West Seattle, Washington
01 Tuesday
Breathtaking sunset tonight! Thanks to James Bratsanos (above) and Stephen Nielsen (below) for sending photos.
The forecast says we might see rain again tomorrow.
A community-organized March for Black Lives took to the streets in White Center late today, starting with a rally at Greenbridge Plaza, then marching to the business district for a second rally, and then back to Greenbridge via Roxbury. For more photos, see our report on partner site White Center Now. Among the participants, a group that marched from Chief Sealth International High School – we stopped by while they were gathering:
WHAT’S NEXT: Still awaiting word on whether any West Seattle events are planned in conjunction with Friday’s general strike. We have heard from an organizer calling for a 2 pm Sunday (June 14th) march from High Point Community Center.
8:17 PM: Just got a call from neighbors of the family looking for Byron, missing about half an hour near 56th and Dakota. He’s in his 70s and has dementia; he’s white, with white hair, 5’9″, thin, wearing a red/white/blue collared shirt and tan pants. Police are searching too. If you see him, call 911.
8:20 PM: Good news! He’s been found, safe.
ADDED: The photo mentioned in a comment, published with the family’s permission:
From the Alki Elementary PTA – how they’re helping, and how you can help:
During these unprecedented times of true uncertainty, Alki Elementary has set out to shine the light on small businesses and families in need here in West Seattle. We have always relied on our community’s support to help us fund staff positions (counselor, nurse, and hourly staff) and programs within our school, and our community has never let us down. Now, our call to return that support is clear. We are filled with ideas and moving forcefully with meaningful action through our “IN communITy TOGETHER” initiative.
By way of our collective minds and hearts, we have already launched 3 separate efforts during this pandemic, honoring our mission to serve and support those our own neighborhood.
*Selling flowers for our local flower farmers on Mother’s Day was wildly successful, due to the synergy of teamwork. The idea lives on, as other schools have adopted our model and continue to host sales for Lee Lor Gardens and Blong’s Garden.
Currently, two more efforts are taking place.
*For Father’s Day we are supporting Husky Deli, The Beer Junction, and Safeway on Admiral as we sell pre-orders of DIY ROOT BEER FLOAT KITS for drive thru pick-up at Husky Deli on Father’s Day, June 21st.
*Lastly, our initiative to FEED THOSE IN NEED is the pride and joy of IN IT TOGETHER. We have partnered with the existing effort of local restaurants here in West Seattle (The Westy, Mission Cantina, The Bridge, Peel and Press, and West 5), as well as the Alibi Room at Pike Place Market to provide healthy meals to first responders, seniors, healthcare workers, and those experiencing food insecurities due to the pandemic. A $10 donation will provide one meal as well as support our local community needs through ALKI CARES FUND. Alki Cares supports families severely impacted by COVID19, providing them with groceries, supplies, and more. To date, we have provided 235 meals!
(WSB file photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The three-dozen-plus members of the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force have begun their “long journey.”
That’s what one co-chair called it, as the group met for the first time via videoconference and phone this afternoon.
It was mostly a meet-and-greet session, devoted to introductions as well as a statement of purpose, underscoring that this group will be advising, not deciding. The major piece of new information presented by SDOT was the timeline/scenarios released separately, and reported here, during the meeting – basically, that we’ll have a new bridge either in mid-decade, or, if this one’s life can be extended a bit through repairs, early next decade.
First, here’s the meeting slide deck (also here in PDF):
(added Thursday) Here’s the meeting video:
SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe opened. “This is the top issue for SDOT,” he reassured everyone, “a huge undertaking and a complex set of issues.”
While the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force is holding its first meeting, SDOT has published an update on potential timelines/scenarios – if the bridge is not fixable and has to be replaced, for example, a replacement could be in place as soon as 2024. The full post is here; below, key excerpts:
…To ensure that the public has a similar baseline understanding of the bridge and related work as the TAP and Task Force, we want to share with you an update on current bridge work and what it means, in the broadest of terms, for when and how we might restore travel capacity across the Duwamish. The estimates shared below reflect best estimates at this time and are very much subject to change as we continue to gather additional information. They are helpful, however, for showing where we are right now and what pathways and corresponding crossroads sit before us.
The first step to determining the future of the bridge is to complete testing and analysis to understand the condition of the bridge and how it continues to change.
We learn more about the bridge’s condition every day. This past weekend, crews suspended by ropes and safety harnesses descended from the edge of the bridge to drill precision holes in the concrete and collect core samples. The concrete samples, extracted from several locations along the superstructure, will be tested to determine how resistant the concrete is to corrosion.
Soon, we will have enough information for an informed discussion about whether to repair or replace the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge.
We expect to complete our analysis on the structural stability of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge in late June or early July. This information is critical to understanding whether repairs to the bridge are possible and provides important information needed to decide what is best going forward.
Our ultimate goal will be to restore the critical transportation connection of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge as quickly as possible, in the safest, most effective way that puts the needs of the community and urgency of the situation front and center.
Critically, we will not be making this decision alone, and will work closely with elected leaders, partner agencies, our new Technical Advisory Panel of engineering experts, and the new Community Task Force representing affected communities in West Seattle and the surrounding areas.
While we do not have all of the information yet, we are beginning to better understand what tradeoffs and rough timelines could look like for repairing or replacing the bridge.
Just as we shared in April that we do not anticipate the bridge reopening in 2020 or 2021 if repair is possible, today we want to share what the corresponding timeline might be for replacement, should we collectively choose to move in that direction.
While we still do not know exactly how long it would take to repair or rebuild the bridge, and which path is best based on data and structural analysis, we do have a sense of the pros and cons of several options we want to share today, as we prepare to share a much more technical set of considerations in the coming weeks.
If repairs are feasible, they would take until 2022 at the earliest.
Repairs would potentially mean fewer lanes of traffic than the bridge carried before and would only extend the life of the bridge by approximately 10 years, when the bridge would still need to ultimately be replaced.
While these are some significant tradeoffs, this could also offer some big advantages. In addition to allowing vehicles back onto the bridge sooner, reopening the bridge for up to a decade could also give us more time to work with regional partners on the potential design, construction, and funding for a long-term solution to restore capacity across the Duwamish in a more deliberative fashion.
If repairs are deemed not feasible, constructing a new bridge could take, very roughly, four to six years (reopening approximately 2024 – 2026).
But then, the construction would be done, and the new bridge could last for 50-75 years, depending on what type of replacement option was selected.
There are many types of replacement bridges to consider, and the decision will likely depend on several factors including cost, timeline, and the health of the infrastructure around the current bridge. In addition to construction, the approximate four- to six-year timelines include public input, design, planning, and permitting.
Again, we will know more as to whether or not repairs are feasible later this summer, once we complete our analysis on the structural stability of the bridge. Any decisions before then would be imprudent, but has and will not preclude our efforts to prepare for all pivots that data might suggest.
In addition to completing testing and analysis, another immediate step for both repair and replace scenarios will be to stabilize the bridge.
We are continuing to gear up and prepare for the stabilization work that will be the essential next step for public safety, no matter what path is ultimately chosen. While we may be able to adapt and scale back some aspects our stabilization plans if we move towards replacement, we would still need to strengthen and support the bridge in order to safely demolish it prior to replacement work commencing.
This work will begin this summer and will likely consist of three phases …
Details on those phases, and what happens next, are in the full SDOT post. Meantime, we are covering the Community Task Force meeting, and will have that report later this afternoon.
(WSB photos)
Protests for justice and equity, against racism and oppression, continue around our city, region, and nation. Parents organized this rally lining Delridge at noon outside Louisa Boren STEM K-8, first of three events today.
Coming up: 3 pm student-organized event outside Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), marching to White Center, where the Community March for Black Lives will begin with speakers at Greenbridge Plaza (8th SW south of Roxbury) at 4 pm, heading toward downtown White Center at 5 pm.
We’re continuing to publish business-reopening announcements. Here are six more we have received, all in The Junction:
SKIN CARE BY CASEY (44th/Oregon): From proprietor Casey Rasmussen:
Skin Care by Casey will re-open 6/25 at limited capacity, following all guidelines.
Booking here-
square.site/book/311VZ123H62TW/skin-care-by-casey-seattle-wa
FUNKY JANE’S CONSIGNMENT (California/Oregon): From proprietor Panida Vilaythong:
Now open! Temporary modifications below:
Hours
Monday / Tuesday Closed
Wednesday – Friday 12 pm to 6 pm
Saturday 10:30 am to 5 pm
Sunday 12 pm to 5 pmConsignment
As we ease into this new environment, FJC will not be accepting consignments at this time. As regulations change rapidly, we feel this will allow us to be as nimble as possible.Fortunately, prior to our statewide shutdown, we transitioned into the Spring season! Our store is stocked with great inventory for your new Spring / Summer wardrobe! We look forward to seeing you again and rebuilding with your support!
As you read in our window, WE MISSED YOU!
DARBY WINERY (California/Alaska): From the new tasting room:
Darby Winery @ The Junction will be opening for tastings and bottle service/glass pours this Saturday, 6/13 from 12-6pm and Darby will be in the tasting room to greet guests this Saturday!
Our ongoing hours then will be TH-SAT 12-6 pm
Reservations are recommended as we have limited availability, reservations on the hour, every hour during business hours. We will have reservation capability directly from our website (setting up now) but to start, guests can email info@darbywinery.com OR call 425.233.7879 to reserve.
If you don’t reserve you can pop by and if we have an open tasting area we are happy to seat you! Don’t need a reservation to come get wine to go! Still pop in any time during normal business hours and pick up!
SPA PHOEBE (Fauntleroy/Edmunds): From proprietor Phoebe Lind:
Spa Phoebe has decided to fully open its doors again July 1st. We are open by appointment only Sunday-Saturday. 206-450-2761
MATHNASIUM OF WEST SEATTLE (Jefferson Square): From owner Juned:
Mathnasium of West Seattle is opening June 15th.
We will be offering online tutoring during 1 PM – 3 PM and 3 PM – 6 PM offering in-center tutoring.
We are very excited to start the center soon.
TERRY GANGON STATE FARM (4727 44th SW):
Terry Gangon’s State Farm office reopened on June 1st with masks required. Thanks, West Seattle for 40 years!!!
More updates ahead – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us unless it’s breaking news (then text/voice 206-293-6302) – thank you!
Libraries haven’t reopened yet, but the Seattle Public Library‘s local branches are presenting this tonight, and you’re invited – just be sure to sign up ASAP!
Virtual Writing Circle with Hugo House: Seattle Writes
Wednesday June 10, 6-7:30 pmDrop into a virtual writing circle, hosted by author Jeanine Walker, for writing exercises, motivation, and ways to connect with other writers. Registration required.
In this group, we’ll focus on generative writing through poetry prompts. The session will begin with introductions and a short warm-up, after which we’ll read two separate poems and write in response to those. At times writers will be invited to create community through sharing words or ideas with other writers in small groups. Attendees will leave the class with 2-3 new drafts of poems. Designed for all writers, this group supports poets as well those working in other genres, as the skills practiced in poetry can be thought of as “cross-training” for memoir and fiction, too.
Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Have a laptop or pen and paper — and be ready to write!
To receive the link for this event, please click here and select the red date you want to attend. Phone registration also available at 206-322-7030.
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(May photo courtesy Kevin Freitas, originally published on Twitter)
As we’ve mentioned several times, the new West Seattle Community Bridge Task Force has its first meeting at 1 pm today. From SDOT, here’s how to watch/comment:
This first meeting will be an opportunity for panelists to meet each other, establish some basic ground rules, and get a broad overview of efforts on the bridge, on the ground, and in the community. Then, next week, the Task Force will dive more substantively into the issues at hand.
Please use (updated link) this link to listen and watch the meeting.
Once the meeting begins, we will be provide a link to a comment/question form for members of the public and media. SDOT staff will be monitoring these comments throughout the meeting and will share them with the moderator and co-chairs as needed, and to all Task Force members following the meeting.
Here’s the agenda, which includes dates and topics for the next two meetings.
6:12 AM: Good morning – the 79th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. A road-work reminder – the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project has begun, with miscellaneous early tasks like tree protection; here’s our preview.
Now on to the cameras for the 5-way intersection, and the restricted-access low bridge just east of it:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – which has up to 14 overnight closures coming up next month, as announced Tuesday. Meanwhile, here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the SP-side approach:
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Check the Twitter feed for any breaking service changes. Otherwise – still on the reduced schedule and reduced capacity; check here for next departure
Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues
Trouble on the roads/paths? Let us know – comment or text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Three months ago, we reported the first publicly disclosed West Seattle case of COVID-19. Tonight – here are the toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: We’re going to start including all four of the stats now highlighted on the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*8,536 people have tested positive, 29 more than yesterday
*570 people have died, 3 more than yesterday
*1,499 people have been hospitalized, 10 more than yesterday
*109,813 people have been tested, 1,182 more than yesterday
One week ago, the positive-test count was 8,235; the death toll was 560.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
HOUSE CLEANING AND NANNY RULES: The governor issued several new “guidance” documents today, including Phase 2 rules for domestic services. It’s all linked here.
SCAM ALERT: Scam callers are still trying to convince people to give them money to “prevent shutoffs’ – even though Seattle City Light and Public Utilities are still NOT cutting off service while the coronavirus crisis continues.
DEADLINE EXTENDED: From King County:
New COVID-19 funding for Community Orgs now available:
On May 5, the King County Council approved a second emergency supplemental budget proposed by Executive Dow Constantine to provide additional resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in the legislation is $1 million for the Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ) to expand funding for the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. As the pandemic has progressed, we understand more about its effects and the disproportionate impact it inflicts on communities of color. OESJ will continue to prioritize funding to partners working with communities at the highest risk of immediate and long-term negative health, social and economic impacts. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to organizations and the application closes at 5 pm on June 23rd. Visit this link for more information on how to apply.
NEIGHBORHOOD BRIGHTNESS: Most people are still working/learning at home, so we appreciate the chance to keep sharing scenes like these when photos come in! Noodle spotted a flamingo flock:
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Thanks to Nancy for the photo of the “small but mighty” gathering at Delridge Playfield during “Take a Knee for Justice” around this time last night. For those looking to show their opposition to racism and support for justice and equity, here are three upcoming events:
WEDNESDAY: At noon tomorrow, a family rally is planned outside Louisa Boren STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW), “to proclaim that Black Lives Matter.” You’re asked to wear masks and spread out along the sidewalk.
Also tomorrow, White Center’s Community March for Black Lives is planned, starting at Greenbridge Plaza:
People of White Center, we stand together in solidarity to fight for justice for our black brothers and sisters.
-We will gather at Greenbridge Plaza at 4 pm
-Hear from community members and leaders
-Begin Peaceful March toward 16th Avenue at 5 pm .Please bring your face mask.
The plaza is on 8th SW just south of SW Roxbury.
(ADDED WED.) Per image in comments, there’s also a 3 pm march from Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) to White Center.
SATURDAY: The organizers of last weekend’s Peace Peloton ride from Alki have organized another ride – not in West Seattle but not far:
2nd PEACE PELOTON demonstration and bike ride to support black-owned businesses
Saturday, June 13, 2020Starting point is Tougo Coffee at Yesler Terrace. Riders gather from 10:00 am onward. Ride starts at 12 Noon and ends at Ezell’s Chicken/Garfield Playfield. Additional details and route map are in this link.
Anything else ahead? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Another retailer’s getting ready to open as enabled by “modified Phase 1” – that’s Linda Sabee of Carmilia’s (4528 California SW), cleaning up! Her annuncement:
We’re ready for you!
Thanks to our fabulous customers, we made it through and are ready to reopen our doors!
Thursday, June 11, Carmilia’s will be open 1:00 ~ 7:00 with new arrivals and lots of hand sanitizer!
Our schedule {for now} will be
Thursday ~ Saturday
11:00 ~ 6:00Sunday
10:00 ~ 4:00And for those of you hesitant to shop in person, you can still support Carmilia’s.
Here’s how!
•Visit us online 24/7
•Schedule an individual in-person or virtual shopping appointment here
We have a stack of other announcements and will publish more this evening!
(UPDATE: WSDOT announced on June 11th that this work is now set to start July 12th)
WSDOT has announced the dates for overnight closures required for major work on the northbound side of the 1st Avenue South Bridge – starting four weeks from tonight. But the West Seattle “low bridge” will be open to all on the closure nights. Here’s the announcement:
Beginning July 6, people crossing the northbound State Route 99 Duwamish River Bridge, also known as the First Avenue South bridge, after dark will have to plan for up to 14 nights of detours. Southbound SR 99 will not be affected.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will replace 14 sections of steel bridge decking on what has become the main link between West Seattle and downtown Seattle since the closure of the West Seattle Bridge.
During northbound full closures, crews will detour vehicles and pedestrians beginning at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday nights. For each day of these closures, the bridge will reopen at 5 a.m. the following morning. No work will take place Friday or Saturday nights.
In addition to the full closures, people using the bridge should plan for overnight lane reductions and additional travel time during June.
Scheduling the bridge closures
The Duwamish River Bridge spans the Duwamish Waterway, a busy marine highway. When crews are working on the bridge, it cannot open for boat traffic. Keeping the bridge closed requires permission from the U.S. Coast Guard, which manages the waterway.
“This is important work to preserve the bridge. If we don’t do it now, we’ll have to wait until fall at the earliest,” said WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator Messay Shiferaw.
Partnering with SDOT
WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation are working closely to keep traffic moving during the northbound bridge closures. SDOT announced it will allow traffic to use the lower Spokane Street Bridge on nights the northbound Duwamish River/First Avenue South bridge is closed. This could change based on access needs for emergency vehicles. Other detours include the 14th Avenue South Park Bridge, Tukwila International Boulevard, East Marginal Way and Interstate 5.
“This is critical work that WSDOT must prioritize, but it comes at a time when many depend on the First Avenue South bridge more than ever. That is why we’ve worked with WSDOT and others to enable displaced traffic from the First Avenue South Bridge to use the Spokane Street Bridge as an alternative route across the Duwamish every night this work is being done,” said SDOT Director of Downtown Mobility Heather Marx, who also is the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge response lead.
Preserving the Duwamish River Bridge
The Duwamish River Bridge is an important transportation link between Seattle, West Seattle, Burien and points south. Fourteen of the 26.5-foot-long, 6-foot-wide steel deck grids need to be replaced. It takes a few hours to replace each one. During this work, all lanes must be closed for the safety of the people working on the bridge and the traveling public.
Replacing the decking during scheduled closures at times when there is less traffic will keep the bridge in good condition and avoid emergency repairs.
If all 14 nights are needed, that would be Monday night, July 6th through Thursday night, July 9th, plus Sunday night, July 12th, through Thursday night, July 16th, and Sunday night, July 19th, through Thursday night, July 23rd.
2:25 PM: We are at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point, where an Airlift Northwest medical helicopter has just landed for the second day of West Seattle drills with SFD.
It’s the same thing they did at Alki yesterday – but the weather’s worse. Updates to come.
2:50 PM: Helicopter has departed. 2 more drills – 2 pm tomorrow at Alki, Thursday at Walt Hundley. Spectators welcome, around the edges of the field.
ADDED 8:41 PM: More photos/video, with a closer look at the helicopter:
Firefighters had a training class before they came to the field for the drill.
SFD has said, air transfers are likely to be very rare if they happen at all- but in case of, say, a total transportation logjam at peak hour, without the West Seattle Bridge, the option needs to be available, and they need to be ready to assist.
Airlift Northwest offers memberships; we asked spokesperson Stephen LeMay about them. “Airlift Northwest membership works with insurance carriers to offset any remaining balance on an aeromedical bill, which can be very expensive. Patients with a membership will *not* receive a bill for their transport, or any services provided during the transport. Membership is *not* required to be eligible for transport. We will fly any patient in need to any hospital regardless of membership or payor status. Airlift Northwest provides over $2 million in charity care every year.”
(Texted photo)
2:21 PM: Thanks for the tip – now a crash is blocking lanes at the east end of the Roxbury corridor.
3:03 PM: Just went through the area. All clear.
While SDOT decides whether/how to replace the closed-since-March West Seattle Bridge, it’s also working on how to move people off/onto the peninsula in the meantime. Last night’s Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting revealed that effort now has a name.
“Reconnect West Seattle” debuted as PPNC got a bridge briefing from SDOT’s project leader Heather Marx (who repeated her commitment to brief anyone any time anywhere). Some of it recapped what’s been reported to date:
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Marx noted again that the big decision – is the bridge fixable or not? – is getting closer. But in the meantime, with the “stay-home order” over and gradual “reopening” under way, it’s time to shine the spotlight on traffic “mitigation.” So that’s where “Reconnect West Seattle” comes in, both as a peninsula-wide plan “with ambitious mode-split targets” and as a collection of neighborhood-specific strategies – which, as we’ve reported before, will focus on four areas:
“Community priorities are going to need to inform all those plans” – in other words, the prioritization process that we’ve also noted previously:
Your chance to weigh in should happen before long – here’s the timeline:
In subsequent discussion, Marx mentioned one other timeline point: We should hear by the end of the month about some changes in low-bridge access, as has been hinted.
Q&A: Are the cracks still growing? Yes, but “the bridge is not in imminent risk of failure.” That said, it’s not stable enough to, for example, carry emergency traffic. (Yes, vehicles are on it – the SDOT crews doing work such as inspections.)
Is the low bridge compromised? No – the recent closures were to repair and upgrade its communication technology, not for mechanical/structural problems.
Is SDOT going to take a serious look at the “immersed-tube tunnel” proposal? Yes, said Marx, the tunnel idea is “very much in play,” and n fact the Request for Qualifications for a potential bridge-replacement design team has been amended to reflect that. “We will absolutely investigate the tunnel as an option.”
So what’s next?
West Marginal Way improvements will largely be for freight, she said. The signal work is to continue expanding what can be adjusted in real time, remotely, from SDOT HQ. And the two advisory groups are beginning their work – the Technical Advisory Panel has its first meeting today, and the Community Task Force has its first meeting tomorrow.
(PPNC also got an update on Terminal 5, with Port of Seattle reps – we’ll write that up separately.)
11:03 AM: Multiple reports of a big backup as crews work to remove a downed tree/limb across West Marginal Way SW north of Highland Park Way. Avoid the area for a while.
3:19 PM: Finally got a chance to go through the area. All clear.
Thanks to Lura (who sent the photo above) and Peter for the tips – the seasonal bloom of Noctiluca is back. Our archives have sightings going back a decade; the state Ecology Department says sightings were reported as far back as the mid-1940s. Sometimes (like last year) it’s been seen by mid-May, sometimes not until mid-July, sometimes not at all. The state has a simple explanation here – it’s NOT toxic, and it’s NOT a spill, though it’s also NOT a good thing – and more research details here.
Another business reopening today: Rick’s Barber Shop (whose neon signage has led to Rick’s alterego The Psychic Barber), at 4845 California SW. Rick emailed us to say, “Regular hours Tuesdays-Fridays 9-6, Saturdays 9-4, with appointments strongly recommended.” You can call for one at 206-933-8733.
6:07 AM: Good morning – the 78th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. Again today, we start with a road-work reminder – the Delridge Way repaving-and-more work is scheduled to continue, depending on how the weather goes; here’s our preview.
Now on to the cameras for the 5-way intersection, and the restricted-access low bridge just east of it:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the SP-side approach:
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Check the Twitter feed for any breaking service changes. Otherwise – still on the reduced schedule and reduced capacity; check here for next departure
Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues
Trouble on the roads/paths? Let us know – comment or text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
The District 1 Community Network‘s June meeting was, like many local meetings this spring, mostly about the West Seattle Bridge. Here are our toplines from the meeting held by videoconference and phone last week:
SDOT’S BRIDGE UPDATE: The department’s new communications director Michael Harold, a Morgan Junction resident, recapped his first day on the job – arriving at work March 23rd to learn his new place of employment was about to announce the West Seattle Bridge would be shut down TFN. Now, the department remains in extensive data-gathering mode: “This is not a thing where you can make guesses,” he said, in explaining why that’s necessary before a decision on what’s next. They’re pursuing multiple paths in the meantime – stabilization among them, and as we reported the day before the D1CN meeting, the search for a team to “design a potential replacement.” Harold again stressed that the potential 10-year contract is because “there is a scenario in which” they might fix the bridge but only get 10 more years out of it so they’d have to be working on replacement. He added that “we are considering many options … the goal is to get people back across the water as quickly and efficiently as we can do it.”
NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MITIGATION: Danielle Friedman from the Department of Neighborhoods talked about the neighborhoods affected by the detour traffic, and said four would be engaged in prioritization plans:
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