Another section of the remaining bumpy stretches of Beach Drive is getting help right now – Atlas to Juneau, as announced by SDOT last week. Traffic is getting through, but one lane at a time, so you may have to stop and wait for a bit. The work is expected to continue till about 7 this evening and then again 8 am-7 pm tomorrow. With this and the section that was repaved back in May, only the section abutting the long-disputed (now settled), slide-prone slope will remain, and the city says that’ll be fixed once the slope work is done (no timetable yet).

(SDOT “live” camera looking north along 99)
The new northbound section of Highway 99 through SODO is open (the closure ended early, last night) and the 1st Avenue offramp from the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct opens Wednesday. Those are highlights of this week’s day-by-day/night-by-night traffic-alerts list (compiled from lists provided by SDOT and by WSDOT):

SUNDAY 9/16 (tonight)
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am.
Spokane Street Viaduct: Nothing planned

MONDAY 9/17
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am.
Spokane Street Viaduct: Tonight, SDOT says, “Surface S Spokane Street west of East Marginal Way will be restricted overnight from 10 p.m. on Monday until 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning. During this time, northbound traffic on East Marginal Way wishing to turn west onto S Spokane Street will be detoured to the north and directed to make a u-turn. Southbound traffic on East Marginal Way will be permitted to turn west onto S Spokane Street.”

TUESDAY 9/18
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am.
Spokane Street Viaduct: Tonight, SDOT says, “First Avenue S, from the on/off-ramp to the north side of the intersection of First Avenue S and S Spokane Street will be closed from 10 p.m. on Tuesday until 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The on/off-ramp connecting the westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct with First Avenue S will remain open during the closure.”
West Seattle road work alert: Beach Drive between Atlas and Juneau is scheduled for resurfacing, with the work planned 8 am-7 pm.

WEDNESDAY 9/19
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am.
Spokane Street Viaduct: From SDOT, “The eastbound off-ramp at First Avenue S will reopen Wednesday morning … The same morning, First Avenue S between S Spokane and S Horton Streets will be returned to two travel lanes in each direction, and the eastbound stretch of surface S Spokane Street from East Marginal Way to First Avenue S will reopen.”
West Seattle road work alert: Beach Drive between Atlas and Juneau is scheduled for resurfacing, with the work planned 8 am-7 pm.

THURSDAY 9/20
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am.
Spokane Street Viaduct: Nothing planned.

FRIDAY 9/21-SATURDAY 9/22-SUNDAY 9/23
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct:
Spokane Street Viaduct:

The latest version of this list is always linked atop the WSB sidebar and atop the WSB Traffic page.

KeyArena meeting traffic has backed up northbound I-5 and West Seattle outbound commuters before, so we’re sharing this SDOT alert:

Tomorrow, Thursday, September 13, a crowd of 15,000 is expected to attend the Microsoft Annual Company Meeting at the Key Arena. The meeting is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Attendees will begin arriving at the Seattle Center in 200 buses and some 4,000 private vehicles as early as 8:30 a.m. Motorists should expect heavy congestion in the morning between the I-5 Mercer off-ramp and the Seattle Center and on streets surrounding the Center. The beginning of the afternoon commute could well be impacted in the same area as attendees will be leaving the meeting at approximately 3:30 p.m. Drivers should plan ahead for possible delays.

Another section of Beach Drive is in for paving work – according to this SDOT announcement received this afternoon:

SDOT paving crews plan to grind and pave the roadway on Beach Drive SW from Atlas Place SW to SW Juneau Street on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 18 and 19 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, if weather permits. All sidewalks and crossings will remain open. A single travel lane will be shared by both directions of traffic, with traffic flaggers assisting drivers through the area.

Earlier this year SDOT crews repaved an area of Beach Drive to the south of the current area. The section of Beach Drive between the two repaved areas will be repaved once work is completed to stabilize the slope.

The current work on Beach Drive SW is part of the annual paving program funded by the Bridging the Gap transportation initiative approved by Seattle voters in 2006.

8:23 AM: If you drive, bicycle, or use transit on 4th Avenue South south of the West Seattle Bridge (Spokane Street Viaduct), plan an alternate route – a crash at 4th/Industrial (near Costco) is reported to be blocking both directions of 4th in the area, including the bridge over the railroad tracks. Buses are being diverted. The image above is from the SDOT camera at 4th and Michigan, south of the crash scene and north of the 1st Avenue South Bridge.

9:36 AM UPDATE: Seattle Fire says their crews spent 15 minutes cutting the driver out of the wreckage. He is 55 years old and in critical condition with head trauma, according to SFD.

11:11 AM UPDATE: SDOT has tweeted that the scene is clear.

For tonight and beyond, this week’s edition of the day-by-day/night-by-night traffic-alert list for routes to and from West Seattle, as taken from the most recent SDOT announcement and the newest WSDOT list:

SUNDAY 9/9 (tonight)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed till 5 am Monday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge

MONDAY 9/10
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Monday to 5 am Tuesday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge
*Spokane Street Viaduct – From SDOT: “Two westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed … between I-5 and SR 99 from 11 pm-5 am … The northbound I-5 off-ramp and the Columbian (Way) ramp to westbound Spokane Street Viaduct will also both be closed.”

TUESDAY 9/11
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Tuesday to 5 am Wednesday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge
*Spokane Street Viaduct – From SDOT: “Two westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed … between I-5 and SR 99 from 11 pm-5 am … The northbound I-5 off-ramp and the Columbian (Way) ramp to westbound Spokane Street Viaduct will also both be closed.”

WEDNESDAY 9/12
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Wednesday to 5 am Thursday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge
*Spokane Street Viaduct – From SDOT: “The eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed each night at the off-ramp to northbound SR99 … 10 pm-5 am. Traffic on the West Seattle Bridge will be detoured to northbound SR99. Traffic wishing to continue further east will be diverted to the lower Spokane roadway in West Seattle.”

THURSDAY 9/13
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Thursday to 5 am Friday
*Spokane Street Viaduct – From SDOT: “The eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed each night at the off-ramp to northbound SR99 … 10 pm-5 am. Traffic on the West Seattle Bridge will be detoured to northbound SR99. Traffic wishing to continue further east will be diverted to the lower Spokane roadway in West Seattle.”

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY 9/14-9/16
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – (Monday update) 11 pm Friday-5 am Monday, “Northbound SR 99 will be closed between South Royal Brougham Way and the West Seattle Bridge” per WSDOT.
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Aside from ongoing 1st Avenue S. exit closure (it’s reopening Wednesday morning 9/19), nothing scheduled
*NON-HIGHWAY NOTE: California SW and Alaska SW will be closed in the heart of The Junction all day Sunday for the West Seattle Junction Car Show – see you there!

(Photo courtesy Tyler – added 12:50 pm)
12:31 PM: At least one person is reported hurt in a crash that the 911 log says is on the westbound bridge – described on the scanner as involving a vehicle on the median. If you happen to see this while getting ready to head back this way from points east, you’ll want to use another route – low bridge, 1st Avenue South Bridge – for now. (The only city bridge camera that’s working shows a backup on the eastbound side – adding the image here – so avoid the bridge entirely for a while.)

12:44 PM UPDATE: Commenters say the crashed vehicle is a red pickup. From one: “Truck involved in accident is hanging by 2 tires off the westbound median sideways.”

12:50 PM UPDATE: Added a photo (thanks, Tyler!). Per scanner, police are reopening the westbound side of the bridge.

4:19 PM UPDATE: The scene is long clear but we’ve received a few more photos. The one above is from David.

(SDOT’s “live” cam looking east over the bridge; the westbound camera is out of service)
8:06 AM: A crash toward the east end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge has backed up traffic worse than usual. (Thanks to those who have texted about this, but don’t text if you’re driving!) We don’t have full details but SDOT says it’s a multiple-vehicle crash, and Seattle Fire medics have been on the scene assisting.

8:26 AM UPDATE: SDOT tweets that the crash scene has cleared, so here’s hoping the backup will start to ease a bit – aside from the usual commute intensity.

Even though the 1st Avenue South ramp to/from the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is now open, other work continues, both city and state projects, including the ongoing closure of the eastbound SSV offramp at 1st (till late September). Otherwise, no closures till after Labor Day. Here’s the night-by-night, day-by-day list for the week-plus ahead:

SATURDAY 9/1 (today) through MONDAY 9/3
*No closures planned

TUESDAY (9/4)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Tuesday to 5 am Wednesday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge

WEDNESDAY (9/5)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Wednesday to 5 am Thursday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge

THURSDAY (9/6)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Thursday to 5 am Friday
*Spokane Street Viaduct – From SDOT:

The eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct between SR 99 and I-5 will be closed from 1 am to 5 am Thursday morning. All traffic on the West Seattle Bridge will be detoured to northbound SR 99. Traffic wishing to continue further east will be diverted to the lower Spokane Street roadway.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY (9/7-9/9)
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Aside from ongoing 1st Avenue S. exit closure, nothing scheduled
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Nothing scheduled

LOOKING AHEAD
*The full list of everything notable – elsewhere in the city, too – is here. You’ll note there is a northbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closure scheduled for the weekend of September 15-16.

If you have to head downtown or beyond, avoid northbound Highway 99. A crash earlier this evening drew a major medical response, and the camera on the WSB Traffic page still shows a significant backup. One WSB’er says he saw the car “bouncing off the rails” just before the crash.

4:26 PM: Thanks to everybody who has texted about this – police and fire are on the scene of a crash at Delridge and Barton. The response level doesn’t suggest major injuries, but the texters say the road is blocked – we’re off to check it out.

5 PM UPDATE: The call has closed.

11:24 AM: A truck crash on northbound Highway 99 in the stadium zone is causing a major backup, as you will be able to see in the “live” image above from an SDOT traffic camera if it’s pointing north. Responding crews say they’re working to clear it as fast as they can. In the meantime, it’s also affecting buses, according to an alert from Metro. According to a tweet from Seattle Fire, medics were checking one person for possible injuries.

11:50 AM UPDATE: The latest from Metro regarding reroutes:

1:13 PM UPDATE: Per both commenters and SDOT, there is barrier repair going on now; the truck’s been cleared. From Peg Nielsen at SDOT:

The truck has been cleared and now the damaged jersey barriers are being replaced. There’s only 1 lane open – southbound. 2 lanes northbound are blocked. Estimated time before roadway opens is at least ½ hour. If you’re expecting someone or planning to go that way, avoid that route if at all possible!

That e-mail was timestamped 12:54 – so at least ten more minutes till opening.

1:24 PM UPDATE: SDOT says it’s cleared. So does one FB commenter. But unless you are a passenger (car, bus, whatever), don’t type – just confirm when you arrive safely at your destination.

The first heads-up came from WSB Forums member “sbre” (thanks!) – today and Friday, it’s practice-run time for the school buses serving Seattle Public Schools in this area. We spotted one in dropoff mode on a street in Arbor Heights, and then saw this lineup outside Chief Sealth International High School in Westwood. School doesn’t start for SPS till Wednesday, September 5th – but some independent schools start sooner, as does Highline Public Schools to our south (first day is this Thursday), so if you drive, it’s time to start paying attention to school zones again.

Sunday night means it’s time for our weekly list of traffic alerts/notes for the week ahead – as announced so far. This week’s big highlight will be the long-awaited opening of the new westbound Spokane Street Viaduct on/offramp at 1st Avenue South; SDOT says that will happen by 6 am Friday. Here’s what else is ahead:

TONIGHT (Sunday 8/26)
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound, Battery St. Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am

MONDAY 8/27
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound, Battery St. Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am

TUESDAY 8/28
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound, Battery St. Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am
Spokane Street Viaduct: Not on the SSV itself, but beneath it, northbound 1st Avenue South will close 10 pm-5 am at S. Spokane (explained here)

WEDNESDAY 8/29
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound, Battery St. Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am
Spokane Street Viaduct: Not on the SSV itself, but beneath it, northbound 1st Avenue South will close 10 pm-5 am at S. Spokane (explained here)

THURSDAY 8/30
99/Alaskan Way Viaduct: Closed southbound, Battery St. Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am
Spokane Street Viaduct: Not on the SSV itself, but beneath it, northbound 1st Avenue South will close 10 pm-5 am at S. Spokane (explained here)

FRIDAY 8/31
Spokane Street Viaduct: New 1st Avenue South on/offramp from the westbound SSV is scheduled to open by 6 am today.

In case you need to refer back to this list during the week – it will remain linked atop the BIG STORIES list on the WSB sidebar.

Before you check out for the weekend – a traffic reminder for Sunday morning. Alki Avenue SW will be closed approximately 8-11 am Sunday, from 63rd SW eastward, for the annual Northwest Hope and Healing-benefiting Alki Beach 5K. (In case you’d like to sign up – there’s registration info in our detailed preview from earlier this week.)

(Photo courtesy Tina D)
FIRST REPORT, 11:29 PM: Via the scanner, police say southbound 35th is closed at Dawson right now (by Camp Long) because of a crash – described as a hit-run. They say witnesses report the vehicle that took off after the crash was a black Jeep Liberty likely to have serious front-end damage. (Call 911 if you have any information on that.) No word of injuries so far; we’re off to check it out.

12:22 AM: Back from the scene. Thanks to Tina for sharing the photo added atop the story; WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli was already there when we arrived to check it out – the next three images are his:

Witnesses told us the driver of the mangled Mini, hit head-on, was taken to the hospital, but did not seem seriously hurt; the scene, however, was aptly described by Christopher as a “car-parts explosion.”

The Mini’s engine wound up on the west sidewalk of 35th; other pieces and parts were in the planting strip and the street, the full width of 35th. There was word a car on the other side might have been “nicked.” One tree on the west side was knocked down, and witnesses told us two others were damaged.

1:36 AM: Added photos from Christopher. The wrecked Mini has been taken away on a flatbed tow truck; a standard tow truck arrived fairly quickly, but the car was in no shape to roll away with that kind of truck, so a flatbed had to be brought in instead.

9:38 AM UPDATE: Just checked with SPD to ask if there was any news of the reported second car having been found. According to media liaison Det. Mark Jamieson, while the final report is not available yet, information in the system matches what we reported above; officers checked 35th as far south as Barton for any sign of the other vehicle (that’s the direction in which it was reported to be traveling) and found nothing. SDOT crews had to be called to help clean up the scene, since the debris (including the downed tree) had spread so widely.

The city just sent an update on the water-main repairs that have kept northbound 1st Avenue South reduced to one lane south of the stadiums since early Tuesday. Repairs are now expected to last at last until tomorrow night. Read on for the update:Read More

(Refresh page for newest image from SDOT camera at 1st/Holgate – work crew’s on the right)
Once again this morning, water-main repairs south of the stadiums are keeping northbound 1st Avenue South reduced to one lane. This is expected to continue throughout today’s morning commute, so if that’s your usual route, a detour – or, at least, plenty of patience – might be in order again today. And if you have to head through SODO at midday or early this afternoon, in either direction, take note that the Mariners have a day game (12:40 pm).

(Refresh page for newest image from SDOT camera at 1st/Holgate – work crew’s on the right)
Just in from SDOT – an update on the 1st Avenue South water-main situation, followed by a slight change in the bridge-closure plan for tonight:

Emergency utility repairs to address a water main break will require the closure of roads and a sidewalk in the vicinity of First Avenue S and S Massachusetts Street until the evening of August 22.

In the overnight hours, a long lateral break occurred in a 16-inch pipe running north/south on First Ave S at S Massachusetts Street. According to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), the pipe will be repaired and water restored to affected businesses by midnight tonight. However, the street repair and cleanup will extend through the evening commute on Wednesday, August 22.

As a result of the emergency repairs, the following right of way areas will be impacted through 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 22:
-One lane northbound on First Ave S from S Massachusetts St to Edgar Martinez Dr will be closed
-S Massachusetts St will be closed from S Occidental Ave to First Ave S
-The eastern sidewalk on First Ave S from S Holgate St to Edgar Martinez Dr will be closed

A Seattle Police Department traffic officer will remain onsite throughout the repair and cleanup to assist with traffic.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises motorists to use alternate northbound routes, such as Fourth Avenue S and Airport Way, to access downtown and south of downtown (SODO). Drivers and transit riders should additionally give themselves extra time to reach their destinations when travelling through this neighborhood. SDOT’s Travelers Information Map can also provide updates on traffic volumes and current conditions, and can be seen at: http://web5.seattle.gov/travelers/.

The Mariners game tonight against Cleveland starts at 7:10 p.m. and a crowd of 20,000 is expected. As a result of the First Ave S lane closure, much heavier traffic than usual should be anticipated. If possible, motorists not traveling to the baseball game are urged to avoid the SODO area.

Now, the bridge closure update, also from SDOT;

Southbound I-5 traffic to West Seattle on the Spokane Street Viaduct will be available until 11 p.m. this evening, in order to accommodate the large crowd exiting the Mariner game. It had previously been announced that the westbound lanes of the Viaduct from I-5 to SR 99 would be closed from 10 p.m. tonight until 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. However, the closure for westbound Viaduct traffic coming from Columbian Way or northbound I-5 will begin at the previously announced time of 10 p.m.

SODO traffic alert this morning – 1st Avenue South is down to one northbound lane between Holgate and Edgar Martinez Way, according to KING 5, because of a big overnight water-main break. There may be fewer West Seattle drivers using 1st Avenue South right now anyway because of the ongoing Spokane Street Viaduct offramp closure, but if you’ve been getting off at 4th and cutting back over to 1st – you’re hereby forewarned.

Tonight starts a new week of road closures – and tomorrow, the 1st Avenue South exit from the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct closes for more than a month, as the overall SSV Widening Project approaches its end. Here’s our customary weekly list of what to expect each day/night:

TONIGHT (Sunday, August 19)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm tonight to 5 am tomorrow

MONDAY (8/20)
*1st Avenue South offramp‘s longterm closure begins this morning. **BUS EFFECTS LISTED HERE**
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Westbound lanes closed 10 pm Monday to 5 am Tuesday, which means no access to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Columbian Way

TUESDAY (8/21)
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Westbound lanes closed 10 pm Tuesday to 5 am Wednesday, which means no access to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Columbian Way

WEDNESDAY (8/22)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Wednesday to 5 am Thursday
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Eastbound lanes closed 10 pm Wednesday to 5 am Thursday; if you’re headed eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge, you’ll have to exit to northbound 99

THURSDAY (8/23)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Thursday to 5 am Friday
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Eastbound lanes closed 10 pm Thursday to 5 am Friday; if you’re headed eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge, you’ll have to exit to northbound 99

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY (8/24-8/26)
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Aside from ongoing 1st Avenue S. exit closure, nothing scheduled
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Nothing scheduled

WEST SEATTLE TRAFFIC NOTE FOR SUNDAY (8/26): From about 8-11 am, Alki Avenue SW will be closed from roughly 63rd to Luna (Anchor) Park for the Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run.

(Photo courtesy Heath)
12:10 PM: The “car fire” call at East Marginal/South Spokane is a truck fire, according to a caller (thanks!), and causing traffic trouble on the east side of the “low bridge” – so if you’re headed that way, we’d suggest an alternate route for now!

12:14 PM: Adding an image from the eastbound high bridge a few minutes ago – smoke was visible across the top of the screen.

(Photo courtesy Heath)
12:24 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Heath for the fire photos. Harbor Island exit from West Seattle Bridge is going to be shut down because of the fire, per scanner. Fire itself is reported to be “tapped.”

12:51 PM UPDATE: Still snarled at last report.

12:56 PM UPDATE: From SDOT via Twitter, the Harbor Island offramp from the Spokane St. Viaduct (westbound) is reopened, but southbound E. Marginal and eastbound Spokane St. are still blocked.

1:26 PM UPDATE: Traffic is moving again, says commenter NorDel; police are still awaiting the tow truck.

4:38 PM UPDATE: There’s a new, not-related-so-far-as-we-know crash in the same area; meantime, we passed by around 3 and though we weren’t in a position to get a photo, we saw the burned truck on a flatbed, apparently getting ready to be hauled away. And now we have followup information courtesy of SFD’s Kyle Moore:

At noon, Engine 13, and Engine 36 were dispatched to reports of a truck fire on the lower level bridge at East Marginal Way South and South Spokane Street. When Engine Company 13 arrived they found a cargo truck fire with an exposure to an empty gasoline tanker truck.

Firefighters laid a hose line and pumped foam on the fire putting it out. Firefighters evaluated the driver of the cab for his complaints of minor smoke inhalation. The driver declined transport to the hospital.

The cause of the fire is considered mechanical or electrical deficiency due to the driver complaining of smoke coming from the engine and then his cab filling with smoke while he was operating the cargo freight truck.

The cab was a total loss but the damage is still being estimated.

I was told he was hauling frozen fish.