and our desire to get the street open for business as soon as possible, we are starting the setup at 5:00 AM and will start pouring at 6:00 AM.
We cannot control traffic to and from the area so our times are approximate. We anticipate the last concrete truck at approximately 11:30 AM and opening the street to northbound traffic and parking by approximately Noon. The midblock crosswalk will remain open during the pour.
We’ll also have a reminder about this when it gets closer, and this notice will remain linked in the “Big Stories” list atop the WSB sidebar, as with other noteworthy traffic alerts.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
We start again today with both bridge cameras, to give you the best views currently available.
BIG-PICTURE TRANSPORTATION NOTES: Remember last week’s bridge troubles on Monday and Friday? Who could forget! They’re expected to come up in this morning’s meeting of the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen; you can watch live at 9:30 am on seattlechannel.org. The proposed Bicycle Master Plan Update for the city is scheduled for presentation during the meeting too. … The West Seattle Transportation Coalition invites you to its board meeting tonight – perfect time to get involved; 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way).
6:20 PM: Evening commute trouble – details here.
(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
With two major bridge problems last week, we’re hoping for better luck this week. In that spirit, we’re showing both bridge views as the morning begins, since both cameras are working:
ADVISORIES: Half a block of 42nd SW in The Junction is scheduled for daytime closure again this week, just south of SW Alaska, for sewer-line work. Another encore: Again next weekend, 99 will be closed north of downtown, same stretch as this past weekend, between the Battery St. Tunnel and Valley St.
One weekend traffic reminder if you are heading out of West Seattle: Highway 99 is closed north of downtown, between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street, as part of the ongoing Mercer project, and is scheduled to be closed all weekend; northbound 99 traffic will have to get off at the Western Avenue exit. If you’re going to the lower Queen Anne/Seattle Center area, there are surface closures too. It’s all explained here.
(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:14 AM: We’ve already had one texted warning that the bridge is slick this morning. The usual eastbound camera does not appear to be working, so we’re using the westbound view instead.
ALERT – HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND: From midnight tonight until 5 am Monday, a section of 99 will be closed from the Battery Street Tunnel northward:
SR 99 will be fully closed to traffic between Valley Street and the southern end of the Battery Street Tunnel. Traffic traveling through Seattle via SR 99 will be directed to I-5 in northern Seattle at 85th Street or in southern Seattle at E Marginal Way and Spokane Street. More information about alternate routes during construction may be found (here).
6:24 AM: We have two reports of a problem on northbound 99 right now in the stadium zone. (added) A vehicle is visible pointed south in the northbound lanes right by the rise to the remaining Viaduct:
6:39 AM: The 99 crash is now on the 911 log; the camera view does not show the pointed-the-wrong-way vehicle so clearly, with responders at the scene. The right lane is getting by. (added) One texter says that it’s a total stop further down 99, though.
7:11 AM: Camera view indicates northbound 99 is still one lane at that spot. So delay your departure if you can!
7:45 AM: No change. No info on what’s taking so long, either. Bridge approaches, it almost goes without saying, are all backed up too.
8 AM: Metro has just now texted that C Line is rerouting and will have a different stop at 3rd/Seneca as a result.
8:24 AM: The camera view at the crash scene finally shows a tow truck.
8:46 AM: Finally clearing – at the scene; backups will take a while longer. We have asked SDOT what took so long, since this did not appear to be a major crash – one wrong-way car. Will update when the reply is in. We are also asking the county about the delay in reroute instructions for Metro drivers.
9:44 AM: Commenters say it’s still slow out there. Especially 4th Avenue South – here’s the “live” cam from there:
Meantime, on the southeast side of West Seattle, a crash is reported at West Marginal Way S/S. Holden. No details, just a heads-up in case you go that way.
12:44 PM: We have one reply in so far, from Jeff Switzer, speaking for Metro/King County Department of Transportation, to our question of why buses didn’t get a reroute order until an hour and a half after the crash:
RapidRide buses were initially getting by the accident scene, slowly, but still getting by. Once we heard the lane was completely blocked by emergency responders, about 7:47 am, our buses started rerouting. Notice went out to riders at 7:57 am.
Buses exited at Spokane Street and traveled via Fourth Avenue, which also can be congested. Which appears to be what happened today. A reported four-car collision on I-5 northbound at Mercer also appears to have added traffic to Fourth Avenue. Everything was slow coming into town from that direction, and the buses were only able to go as fast as the rest of traffic.
It wasn’t an easy commute for anyone in these corridors and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we shifted our routes to get people downtown as swiftly as possible.
Still awaiting SDOT word on what held up getting the scene cleared until 2 1/2 hours after the crash.
1:25 PM: This problem was first mentioned in our daily traffic watch, but since it hasn’t cleared yet, we’re escalating: There’s a multiple-vehicle crash just past the 99 ramp to the high-rise West Seattle Bridge, which is down to one lane at that spot – as currently shown on the “live” camera above – and WSB’ers tell us it’s backed up the Spokane Street Viaduct all the way to I-5. So if you have to get back to West Seattle sometime soon, consider taking 99 past the bridge, to enter via Highland Park. We’re checking to see if anyone was hurt in the crash.
2:04 PM: Bridge camera is showing a tow truck on scene.
4:03 PM: The scene is long cleared, but we have one other update: Only one person was taken to the hospital, according to Seattle Fire spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl – and that was just as a precaution, as his injuries were believed to be minor.
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