West Seattle, Washington
07 Saturday
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Monday! If you ride a bus today, extra reason to thank your driver: It’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day.
Looking ahead:
*The official start of spring is less than two days away (very early Wednesday).
*Also starting on Wednesday, Phase 2 of the Delridge Way repaving project, which means the detour zone shifts.
*Drainage work is planned on the high bridge tomorrow and Wednesday, between commute times.
*Next weekend, the I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project closes ramps including from the bridge to Beacon Hill and from the bridge to northbound I-5.
Another followup as the Delridge-repaving project moves from Phase 1 to Phase 2: SDOT announced today that the new southbound detour around the shifted work zone (Thistle to Trenton) is expected to take effect Wednesday (March 20th). We published a revised detour map in this story two nights ago.
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: No classes today for Seattle Public Schools, so traffic might be a bit lighter if some parents are staying home as a result. No major closures this weekend, but here’s the roundup of events that might affect you in and around downtown today through Sunday.
6:24 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Paul for the pic – he reports a RapidRide bus is stuck on southbound California just south of Findlay:
SDOT has shared one of their trademark weekend-traffic heads-up notes most commonly seen in the summertime – because there’s a lot happening that might affect how you get around and through the heart of the city in the next three days. That includes Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade downtown (with two local schools’ marching bands, as previously mentioned) and more – Read on for details:
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
No scheduled road work today or even this weekend – so here’s hoping for an uneventful day. P.S. if you want to check the weather, sunrise/sunset, moon, tides, etc., it’s all on the WSB Weather page.
That’s an updated detour map for Phase 2 of the Delridge Way repaving project, scheduled to take effect sometime next week – probably not before Wednesday, according to SDOT’s LeAnne Nelson, who thanks commenter Jim P for pointing out a problem with the map sent yesterday:
Your readers bring up a good point regarding the map. It shows the right-of-way routes for both 25th and 26th Avenue SW even though parts of what would be the roadway are unimproved. Attached is an updated map. Thank you to your readers for pointing out the issue!
Nelson also addresses an issue that commenter Breeze brought up:
Comments to your Phase 2 story include a question about why we detour to 35th Avenue SW. We strive to detour traffic along arterials, and the only consistent arterials flanking Delridge are the west sides of Trenton and Thistle (east sides of those streets are not arterials) and 35th Avenue SW to link them north/south.
We cannot disallow vehicles from utilizing public streets, but we can encourage arterial use. If speeding is witnessed repeatedly on the street, let us know, and we could place speed tubes to track the problem and potentially request more enforcement in the area. We also strongly suggest neighbors partner with our Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program team to apply for roadway assessment and possible traffic calming measures. Details are at: seattle.gov/transportation/ntcp_calming.htm
Again, provided weather doesn’t get in the way of Phase 1’s completion between SW Trenton and Henderson, Phase 2 of the repaving will start sometime next week along Delridge between Trenton and Thistle, and that’s when the – revised! – detour map will apply. This phase of the project is expected to last about 2 1/2 months.
(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: Welcome to Wednesday. No major alerts for today/tonight so far – not even for the weekend ahead. If you’re a Metro rider, “Eye on Your Metro Commute” features advisories. If you see traffic trouble – call or text 206-293-6302 when you safely/legally can (no texting/calling and driving!) – thank you.
12:09 PM: SDOT says the signboards are finally fixed:
The equipment for the Variable Messaging Signs (VMSs), which provides travel times for drivers coming out of West Seattle, has been repaired and the system operation is fully restored.
(Click image to get PDF with full-size view)
Phase 2 of the yearlong Delridge Way SW repaving project is about to begin (as first noted here March 1st). Just in from SDOT, the detour map (above) that takes effect next week when work moves to the Thistle-to-Trenton stretch for two-plus months. Here’s the official announcement:
Starting the week of March 18, southbound Delridge Way Southwest traffic will be detoured at Southwest Thistle Street in West Seattle to facilitate roadway reconstruction and storm drain installations. This work is Phase 2 of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Delridge Way Southwest Paving Project that is rebuilding much of Delridge Way Southwest between Southwest Orchard and Southwest Roxbury streets.
Traffic will be directed:
· West on SW Thistle Street
· South on 35th Avenue SW
· East on SW Trenton Street
· South on Delridge Way SWThe detour is expected to be in place until early June 2013. Northbound traffic on Delridge Way Southwest will be maintained. Local access and access to businesses will be maintained during project work.
This is a five-phase project. At the completion of Phase 2, the construction activity will move to the Phase 3 section of Delridge Way Southwest between Southwest Thistle and Southwest Holden streets.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Busy day for traffic/transit tips on Monday – we’ll see what today brings. For downtown bus riders, here’s the reminder about a key stop change all week long:
From Monday, March 11 at 9:00 AM until Friday, March 15 at 2:00 PM, the bus stop westbound on Columbia St at 2nd Av will be closed due to construction.
During that time, board the RapidRide C Line and routes 21 Express, 55, 56, 57, 120 and 125 east of the closed stop, at the temporary stop southbound on 3rd Av just north of Columbia Street.
Bus service is not rerouted. All West Seattle service will continue to travel via Columbia St to the Alaskan Way Viaduct during this closure.
Thanks to Robert for pointing out the importance of that alert.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to the first full week of Daylight Saving Time, 2013! One transit note – as announced by Washington State Ferries last night, Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is on a two-boat schedule because Klahowya is in for repairs. Here are specifics from WSF:
For the two-boat schedule, the following sailings will leave from Fauntleroy to Vashon this morning: 6:50am, 8:25am and 9:05am sailings; from Vashon to Fauntleroy to Vashon the sailings will be at: 6:25am, 7:00am, 7:20am, 7:55am, 8:40am and 9:00am. From Southworth to Fauntleroy and Vashon will be 6:05 am (passengers only), 6:40 am, and 8:20 am. From Fauntleroy to Southworth, the sailings will be at: 7:45 am, and 9:05 am. (Two-boat schedule, here)
7:32 AM UPDATE: Just in from SDOT, some of the overhead messaging signs are still having trouble:
Some of the Variable Messaging Signs (VMSs), which provide travel times for drivers are dark again today coming out of West Seattle due to a malfunction in the time estimating system. The Seattle Department of Transportation is working to find and correct the problem.
9:13 AM UPDATE: Texter warns of “loose pillows” on the high bridge, and notes that’s extremely dangerous for motorcycle riders in particular. We’re hoping they have been reported to SDOT – any road hazard (including potholes) should be called in to 206-684-ROAD.
10:44 AM: The weeklong 2nd/Columbia bus-stop closure downtown – used by many headed back this way – came up in comments. Here’s the advisory:
From Monday, March 11 at 9:00 AM until Friday, March 15 at 2:00 PM, the bus stop westbound on Columbia St at 2nd Av will be closed due to construction.
During that time, board the RapidRide C Line and routes 21 Express, 55, 56, 57, 120 and 125 east of the closed stop, at the temporary stop southbound on 3rd Av just north of Columbia Street.
Bus service is not rerouted. All West Seattle service will continue to travel via Columbia St to the Alaskan Way Viaduct during this closure.
3:03 PM: Also just published as a standalone update – the Fauntleroy ferry run is back to 3 boats.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: Happy Friday! While we’re keeping an eye on today’s traffic, we’re also looking ahead at the weekend. No West Seattle-vicinity closures this time around, but if you drive in the north downtown area, you might want to know about this; the I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Bridge Repair project does have a weekend-long closure, but it doesn’t affect ramps directly to and from WS – this weekend, it’s closing the NB I-5 ramp to Spokane Street and 6th. And yet another reminder – Saturday night (technically early Sunday), clocks spring forward one hour, as Daylight Saving Time arrives.
9:04 AM: SDOT says some of the variable messaging system signs are dark again today, this time adding that it’s “due to a malfunction in the time estimating system” which they’re trying to find and fix.
10:59 AM: There’s a crash on northbound I-5 near I-90 – if you are thinking about heading that way, you might want to avoid NB 5 for a while.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: Via Twitter, WSDOT says wet roads are leading to some slowdowns today, so if you drive, leaving a few minutes early might be a good idea. No incidents right now in the West Seattle commuting vicinity. And since it’s Thursday, we would look ahead to major weekend closures – if there were any; only semi-nearby closure planned this weekend is the ramp from Northbound I-5 to 6th Avenue South.
8:35 AM: If you’ve noticed some overhead signs missing their usual messages this morning, SDOT’s Peg Nielsen explains:
Some of the Variable Messaging Signs (VMSs), which provide travel times for drivers, are dark coming out of West Seattle due to a malfunction in the time estimating system. The Seattle Department of Transportation is working to find and correct the problem.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing major reported in the West Seattle commute vicinity as of this hour. One note for today: You’ll see school buses out and about at different times because Seattle Public Schools are out two hours early today.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. Sun’s gone, clouds and rain back. Transit note: If you ride the West Seattle Water Taxi, note that you’ll be on Melissa Ann this morning, per last night’s announcement. And two reminders from yesterday that both should still apply today: SDOT said “bicyclists using the trail under the low-level Spokane Street Bridge will be rerouted to the north side of Southwest Spokane Place” 7 am-3:30 pm daily this week for landscaping work; under the west end of the high bridge, aka the Fauntleroy Expressway, intermittent work is expected all week.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
5:58 AM: The weekend closures are over – both the Viaduct/99 and Delridge/Trenton closures ended earlier than expected – but now we have a few new ones to share, as the week begins:
*Bicycle riders – an alert for the entire week, from SDOT:
(This) week, bicyclists using the trail under the low-level Spokane Street Bridge will be rerouted to the north side of Southwest Spokane Place daily from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will perform landscaping work in the area.
*Some followup work to the earthquake-safety improvements under the Fauntleroy Expressway end of the West Seattle Bridge is planned this week. Exact times/locations hadn’t yet been set when we heard from SDOT consultants at week’s end, though.
P.S. – Next weekend, the Spokane St. Interchange/I-5 project closes a ramp that does NOT directly affect West Seattle traffic – northbound I-5 to 6th Ave. S.
7:25 AM: Just checked outside and noticed serious windshield ice, a reminder that winter’s not officially over yet.
11:15 AM: If you’re heading northbound on 99 in the next few hours, take note of this last-minute advisory:
This past weekend during their inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the Washington State Department of Transportation found a slight problem with the pavement around an expansion joint northbound. A crew will close a lane today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. northbound between Royal Brougham Way and King Street in order to make the repairs. Motorists should slow down and use caution passing by the work zone.
No need to avoid the Delridge/Trenton intersection tonight – the city says it reopened early, and the adjacent section of Trenton that was closed for prep work is open too. The detour that’s in place for southbound Delridge between Trenton and Henderson remains in place while the repaving project continues Phase 1; as reported here Friday night, Phase 2 is expected to start in about two weeks.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Just a reminder as the day begins – as noted in our coverage of Saturday’s crash on the bridge, WSDOT says the Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 will NOT be closing this morning after all; they did all the inspection/maintenance work on Saturday. (But if you were going to take 99 further north, note that a section is closed from the Western Avenue exit northward for a running event, until 11 am.) The ramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge to southbound I-5 *is* closed and scheduled to remain closed till early Monday, and that goes for the Delridge/Trenton intersection too.
Calendar-wise, it’s a relatively quiet day – see for yourself here.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
3:16 PM: Thanks to everybody who’s texted and tweeted about this: A multiple-vehicle crash on the eastbound bridge around the 1st Avenue South Exit is backing up traffic – compounding the challenges of the Viaduct and southbound I-5 ramp closures. One texter says it appears to be “in the left lane eastbound right after 1st Ave. S. exit.” No other details yet – just getting the warning out for starters. Note that the Viaduct closure is scheduled to end at 5 pm, so the exit to northbound 99 should open then (another 99 closure is scheduled 6 am-noon tomorrow).
3:48 PM UPDATE: Some are asking about the low bridge. This camera’s the only view we have – it shows the west entrance to the eastbound low bridge, in the background, and has been looking fairly backed up:
4:17 PM: The high bridge is still backed up but the low bridge looks to be in better shape (one commenter on Facebook said it appeared to have marine traffic going through earlier).
4:26 PM: Some of the pressure’s being taken off with the slightly early reopening of Highway 99 – all cameras show the exit from the eastbound bridge has been reopened, and traffic is moving on Viaduct/99:
Thanks again to everyone who helped with updates (as long as you can do so safely – no texting/calling if you’re driving, please, we can wait to hear till you get where you’re going!) – 206-293-6302 any time.
6:26 PM UPDATE: We just read the fine print on the later WSDOT confirmation that 99 was open: They are now saying the previously announced Sunday morning closure is no longer needed – not the 99/Viaduct stretch, anyway; there IS still a 6 am-11 am closure planned *north* of Battery St. Tunnel for the Hot Chocolate run.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7 AM: Good morning. Here are the West Seattle Bridge (above) and 99 (below) cams:
THREE CLOSURES THIS WEEKEND:
*Delridge/Trenton intersection closure starting 7 pm tonight (here’s the weekend Route 120 transit alert for this work)
*Viaduct/99 closed 6 am-5 pm Saturday, plus 6 am-noon Sunday – details here
*Ramp to southbound I-5 from eastbound West Seattle Bridge closed, starting late tonight; part of WSDOT’s Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project
8:30 AM TRAFFIC UPDATE: “Coffee” reports in comments that there’s a bus broken down in the southbound lanes at Delridge/Andover and a “mess” has ensued.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
First, here are the West Seattle Bridge (above) and 99 (below) cams:
Now the reminders – the Delridge/Trenton weekend intersection closure is preceded by a block of Trenton closing for preparation work, starting right now – details here (here’s the weekend Route 120 transit alert for this work). Today is also the scheduled start of the safety-curb installation on Fauntleroy Way just west of California in Morgan Junction.
Then this weekend, the Viaduct/99 is closed all day Saturday plus Sunday morning – details here, and the ramp to southbound I-5 from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge will be closed this weekend too, starting late Friday night, as part of WSDOT’s Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Second-to-last day of February – here’s a look at the West Seattle Bridge (above) and 99 (below) cams:
Thanks in advance for traffic updates if you encounter something your West Seattle neighbors should know about – 206-293-6302 if you are able to safely/legally text or call; Twitter works too – we’re at @westseattleblog.
CLOSURES AHEAD: Quick reminders – the Viaduct/99 is closed all day Saturday plus Sunday morning (but open Saturday night so you can get to and from the Sounders game) – details here; the Delridge/Trenton weekend intersection closure will be preceded by a block of Trenton closing Thursday – details here.
P.S. We almost forgot – one more closure this weekend; mentioned it last week but haven’t brought it up again this week. The ramp to southbound I-5 will be closed this weekend too, as part of the WSDOT repair project that’s been closing various ramps at the Spokane St. Interchange on various weekends.
(“Live” cam looking at the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; more cams here)
Nothing out of the ordinary reported so far this Tuesday. Remember that it’s the second day of the southbound 99 constriction south of the West Seattle Bridge, as the “Timber Bridge” rebuild gets under way – here’s what we found on yesterday’s PM commute. And looking ahead, remember we have two sets of closures this weekend – Delridge/Trenton intersection for repaving (which starts with the closure of a section of Trenton on Thursday), and two closure periods for the Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 between the WS Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel – all day Saturday, then again Sunday morning.
That’s the view from our 4:15 pm drive on the newly narrowed ‘Timber Bridge’ section of southbound Highway 99 south of the West Seattle Bridge. It became stop-and-go right before the WS Bridge exit and even came to a halt for a moment or two. Past the bridge, the outside lane is the through lane. (added) Right after publishing this, we got a text from Michelle that it’s backed up to Lander. Adding the “live” camera at Lander:
Refresh this page for the newest view – it does not auto-refresh. (You can find that view any time with others on the WSB Traffic page.)
| 1 COMMENT