West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
11:21 AM: Thanks to everybody who’s sending tips on this Thanksgiving – our usual sources of traffic info are not at full speed today so info from the streets matters a lot. Just got a text that the eastbound bridge entrance at 35th/Fauntleroy was blocked off as of a few minutes ago. That could be related to a westbound bridge crash reported about half an hour ago. Also, a caller advises taking care toward the east end of the eastbound bridge, by the I-5 entrance, because of a protruding jersey barrier – we asked them to call 911, which is the best thing to do on a holiday or weekend *if something dangerous is in or affecting the road*. And then let us know – call or text 206-293-6302, 24/7/365.
12:45 PM: Another text – tree down on Delridge just north of Orchard (the Home Depot, etc., intersection). On our way to check.
12:59 PM: Our crew reports the tree is blocking the southbound and center lanes of Delridge by the Lam-Bow Apartments. SDOT has just arrived; police are on scene directing traffic, which is being allowed through, both ways. Close call for a car but it was spared and no one was hurt.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:15 AM: Good morning and welcome to Thanksgiving Eve. So far, no incidents in/from West Seattle.
Info you might find useful:
TODAY: Seattle Public Schools get out one hour early today, and won’t be back in session until next Monday.
THANKSGIVING DAY TRANSPORTATION NOTES: Metro buses will be on the Sunday schedule … Sound Transit Route 560 will be on a Sunday schedule too (as is Link light rail) … King County Water Taxi is out of service … Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will be on a regular schedule … Street parking will be free in areas of the city that have pay stations.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:11 AM: Good morning – no incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
STADIUM-ZONE ALERT TONIGHT: 7 pm at CenturyLink Field, soccer playoffs – Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
PRE-HOLIDAY NOTES: While the official school holidays are Thursday and Friday, schedules vary at some schools starting today, because of parent-teacher conferences, so be extra-careful in school zones. … Here’s this week’s plan for the surface Spokane St. paving/repair project east of the low bridge.
8:29 AM: If you are inbound – stalled vehicle on WB bridge just past Admiral.
7:35 AM: If you’re headed this way via I-5 or Beacon Hill any time soon, you might not be able to get onto the westbound West Seattle Bridge for a bit – Seattle Police are shutting down access toward the east end so they can get that semi-truck safely off the bridge. Somehow, it wound up on the westbound bridge, facing east. This probably won’t take too long but we’re making note of it just in case.
8:01 AM: As expected, SPD made short work of this, and the bridge is fully open both ways.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.
Alerts and updates:
BRIDGE WORK STARTING AT 8 AM: Announced Thursday by SDOT, the left eastbound lane will be closed on the bridge, between the 1st and 4th Ave. S. exits, 8 am-4 pm.
FERRY SPILLOVER OVER: Washington State Ferries announced last night that the Point Defiance-Tahlequah (south Vashon) run would be back in operation today, so you don’t have to worry about spillover on the Fauntleroy-(north) Vashon run.
7:20 AM: Texter sends this photo from East Marginal Way:
“Situation right now on Marginal Way S. for a half-mile to T-46. That’s three rows of vehicles all headed northbound,” they write.
7:25 PM: Also visible on this traffic cam:
11:48 PM: The emergency response that is backing up southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct traffic right now involves a C Line bus driver, according to Jon, who e-mailed us right after someone else texted about the traffic situation. He says his wife was on the bus and reported that the driver had a medical emergency, possibly a heart attack, right after the bus got onto the Viaduct from Columbia. The call is on the SFD log as a “med 7 response” (major medical situation) but there’s been no official information yet. If you are headed this way, avoid SB 99 for now.
12:06 AM: Still nothing official on this, not even a traffic alert, and nothing on the scanner, so we are not likely to be able to get followup information until tomorrow. The closest traffic cam shows traffic moving, slowly, southbound just north of the scene, with police-car lights visible.
12:38 AM: That traffic cam shows the emergency response has cleared, as has traffic.
FRIDAY, 3:30 PM: Metro reports that the driver died, and that passengers took heroic action both to try to save him, and to get the bus under control. Here’s their news release.
3:40 PM: Two more traffic alerts:
FERRY ALERT: Washington State Ferries sends an alert that traffic headed for the Fauntleroy terminal is expected to be heavier than usual because boat trouble has suspended the south Vashon Island run (Tahlequah-Point Defiance). So far, WSF tweets, it’s already a one-hour wait. The south Vashon run isn’t expected to resume before tomorrow.
BRIDGE ALERT: SDOT has just sent word that one lane will be closed on the Spokane Street Viaduct side of the West Seattle Bridge all day tomorrow: “From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 18, travelers can expect the eastbound left lane of the Spokane St Viaduct to be closed between 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S while crews conduct roadwork repairs. This work is to implement a permanent repair on a temporary patch crews did earlier this week.”
9:36 PM UPDATE: WSF says the Tahlequah-Point Defiance run will be back in service (with M/V Tillikum) on Friday, so the Fauntleroy terminal will be back to its usual volume.
(SDOT traffic cam – refresh this story page for newest image)
SDOT has just confirmed that the much-delayed paving of surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge ****IS ON**** for tonight. That means lane closures starting at 2 pm, and a complete closure of SW Spokane starting at 6 pm, along with ramp closures from/on the high bridge. Here’s what SDOT says will be happening between 6 pm and midnight:
Westbound SW Spokane Street will be closed between 11th Ave SW and E Marginal Way.
Eastbound SW Spokane Street will be closed between 11th Ave SW and SW Manning Street.
The ramps from southbound SR-99 and westbound Spokane St Viaduct to Harbor Island will be closed.
Detours will be in place:
o Westbound through traffic on SW Spokane St will be detoured down E Marginal Way to the 1st Ave S Bridge and back up W Marginal Way.
o Westbound traffic on the Spokane St Viaduct and southbound traffic on SR-99 destined for Harbor Island will be detoured across the West Seattle Bridge to Delridge Way SW to access Harbor Island from the west.
o Eastbound through traffic on SW Spokane St will be detoured locally on Harbor Island to continue eastbound via SW Manning St.
9:46 AM: We’re on the way to check out a Seattle Fire response at Fauntleroy/Alaska that’s closed some traffic lanes, according to what we’ve heard on the scanner (real-time 911 is down, so the nature of the call isn’t visible). Avoid the area for now; updates to come.
9:52 AM: The traffic camera we’ve added above shows Fauntleroy fully closed right now south of Alaska. Scanner discussion indicates this is a gas-leak situation and Puget Sound Energy is on the way.
10:03 AM: Our crew has arrived and talked with SFD; they confirm it’s a gas leak at The Whittaker construction site. PSE has arrived. SW Alaska remains open; (added) SW Edmunds is, too.
10:38 AM: The camera view above shows that traffic is being allowed on Fauntleroy again.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:03 AM: Good morning! No incidents right now in/from West Seattle and vicinity. Road-work reminders:
FAUNTLEROY/HUDSON: We noticed lane reductions here while driving through the area last night, and Hudson itself was blocked. Looked like something ongoing.
PAVING ALERT: It’s not raining, which means the lower Spokane St. paving plan for today might be on, scheduled to start after 9 am. We’ll be checking. Here again are the details.
4TH AVENUE REMINDER: For the next few months, 4th Avenue has lane closures on the south side of downtown because of the Yesler Way bridge replacement. This came up in comments yesterday. The long-term alert is here.
One more note:
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: WSTC has changed its night/location for this month’s meeting – 6:30 pm tonight at The Kenney. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
7:54 AM: Big response for a possible fire at Highland Park Way and Kenyon, but it’s just been canceled, except for two units, as they haven’t found the reported fire yet.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle and vicinity right now.
One note for today: Seattle Public Schools get out two hours early
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning. So far, no incidents in/from West Seattle. It rained all night, so watch out for standing water.
One road-work alert for later this week: Paving on surface Spokane St. Thursday, if rain doesn’t get in the way again.
8:37 AM: Still no incidents but we’ve heard more about early-morning “puddle” problems by clogged drains. Check the ones near you when you can, since we still haven’t gotten past leaf season.
One of the last major components of the three-month-long surface Spokane Street paving project, east of the low bridge, is now planned for Thursday. Crews had been trying to get it done on recent weekends but the weather just didn’t cooperate. With dry weather forecast, here’s what the contractor hopes to do on Thursday:
· AREA 1 (Eastbound and westbound Spokane Street through lanes) and AREA 2 (Spokane Place) will be paved during the day – starting after 9 am;
· AREA 3 (Gate 1 to Terminal 18) will be paved after the gate closes – starting after 6 pm; and
· AREA 4 (Ramps from southbound 99 and westbound Spokane Street Viaduct) and AREA 5 (Lower Spokane Street) will be paved after 6 pm.
NOTE: THERE WILL BE TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND DETOURS DURING THE PAVING WORK. HOWEVER, GATE 1 ACCESS TO TERMINAL 18 WILL REMAIN DURING NORMAL HOURS OF PORT OPERATIONS AND ACCESS TO BUSINESSES AND FUELING OPERATIONS WILL BE PRIORITIZED AND MAINTAINED.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning. Two notes to start with – SFD is on the scene of a crash at West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way; Sound Transit says Route 560 is one of the routes experiencing delays because of a crash on the Eastside.
7:25 AM: SFD has closed out the call at West Marginal/Highland Park Way. We have no firsthand reports (and no cameras) there, though.
Thanks to Chas Redmond for the tip – he says a car has crashed on, and is blocking, the Delridge offramp from the westbound West Seattle Bridge. SFD Engine 36 was briefly assigned to respond but has already been canceled so we’re not sure about injuries but Chas says the car had major damage. If you’re headed this way any time soon, be aware you might need to take a different exit.
4:26 PM: Thanks for the text – police/fire response at Avalon Way and Orleans (map) because of a crash, and at this time of day, that could be trouble. We’re en route to look.
4:39 PM UPDATE: Just went by. Crashed car and police car are in eastbound lane of Manning by the Luna Park commercial building. A tow truck is on the southbound Avalon shoulder.
4:46 PM: The scene has just cleared. Police tell us the driver of the car that had to be towed is being checked for a possible broken ankle; the other driver was not hurt.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:11 AM: No incidents in/from West Seattle right now. Foggy in some spots, though!
Here’s a look ahead to the holiday tomorrow:
VETERANS DAY ON FRIDAY: Schools will be closed … Metro will be running “reduced weekday” service … No West Seattle Water Taxi service. … Washington State Ferries has announced that on Friday at 11:11 am, it “will honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces by observing a moment of silence on all ferries underway at that time. Following the moment of silence, the ferries will blow their whistles in unison to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of our veterans.”
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:57 AM: We start with a crash at 6th and Roxbury that initially drew a “heavy rescue” response, though some of the units already have been canceled.
7:05 AM: All but two SFD units have been canceled from that crash, and it does not appear anyone’s being transported by medic unit.
7:10 AM: SDOT says three of the four lanes are blocked at the scene and traffic is alternating through the remaining lane. If you usually use Roxbury in that area, try another route, or wait a while. SFD, however, has fully cleared the scene.
8:02 AM All lanes are open again, per SDOT.
6:05 PM: Thanks to Marco for the tip and photo – SFD and SPD are responding to a crash at 35th and Graham. So far, no major medical response is included, but if you’re heading to the ballot dropbox at High Point Library, it’s just a block south of the crash scene, so be careful in the area.
6:29 PM: Seattle Fire has cleared the scene. Since no medic unit was ever summoned, that means no serious injuries.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning and welcome to Election Day 2016. Right now, no incidents in/from/near West Seattle.
While we have the chance, here’s a look ahead to the holiday that will end this week:
VETERANS DAY ON FRIDAY: Schools will be closed … Metro will be running “reduced weekday” service … No West Seattle Water Taxi service.
8:24 AM: Thanks to everyone who’s sending sign-waving photos! We’ll have an Election Day Morning update in a bit. editor@westseattleblog.com is our preferred way to get pix but you can also text to 206-293-6302 – thank you!
We also have a traffic advisory for tonight, sent this morning by WSDOT:
One lane of northbound State Route 99 will be closed overnight to allow crews to transport large bridge girders into a work zone near Seattle’s stadiums.
Crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close the left lane of northbound SR 99 between South Holgate Street and Railroad Way South from
9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. Crews may close additional northbound lanes for short periods of time, if needed, to maneuver the bridge girders into the work zone.The girders are part of a new bridge that will serve as the off-ramp from northbound SR 99 to South Dearborn Street after the new SR 99 tunnel opens to traffic.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:06 AM: Good morning. Right now the biggest incident in the area is a crash blocking all lanes of East Marginal near Diagonal [map] – backing up 99/509 for people heading toward downtown from south of there.
Otherwise, today’s biggest alert is a reminder that the Seahawks play Monday Night Football tonight, so the stadium zone will be busy during the evening commute.
7:36 AM The E. Marginal crash, reportedly involving a semitruck and pole, will be blocking for “a while.”
11:16 PM Thanks to AMD for pointing out that 99 has reopened.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:06 AM: No incidents in/from West Seattle. But if you head south from here toward Tacoma or beyond, be aware that SB I-5 is closed in Fife because of a fatal incident.
Other notes:
ADMIRAL WAY STRIPING: As mentioned yesterday morning, the dry weather brought SDOT back to the west end of the Admiral Way Safety Project to finish striping. We went through around 4 pm and the work did not appear close to being done, so we would expect crews to be back today.
SPOKANE STREET CLOSURE CANCELED: This weekend’s plan to close Spokane Street in the Harbor Island vicinity for the ongoing paving project is canceled.
WESTBOUND I-90 CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND: East of Seattle, westbound I-90 will be detoured onto the express lanes for work all weekend, per WSDOT.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS: 2 am Sunday, we “fall back” an hour to 1 am.
7:22 AM: WSP has reopened two lanes at the aforementioned incident in Fife; still a big backup, to the King County line. Back here in the Seattle area, still nothing major.
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