Home › Forums › Open Discussion › SODO traffic – what's the word?
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May 18, 2010 at 3:58 pm #594868
spanaMemberSo all the build up about the 1st Ave ramp closure and yet I can’t find details about how the traffic was yesterday afternoon.
Any change noticed? I am assuming things went smoothly due to the non-update.
We ended up driving through downtown and getting on 99 at Columbia.
May 18, 2010 at 4:08 pm #694658
AlParticipantI went through the Hanford/E Marginal intersection yesterday morning about 9:30 a.m. and there was a lot of traffic coming through the Hanford intersection on the detour route. It was difficult crossing E. Marginal to get to the bike lane from the west to east side of the street (yes, I was on bike). Then when I stopped at the red light at Hanford and my light turned green to proceed northbound, I watched several vehicles, including an 18-wheeler fully loaded run their red light. Then the red van in the right turn only lane next to me proceeded straight and cut me off as the driver crossed the bike lane. Lots of fun!
Coming home yesterday a bit later than normal, 6:30 p.m. encountered nothing strange. A bit more traffic than usual but nothing bad.
This morning no traffic to speak of about 6:40 a.m. Although as I was stopped in the bike lane a beat up brown crown victoria car who briefly stopped in the right turn only lane decided “what the heck!” and blew through the red light heading straight, northbound.
So I would say watch for vehicles running red lights down there. I’ve seen cyclists do it too, but jeez, the drivers are by far more aggressive when running those lights.
May 18, 2010 at 4:41 pm #694659
JEMParticipantI ride the 21 Local to SODO. Morning commute hasn’t really changed – it was already slowed down by the reduced lane on off-ramp and 1st. Evening commute yesterday was pretty much a non-event. Didn’t get stuck at train tracks or the bridge, traffic headed west on spokane to low bridge was pretty typical of what I see when I go that route on my scooter or bike. Didn’t take me any longer to get home than usual. But will be a different story if there is a train or the bridge opens. I’ll just read my book and chill….
May 18, 2010 at 5:08 pm #694660
JoBParticipanti can confirm Al’s report of increased traffic on marginal… tho it does seem to make some difference what time you pass through… easy sailing yesterday morning at 8:30ish.. not so easy this morning at 9… Smooth sailing home last night at 7 PM… The only real roadblock was work at the spokane interchange on 4th..
May 18, 2010 at 5:29 pm #694661
JustSarahParticipantMy husband takes the 21 or 22 home from SoDo and had no issues yesterday, but later he received a text from a friend/co-worker who took a later 21 home; apparently that driver completely missed the turn for the detour route. I don’t know the details, but apparently that “creative” detour added about 30 minutes to the trip, and passengers weren’t happy.
May 18, 2010 at 7:52 pm #694662
KimberleyParticipantYour icon cracks me up SarahScoot. It took me 45 minutes yesterday from Sodo, at 3 p.m., but I tried going via Utah Ave to Atlantic and got stuck behind a bunch of lorries and then there was a train. I’ll try taking the bus after work to see how that works out instead (either the 21, 22, 56 or 57).
Anyone have any idea what the issues were with both the upper and lower bridges this morning?
May 18, 2010 at 8:03 pm #694663
AimParticipantWhat’s the word? The word is clusterf*ck.
Commuting to and from SODO is a mess during peak times. I am lucky to have off-peak hours, but even at 6:30am the traffic has been significantly heavier.
May 18, 2010 at 10:31 pm #694664
spanaMemberHyperbole and a Half, SarahScoot! LOVE
So far this week trains have been my biggest problem. Thanks for sharing all.
May 18, 2010 at 10:58 pm #694665
AlParticipantI also like that the PI construction closure site lists nothing closed in the area. Apparently the only construction closures that matter are:
http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/
Construction Closures
– On SR 525 southbound at Greentree Dr the right lane is closed due to roadwork. Traffic is alternating in the northbound lane.
– On SR 18 westbound at West Valley Hwy the right lane is closed.
May 19, 2010 at 3:21 am #694666
AlParticipantAt about 4:30 p.m. traffic was a solid backed up line of cars, trucks and various other motor powered vehicles from just north of Royal Brougham to Hanford. The bridge was not open. It was fairly clear after getting through the light at Hanford. Bike lane wide open.
May 19, 2010 at 4:17 am #694667
herongrrrlParticipantRemember, from 4th Ave S you can take Holgate up and over I-5, follow Beacon Ave south to Spokane Street and get on the WS Freeway/Bridge from there. Nice and easy at 5:45 this evening.
May 19, 2010 at 4:26 am #694668
HelperMonkeyParticipantI was down in that area today around 5:30 and have to agree with Aim on the description. I was on Alaskan Way, heading into WS and the low bridge when traffic just came to a stop just past the Coast Guard station. I flipped a u-turn and hopped on 1st, hoping to take it down to 1st Ave Bridge. they’re re-routing traffic to take the low bridge, but you’re able to still head south on 1st. I would advise, if you don’t mind going a little out of your way – head south to the 1st ave bridge and hit WS from the backside.
May 19, 2010 at 4:20 pm #694669
olderwomenforobamaMemberI work across the street from Quest Field and get off work at 4:00 … I normally cross 1st Ave South and get on Alaskan Way .. Yesterday it was a NIGHTMARE … Traffic bumper to bumper starting at Edgar Martinez, all the way to the lower bridge to West Seattle .. I, like may others, finally flipped around to go back to Edgar and lo and behold, there was a train, so I continued onto King St, got back on 1st Ave South and tried to get on the freeway, southbound .. Traffic real heavy there as well ..What is normally a 15 minute commute, took me almost an hour ..
In the morning coming down Delridge about 7:30, was also a nightmare, don’t know what the problem was .. Took me 45 minutes again to get to SoDo ..18 months of this will drive a person to drink for sure .. Ugh !! … No planning on the city’s part ..
May 19, 2010 at 5:02 pm #694670
austinMemberIf the traffic inspires anyone to tie a few on, consider the bus. Or even better, the water taxi. The owl & thistle is pretty convenient to the terminal on the downtown side. Although beware boarding too early, after a few pints the gentle up and down bobbing becomes sort of :P , I learned that the hard way coming back from the cheese festival this weekend.
May 19, 2010 at 6:08 pm #694671
AimParticipant45 minutes to get to work this morning from Highlank Park to SODO by way of Roxbury to 1st Ave Bridge.
On the north side of the 1st Ave bridge, south of Andover, the traffic came to a dead STOP as 1st was narrowed to ONE lane from Andover to approx. Sears Automotive.
Multiple cars and semis decided they were special enough that their destination was more important than anyone else’s, and sped down the wrong side of the street to get ahead. Not down the two-way-turn lane in the median, which is more of the “if a cop didn’t see it I didn’t do it” sort of illegal, but flat-out on the wrong side of the road, driving toward the oncoming traffic and then ducking back in to the center lane until it cleared again.
They seriously need to post some cops down at that end. Somebody’s going to get killed.
May 19, 2010 at 9:40 pm #694672
spanaMemberYesterday evening was a mess for us, too. Tried heading for the official detour, but was way backed up to a (stopped, btw – just sitting there) train, spun around to head into downtown where there was backup on 1st blocks south of the stadiums. Turned on Royal Brougham to head south on E Marginal, it was also backed up quite a ways, but seemed to move more quickly once the low bridge was in sight.
I love the water taxi, but I don’t think it would help much time wise to get down to the heart of SODO.
May 21, 2010 at 7:51 pm #694673
pamMemberThis is the response I got to my inquiry about turning right off Spokane Street onto First Avenue. I can’t find the original discussion but feel it may fit in this conversation:
You are among a number of citizens who have recently contacted the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), expressing frustration with the prohibition on making a southbound right turn from the Spokane eastbound off-ramp at First Avenue South. Many have asked why this turn cannot be permitted while construction is underway and the eastbound surface Spokane is closed between East Marginal Way and First Avenue South.
As you almost certainly realize, this particular right turn has never been permitted at this intersection as it would be in direct conflict with eastbound traffic from surface Spokane Street which runs adjacent and immediately to the south the off-ramp. Because of this unusual configuration, SDOT has been reluctant to lift the prohibition on this turn during construction as we are concerned that a small percentage of drivers might inadvertently continue to execute this turn once the prohibition was re-imposed, creating a serious risk of a collision.
We at SDOT are keenly aware that the traffic congestion and detours associated with the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project are causing considerable inconvenience for those who work or shop in this area, especially for those businesses on First Avenue South immediately south and north of the intersection. We apologize for these impacts and ask for your patience and understanding.
The good news is that some of the pain will be ending soon. Eastbound surface Spokane Street will re-open this summer and we anticipate that the new eastbound Fourth Avenue South off-ramp will open to traffic by late summer or early fall. This new off-ramp will touch down at a signal along Fourth Avenue South across from the City Light entrance, at which point motorists will have the option of turning either north or south. The off-ramp will provide the benefit of bypassing the north/south railroad tracks that have long delayed motorists as well as provide an alternate surface route when congestions on I-5 causes traffic to back-up onto the Spokane Viaduct.
Again, please accept our apology for the delays and inconvenience this construction has caused, as well as our decision to retain the prohibition on this turn. The widening project will not be completed until the spring of 2012, but it is our hope and expectation that you will find the completed project makes your travel through this area quicker and easier.
Respectfully,
Stuart Goldsmith,
Supervising Project Manager
Seattle Department of Transportation
May 26, 2010 at 2:22 pm #694674
sam-cParticipantreminder.. there is a Mariners day game today, with a Sounders game in the evening..
(in case you haven’t seen all the reminders any-where else)
May 26, 2010 at 3:30 pm #694675
JustSarahParticipantAnd an Eagles concert (5/26)… no, it’s not in SoDo, but will still affect traffic.
Pam, thanks for posting that response. I’m actually quite impressed at how thoughtful and thorough Mr. Goldsmith was; no condescension. How refreshing!
May 27, 2010 at 12:07 am #694676
HSGParticipantFYI -I couldn’t find an exact date, but heading up Beacon may not save any time starting this summer : http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/spotrehab_15thaves.htm
May 27, 2010 at 2:46 am #694677
Garden_nymphMemberDouble thumbs up to Mr. Goldsmith for his response.
May 27, 2010 at 9:16 pm #694678
CMPParticipantIt took me 15 minutes to travel southbound from Lander to Hanford yesterday around 3:45. Granted, the M’s game traffic was terrible, but it should not have been that bad traveling away from the stadium. By the time I got to Spokane, I did see a traffic cop standing around in the intersection doing nothing to direct traffic. Thanks for nuthin’! On the bright side, the only thing that seemed to be moving was the westbound Spokane St. Viaduct, just needed to get up there.
I was going to try out the Beacon Hill detour , but given that 15th Ave South will be under construction this summer, I may as well not get too cozy with that route. What a mess!
May 27, 2010 at 9:50 pm #694679
inactiveMemberThe southbound turn prohibition is my only traffic violation since I moved here seven years ago. In my own defense, it was right after I moved and I wasn’t familiar with lay of the land. No excuse, I know, but still. And I nearly got smooshed by a semi coming out of the lower Spokane; the officer rewarded me with a very expensive ticket. That area is exceedingly dangerous if one doesn’t see the signage because a huge semi is in front of you and is blocking the view of it. I know. No excuse, but it happened.
I had not realized 15th Ave was scheduled for work this summer too! That’s my secret passage to the ID and I-90! Double drat!
How about the streets to take from Michigan? Anybody saavy about them?
What a mess! (+)
May 27, 2010 at 10:16 pm #694680
bsmommaParticipantWhat the…………… I am assuming the “Planning Committee” didn’t communicate on this one! I’m thinkin maybe I should get the Company to put me up at the hotel down by Safeco and just go home on the weekends!
June 11, 2010 at 6:58 pm #694681
mannamcParticipantI’m probably being anal retentive about this but it drives me crazy every time I have to take the lower bridge from SODO.
I get to that part where there are three lanes turning left (goes past Chelan Cafe), and then a pretty quick right to go to Harbor/Avalon/Admiral. EVERY TIME, there are multiple cars in the middle lane that try to cut over to the far right lane after the turn, and it’s already very crowded.
I get it, it’s a confusing turn. I was confused the first time I took it too. But I’m seeing car after car with Alki or Luna Park stickers on them, and I find it hard to believe it’s all their “first time”.
AUGGGHHH! Drives me crazy!
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