(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Sorry for the late start here. This past hour, there was a car-fire call on the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct – someone sent this photo:

The 911 log shows fire units have cleared, though we don’t know if there’s still a blockage in the area. We’ll be checking with Seattle Fire to confirm what the log also suggests, no serious injuries, since no medic unit was dispatched.

Otherwise, it’s a rainy commute; last day of spring break for Seattle Public Schools, so traffic will be back to the usual levels on Monday.

10:12 AM UPDATE: WSDOT reports a three-vehicle crash on southbound 99 just north of downtown that might close the Battery Street Tunnel.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Another fairly quiet morning so far! And if you’re wondering – no major closures planned this weekend. If you missed the announcements, two repaving projects are planned for West Seattle NEXT week: Tuesday-Wednesday (April 23-24) on SW 106th in Arbor Heights, and Thursday-Friday (April 25-26) on California SW between Dawson and Findlay.

If the weather’s OK, right after SDOT completes the previously announced Arbor Heights repaving next week, they’ll move on to the California SW work postponed from earlier this month. The announcement:

Seattle Department of Transportation crews plan to grind and pave California Avenue Southwest from Southwest Dawson Street to Southwest Findlay Street on April 25 and 26, weather permitting.

Traffic will be shifted to one side, leaving one lane open in each direction. A police officer will assist traffic at the intersection of California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Brandon Street. All crosswalks and sidewalks will remain open.

The crews will work from 9 a.m. to 6p.m.

For information on bus service, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops, see Metro Online, www.kingcounty.gov/metro or call (206) 553-3000.

SDOT has now set the dates – weather permitting – for paving work in Arbor Heights (covering a few more blocks than first mentioned here last month). The official announcement:

SDOT crews plan to grind and pave Southwest 106th Street between 35th Avenue Southwest and 39th Avenue Southwest in the Arbor Heights community on April 23 and 24, weather permitting.

Westbound traffic will be detoured to Southwest 100th Street. Police Officers will assist traffic on Southwest 106th Street at 35th and at 39th avenues. All crosswalks and sidewalks will remain open. The crews will work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information about bus service, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops, see Metro Online, www.kingcounty.gov/metro or call (206) 553-3000.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Wednesday! Nothing of note to start with…

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Time to get on the move for Tuesday. Traffic updates to come as we get them.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Traffic might be a bit lighter this week, since it’s spring break for Seattle Public Schools – though many independent schools are in session, as their spring breaks are already over. Here’s hoping for a trouble-free commute; if you spot a problem and can share the news safely (after arriving at your destination – or on the road IF you are a passenger, not a driver), as always, we appreciate comments, texts, e-mails, whatever works. Thanks!

10:57 PM: A multiple-vehicle crash has temporarily closed the eastbound WS bridge ramp to southbound I-5, and emergency responders are also blocking some soutbound lanes of I-5. Traffic cameras here and here show the scenes. At least one occupant of the involved vehicles has been taken to a hospital.

11:55 PM: Accident scene has been cleared; the ramp to southbound I-5 has re-opened.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! Last day of school before the one-week spring break for Seattle Public Schools. And with the postponement of the Delridge/Thistle intersection work, there’s just one traffic alert for this weekend, taking effect tonight at 10, ending by 5 am Monday: The ramps from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge and lower Spokane Street to northbound I-5 and Beacon Hill will be closed for expansion-joint work; detours are listed here.

SDOT just sent word that the Delridge/Thistle intersection closure that had been scheduled for this weekend is now postponed two weeks, to April 26-29, because of a not-so-optimal forecast.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
With the weekend in view, along with tracking whatever’s happening today, we’re also looking ahead to two traffic alerts for the weekend:

DELRIDGE/THISTLE INTERSECTION CLOSURE, PLUS CLOVERDALE CLOSURE STARTING TODAY: As previewed here (with a detour map), the Delridge/Thistle intersection is scheduled to close at 7 pm Friday and stay closed all weekend as part of the Delridge-repaving project. In addition, SW Cloverdale will be closed at Delridge to eastbound traffic from 11 am TODAY until about 5 pm Saturday.

SPOKANE STREET INTERCHANGE RAMP CLOSURES: 10 pm Friday to 5 am Monday, you won’t be able to get from the West Seattle Bridge or lower Spokane Street to either northbound I-5 or Beacon Hill. It’s the second-to-last scheduled weekend closure for the Spokane Street Interchange Special Bridge Repair. Detours are listed here.

And note that this will be a getaway weekend for many, because Seattle Public Schools are out next week for spring break.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:32 AM: It’s a rainy commute, but no major incidents are reported in the outbound-from-West Seattle vicinity right now. A few notes, starting with:

METRO SURVEY: If you are a bus rider, Metro is asking for your thoughts this morning – conducting this online survey concurrently with nine other cities around the world to compare passengers’ views.

8:07 AM UPDATE: Thanks to the commenters reporting trouble on the low bridge, apparently a stalled semi-truck.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:19 AM: Via Twitter, SDOT reports a crash on northbound 99 at the Battery Street Tunnel. Updates as we get them.

7:30 AM: The crash has cleared. If you’re waiting for a state ferry at Fauntleroy, note that there’s a spot of trouble there – as WSF deals with a stalled vehicle aboard the Salish.

8:22 AM: Multiple-vehicle crash on Delridge between Delridge and Dakota.(Thanks to Sybil for pointing this out via Twitter.) *added* Blocking southbound lanes, according to a tweet from Lauren.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:12 AM: The commute is on. Might be busier than last week – the independent schools that were on Easter break last week are back today. (Seattle Public Schools will be on spring break next week.) And one more reminder for boat commuters: The West Seattle Water Taxi‘s spring/summer/etc. schedule starts today. Looking ahead to tonight – it’ll be busy in the stadium zone because of the Mariners‘ home opener (vs. Houston, 7:10 pm).

ADDED 4:02 PM: A Washington State Ferries update:

Beginning Tuesday, Apr. 9, the 64-car Salish will service the F/V/SW route while the 90-car Sealth returns to the San Juan Islands to temporarily replace the Yakima. The three-boat weekday schedule will continue to be in effect. Please plan for additional wait times during the morning and afternoon commutes due to the decrease in vessel capacity.

10:56 AM: California Way is blocked by a downed tree. We are here checking it out. Police are on scene turning traffic back. SDOT is here cutting up the tree.

11:26 AM: Please comment or otherwise let us know if you go through the area and it’s clear – there are no official updates on things like this and we won’t be going back to check for a while. Thanks!

3:10 PM: Commenters say it’s still closed and might not open for hours to come.

7:51 PM: Thanks to everyone who has reported the road has reopened.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Approaching the heart of the commute, nothing unusual on the major routes from West Seattle. Previewing the weekend:

I-5 LANE CLOSURES: Again this weekend, starting late tonight, lanes on northbound I-5 will be closed south of the West Seattle Bridge for expansion-joint work.

OTHER WEEKEND ALERTS: Here’s the city’s list.

7:48 AM UPDATE: Stacey reports via Twitter, “Big car accident at Fauntleroy Starbucks. Huge backup.” No major injuries, apparently, as the lone fire engine already has been pulled.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:53 AM: The West Seattle-vicinity routes have no problems reported at the moment, but there’s one huge problem affecting traffic a bit farther north: A wrong-way crash has eastbound Highway 520 shut down at Montlake. WSDOT says that might last another hour or so. But eastbound I-90 is reported to be “running smoothly.”

8:15 AM: Outbound traffic is another matter – “Fed Up” says in comments that the bridge is “backed up from 35th to I-5.”

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: So far, so good in today’s commute. Looking ahead – now that we’re to the middle of the week, a reminder that the northbound I-5 lane closures just south of the West Seattle Bridge will be in effect again this weekend, as expansion-joint work continues.

9:09 AM: Just in from Alison:

Just witnessed an accident NB 99 just after the ramp up to the viaduct. 3 cars. Airbags deployed in one. Two trucks were stalled and the first car slowed down. Third was following too close and too fast. Will take time to clear.

Deborra also reports the 99 backup is visible from a downtown vantage point overlooking the highway.

4:31 PM: There’s a reported five-car crash on the eastbound bridge, near 4th Avenue exit.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing out of the ordinary reported currently on the main West Seattle-vicinity routes.

‘BERTHA’ WATCH: Today’s the day the ship carrying the Highway 99 tunnel-boring machine arrives in Elliott Bay; it’s just about to Port Angeles, according to MarineTraffic.com, so still a few hours out – we’re awaiting WSDOT’s next official estimate. ADDED 8:32 AM: Bertha turned up on KING 5’s Port Angeles webcam a short time ago:

Look, I’m on TV! Thanks @king5seattle. twitter.com/BerthaDigsSR99…

— Bertha (@BerthaDigsSR99) April 2, 2013

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to April! We start with word of a stall on northbound 99 “just before the Viaduct,” according to KING 5’s traffic reporter Tracy Taylor. Updates as we get them.

News for bus riders later this morning: Metro has been warning for a while about looming cuts if two funding sources run out next year. As noted here last night, its GM will talk with the media at 10 am today about a new report promising more specifics on how that might look.

Bicycle riders – a reminder of WSDOT’s alert that the crossover point on the shared-use path down along the downtown waterfront has shifted as of today.

ADDED 2:29 PM: If you missed our coverage earlier of the Metro briefing – here it is.

Earlier today, we mentioned the Seattle Times (WSB partner) update on the upcoming arrival – probably Tuesday – of the Highway 99 tunneling machine “Bertha.” Tonight, WSDOT asked us to share an alert for bicycle riders regarding how its arrival will affect the shared-use path along the Pioneer Square waterfront:

The first change will come on Monday, April 1, when the crossover will shift a block south, from South Jackson Street to South King Street.

Once we start unloading Bertha in 41 pieces from a vessel docked at Terminal 46, the path will be temporarily closed at South King Street several times per day. This is necessary to maintain safe path access while we move large equipment across the sidewalk. Police officers will be on site to help direct traffic while we move Bertha’s pieces.

The sidewalk near South King Street offers a great view of Bertha’s arrival point, so we’re expecting that people will gather on the path to catch a glimpse of Bertha being unloaded. Please ride with caution and expect delays if there are crowds.

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Last morning commute of the week is under way, and there’s one big weekend closure to remind you about: If you will be heading toward West Seattle from the south at any point this weekend, avoid I-5 – northbound lane closures are planned just south of the West Seattle Bridge, between Albro and Spokane, and backups are expected. As WSDOT explains, this work is scheduled for NEXT weekend as well as THIS one.