Traffic alert: Eastbound West Seattle Bridge still backed up
9:55 AM: If you haven’t headed toward downtown (or beyond) yet – you might want to wait. We were on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge for a while around 9 am and it was worse than usual for that time; then, heading back en route to cover the Morgan Junction crash, it had worsened by 9:20 am – probably because of what’s listed on the 911 log as a crash on northbound I-5 at Spokane. 10:22 AM: We’re adding a larger version of the “live” bridge cam, so you can check it for updates.
Update: Truck crash on 1st S. Bridge ramp; driver ‘banged up’
6:23 PM: A crash reportedly involving a semi is affecting traffic going to the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge from the Highland Park/South Park end (map). More to come.
7:02 PM: Adding a photo WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz sent – you can see the truck was on its side right by the under-construction transfer station. Going to check on the status, since we haven’t heard anything new.
(Photo courtesy Mike)
7:23 PM: A tow truck is working right now to get the truck upright; ramp still closed.
10:15 PM: WSDOT says the ramp was re-opened by 9 pm.
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: We checked with Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Moore to ask about injuries: Moore says, “The force of the crash knocked out the windshield to the truck cab. When our firefighters arrived, they helped the man out through the windshield area of the cab. He suffered minor injuries, just bruising and banged up a but he is okay. AMR transported him to Harborview as a precaution. The semi-truck did leak fuel. We threw down absorbent material to pick up the fuel.” (Note: AMR is the private ambulance service – when you see the white vehicles with red trim at incident scenes, that’s usually what it is, and it usually means injuries are NOT life-threatening.)
Traffic update: Crash cleared on eastbound West Seattle Bridge
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
2:58 PM: If you’re heading east on The Bridge from the Fauntleroy end any time soon, heads up – a crash is backing up traffic. One of the cameras is pointed at it as of this writing; the 911 log describes it as parallel with Admiral.
3:51 PM: Crash scene cleared, according to that city webcam pic. Adding an image from WSB’s Christopher Boffoli, taken before it cleared.
Update: Olson Place reopened after crash that sent 2 to hospital
(Photo added 11:33 am; license plate blurred)
11:11 AM: A crash on Olson Place heading downhill to Highway 509 from the east end of Roxbury has traffic being diverted at Olson/4th (map) – you’ll have to go southbound on 4th, and we can tell you that’s fairly slow going at the moment (we’re behind a bus). One report says a car hit a pole.
11:20 AM UPDATE: We’re at the crash scene, which is close to the top of the hill. The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad’s vehicle just pulled up, which suggests that downhill (eastbound to 509) Olson will be closed for a while, usually a few hours. Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Rasmussen tells us two people were taken to the hospital.
1:37 PM UPDATE: We won’t be able to check this out firsthand for a while but the scanner indicates police are “clearing the scene,” so if it’s not open yet, it should be shortly. City crews have been summoned to take care of the utility pole that was hit.
1:47 PM UPDATE: Just announced over the scanner – Olson Place now fully open again.
7:27 PM: In the summary on SPD Blotter, police say they still don’t know why the vehicle lost control and hit the pole.
Update: Crash closes West Marginal, injures 1; dog on loose found
(Photo by Patrick Sand for WSB)
6:20 PM: A “heavy rescue” call at West Marginal Way SW/SW Dakota (map) is for what scanner traffic describes as a flipped car, with at least one person seriously hurt (described as a man, about 20). More when we get to the scene; avoid the area TFN.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
6:41 PM: That section of West Marginal Way will likely be closed a few hours. Since the victim is seriously injured, the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is being called out, according to what police tell us on the scene. One more thing: They say a German Shepherd was in the car with the victim, and got out after the collision. The dog was last seen going south on West Marginal Way. If you see one or capture it – please contact police! It’s described as male, short-haired, with a collar and tag.
9:44 PM: We still don’t have any word on whether the dog was found. Nor do we know how the victim is doing – but we are adding a photo shared by A. Bocchetti, showing the Seattle Fire crews working to take care of the victim after the crash:
We haven’t heard whether West Marginal has reopened, but we’ll go check in a little while.
1 AM UPDATE: West Marginal is open again, but the search for the crash victim’s dog continues. Sarah, who e-mailed a photo you can see on the WSB Pets page, says they have not been able to get close enough to capture the dog, whose name is Cooper. “Please urge neighbors to keep alert,” she says. She also says the injured driver is in stable condition.
7:55 AM: Cooper was found overnight, according to another note from Sarah.
West Seattle traffic alert update: Partial bridge closure delayed
Just in from SDOT – the overnight closures of the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct (the West Seattle Bridge between I-5 and 99) have been delayed:
The westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will not be closed overnight tonight as originally planned. The dates for overnight closures have changed to July 15-17. Also, July 14 a single westbound right-lane of the Spokane Street Viaduct (I-5 to SR 99) will be closed. Details are as follows:
• July 14 (11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.): One westbound right-lane of the Spokane Street Viaduct (I-5 to SR 99) will be closed
• July 15-16 (11:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.): The westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed completely and the I-5 off-ramps to the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed. Southbound SR 99 to westbound West Seattle Bridge will remain open.
• July 17 (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.): The westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed completely and the I-5 off-ramps to the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed. Southbound SR 99 to westbound West Seattle Bridge will remain open.
Also, July 18 – 28, Sixth Avenue S at S Spokane Street will be closed overnight, from 9 p.m. each day until 5 a.m. the next morning. See www.seattle.gov/spokane for more details on this project.
West Seattle Bridge traffic alert: WB Spokane Street Viaduct backup
4:30 PM: Avoid the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct – truck trouble has backed it up to I-5. We’re trying to find out if it’s the same truck we tweeted about while stuck in traffic in the same spot two hours ago. Anyway, bottom line, avoid the I-5-to-99 section of the bridge TFN.
4:41 PM: Thanks to those who are sending photos, including Brad, whose pic we just added. Looks like the same spot where a truck was stuck in the 2 pm hour.
On Twitter, one driver says it’s truly a dead stop … and some people are out of their cars (as seen in the photo tweeted by Rob, added above).
4:56 PM: WSDOT says via Twitter that the stuck semi is FINALLY being towed off the Spokane Street Viaduct – still will take the backup a while to clear, though. The truck apparently lost a wheel (we had noticed a flat while passing it in 2 pm hour). Thanks to Ashley for the photo above showing the truck (and tow crew).
6:13 PM: Sounds like all’s getting back to normal – let us know if you’re experiencing otherwise. Meantime, just added the photo above this paragraph, taken by Danny McMillin – note the skateboarders on the new construction alongside the jammed-up road. (Click to see a larger version.)
Traffic alert: Another no-520, no-Mercer ramps weekend
So far, haven’t heard any reports that today’s big downtown event led to traffic chain reactions, so that’s good news. But WSDOT wants you to know in advance that next weekend, there’s another of those double closures – the 520 floating bridge and the Mercer offramps. “Expect region-wide congestion,” they warn. More here.
West Seattle traffic alert: Tree down on Admiral Way hill
Be careful! A tree has fallen onto the eastbound (bridge-bound) lanes of Admiral Way near the West Seattle Bridge, according to notes we’ve received. Thanks to those who e-mailed to let us know about it. Off to check out the scene.
5:38 PM: It’s been cleared, so all is OK now.
Downtown traffic alert for Tuesday morning: ‘Biggest parade ever’
No SDOT alert yet, but with the memory of the KeyArena-event-traffic-nightmare day still fresh, we thought you might want early warning (and if you’re off, you might even want to go watch): Next Tuesday, what’s described as the biggest parade in Seattle’s history is set for downtown, 10,000 people parading as part of the Lions Clubs International convention. It starts from Seattle Center at 10 am, proceeding along 5th Avenue, and includes other road closures. It’s complicated, so go here for the full breakdown; the source page is here, including this map of the parade route.
ADDED 4:41 PM: SDOT is now out with its official advisory – read it after the jump:Read More
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