West Seattle, Washington
26 Thursday
Seattle Parks‘ new superintendent Jesús Aguirre is moving into the job with a “listening tour.” As just announced via the department’s Parkways website, it starts July 28th in South Park and includes five West Seattle stops (all 6:30 pm events)
· Hiawatha Community Center, Aug. 11
· Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, Aug. 18
· Alki, Aug. 19
· Delridge, Aug. 25
· High Point Community Center, Oct. 28
All are billed as chances for you to tell Superintendent Aguirre your ideas about Seattle Parks. An immediate way to do that is via an also-just-announced online survey – we just previewed it; just five questions. Go here to take it.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, nothing major happening in the outbound commute. Looking ahead:
SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Exact times haven’t been announced yet, but the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for a few hours Saturday in connection with the Seafair Pirate Run (6:30 pm); that precedes the Seafair Torchlight Parade, which brings surface-street closures through downtown until late evening, particularly the parade route itself on 4th Avenue from Seattle Center to the International District.
ALKI ART FAIR SATURDAY/SUNDAY: Watch for a preview here later today. No street closures, but the beach will be busy, and there is a transportation note – free shuttle bus; details on the festival website’s home page.
7:40 AM: The bridge is “almost at a standstill,” notes one bus rider; no incidents that we’re seeing/hearing about.
The week after Mayor Murray went public with his housing proposals – concurrent with release of a report by the advisory committee appointed to examine the issue – the City Council got its first official briefing:
The Seattle Channel published video today of Monday’s first meeting of the council’s Select Committee on Housing Affordability – the creation of which was announced last week, at the same time as the mayor’s proposals and the Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory committee (HALA) report.
For this update on the plan, we also sat down with a West Seattleite from the HALA committee, Cindi Barker, to talk through a few of its more-confusing points. (She was not on the committee as a West Seattle representative, but as a member of the City Neighborhood Council.)
First – some toplines from Monday’s council meeting. Early on, a city staffer offered an understatement, saying it will be a “long conversation” because “some of the suggestions do step outside of the comfort zone.”
Much of the briefing focused on the backstory of how this all happened.
One major issue of interest brought up by Councilmember Tom Rasmussen was the oft-quoted contention that the city has enough “capacity” for all the new housing it needs, without any upzoning.
SUMMARY: Twenty people spoke tonight at the only local hearing the Washington Charter School Commission will have for Summit Public Schools‘ proposal to open West Seattle’s first charter school in a supermarket-turned-church building in Arbor Heights. Only one was a charter-school critic. Another voiced some skepticism. The other 17, including Summit employees and even a recent graduate from a Bay Area Summit school, voiced strong support. The speakers were chosen in a drawing; when they were done, time remained, and many more numbers were called, but almost all those ticketholders seemed to have vanished. Meantime, the commission will make its decision in mid-August and is still taking written comments.
Below, our as-it-happened coverage of tonight’s meeting:
*************
6:12 PM: We’re at what will become, if the state Charter School Commission approves, the home of the first charter school in West Seattle, where three commission members are in attendance for an official public hearing/forum on the proposal. Summit Schools, a California-based charter operator, wants to open a middle-/high-school campus at 9601 35th SW, just purchased by a charter-development firm from Freedom Church (which is leasing back the space until the project gets under way). We’ll be reporting live as the hearing goes.
Joshua Halsey, executive director of the commission (whose members include West Seattleite Steve Sundquist, former member of the Seattle Public Schools board), has just welcomed attendees and explained the process, that the commission will vote to approve or reject Summit’s application in mid-August. Two other commissioners are here, including Trish Millines Dziko, who leads the Technology Access Foundation, which has its headquarters in White Center.
Halsey says speakers will have up to 2 minutes each (longer if they need translation services). A stenographer is here to record the comments. A rough estimate of the crowd? Maybe 100 people, seated in the Freedom pews. Written comments are being accepted, by e-mail and postal mail, between now and July 31st, Halsey says.
And with that, Jen Davis Wickens, Summit’s chief regional officer for Washington, begins her presentation. (We spoke with her for our most-recent story on the proposal, which we’ve been covering since the first of the year, after finding out about it via an application in city Department of Planning and Development files.)
She first shows, on the big screens here in the cavernous former supermarket, a shot from “signing day,” a celebration of college acceptance among Summit schools.
That painting by JoEllen Wang will soon be a familiar sight – it’s on posters for the West Seattle Urban Farm Tour that’s just been announced by WS-based Seattle Farm School, whose Katie Stemp shares the news:
I’m organizing a one-day tour of urban agriculture sites all around West Seattle. It will be Saturday, August 8 from 10 am – 3 pm and include more than 15 locations including private homes, community gardens, school gardens, and organizations that promote and support urban farming here in our community! It’s only $12 for adults and FREE for all kids under 18! Very family-friendly!
Buy your ticket online here, where you’ll also find more info about the tour.
Three weeks ago, we noted the city Department of Planning and Development‘s announcement that a development-tracking map was in the works. Today, the map has gone public.
(Screengrab from DPD’s ‘Shaping Seattle’ map)
It’s called “Shaping Seattle,” and you can click any dot on the map to see aspects of a project that’s in or has gone through Design Review, including the most-recent design proposal, a timeline of meetings and decisions, and how to comment on the project. We just spun through what it shows for West Seattle and noted a few glitches – a project you see on the map might be active, or stalled, or even already built, and that won’t be readily obvious unless you follow the development files day in and day out (one example of “stalled,” 2310 California SW), so be sure to read the fine print and check the dates. But take a look for yourself by going here. This comes eight months after a private technologist, Ethan Phelps-Goodman, created something similar, Seattle In Progress; we talked with him recently and he’s continuing to refine and add on to what he’s created.
(US Navy file photo of USS Boxer)
One week from tomorrow, it’s the next Seafair event you can watch without leaving West Seattle – the Parade of Ships, sailing past our shores on Wednesday afternoon, July 29th. And today, we know which ships are participating: Comprising this year’s Seafair fleet are the U.S. Navy’s 844-foot amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4 – it looks like an aircraft carrier) and guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Dewey (DDG 105), plus one U.S. Coast Guard vessel – 378-foot CGC Midgett – and three Royal Canadian Navy ships, 440-foot HMCS Vancouver, 181-foot HMCS Whitehorse, and 181-foot HMCS Brandon. (Read more about them on the Seafair website.)
The ships will pass West Seattle in the 1 pm vicinity on July 29th, then past downtown around 1:45 pm, and circling back to their docks. Then the following day, tours start. From the Seafair website:
PIER 66
U.S. Navy:
Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Gridley
Guided-Missile Destroyer USS DeweyU.S. Coast Guard:
High-Endurance Cutter CGC MidgettThursday, July 30 – Saturday, August 1
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.Sunday, August 2
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.*****
PIER 69
Royal Canadian Navy:
HMCS Brandon
HMCS WhitehorseThursday, July 30 – Saturday, August 1
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.Sunday, August 2
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.*****
PIER 90
U.S. Navy:
Amphibious Assault Ship USS Boxer (LHD 4)Royal Canadian Navy:
HMCS VancouverThursday, July 30 – Sunday, August 2
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
See the Seafair website for important info before you go take the tours, which are free. For the Parade of Ships – just find a spot along the shore, from Alki to Jack Block (or of course downtown).
(Customers Shelly and Casey, sitting at the window in Pellegrini Italian Market)
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
For months, people have been asking what’s going on at the former La Romanza Bistro site at 4521 California SW in The Junction – especially once mosaic tile started to cover the facade.
Finally a sign went up. And then, Pellegrini Italian Market opened for business quietly during the recent West Seattle Summer Fest, just in time to take advantage of the additional pedestrian traffic traveling casually along California Avenue.
The venture is brought to you by the Pellegrini family, proprietors of Beach Drive restaurant La Rustica. Aimee Pellegrini – “official daughter,” as well as the marketing arm of the family’s business operations – says the Pellegrinis took into consideration the changing face of the neighborhood when deciding on their concept for the space.
“We thought, ‘What’s missing in West Seattle? Well, there’s not really an Italian market in West Seattle,’ explains Pellegrini.
This Thursday, the Southwest Design Review Board meets again in West Seattle, just one week after its last meeting – a two-week gap is more common, but the recent schedule’s been tousled. We have toplines from the two reviews at last week’s meeting, but first, a quick look at the projects on the agenda this week:
6:30 PM Thursday – 4801 Fauntleroy Way SW. 21 apartments, 7 live/work units, 950 sf of retail space across from the south side of The Whittaker. Previous WSB coverage here.
8 PM Thursday – 4700 SW Admiral Way, the Aegis Living proposal for an 80-unit assisted-living center on the site of the former Life Care Center. Previous WSB coverage here.
Both meetings on Thursday night (July 23rd) are at the SWDRB’s usual meeting spot, the Senior Center of West Seattle (entrance on Oregon SW just east of California SW); both have public-comment periods. Design packets are not yet posted for the projects (though they are supposed to be by now, this close to the meetings) – check back at the pages we’ve linked to each address above.
Last Thursday (July 16th), we covered the board’s reviews of two projects, in reverse order of how they had been listed on the DPD website, 4532 42nd SW first and then 5414 Delridge Way SW, because of what a DPD rep said was a mix-up involving notices sent by postal mail. Ahead, summaries and results of the two reviews, both of which were for the Early Design Guidance phase, which means the board looked at characteristics such as size and shape, NOT a finished look for either building:
Never got a chance Sunday night to share one of Lynn Hall‘s lovely images of the sunset painting the then-approaching clouds after that 95-degree day, so … better late than never. And now, we look ahead to what’s up today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at Southwest Library, bring your baby up to 1 year of age and enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes, free as always. (35th/Henderson)
STOP ‘N’ SHOP OPEN HOUSE: 3-5 pm, the thrift shop at street level in the Sisson Building, also home to the Senior Center of West Seattle, invites you to come have treats and see the newly air conditioned shop. Details in our calendar listing. (4504 California SW)
CHARTER SCHOOL HEARING: Six months after we first reported on the plan for what would be West Seattle’s first charter school – a middle/high school hoping to open for 2016-2017 – members of the state Charter School Commission will be at the proposed location tonight, 6 pm, for a forum/hearing including community comments as well as a presentation about the school; the commission will decide next month whether to approve the charter. Dinner and child care available. Official announcement here; our most-recent coverage of the proposal is here. (9601 35th SW)
FREE TRACK RUN: 6:15 pm, meet at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) for a free group run! (2743 California SW)
I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE … (something) as lovely as a tree … workshop, for free. 6:30 pm at High Point Community Center. Find out how to choose the right tree for the right spot. Details in our calendar listing. (6920 34th SW)
WEST SEATTLE QUILTERS: 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, all welcome – details in our calendar listing. (Oregon/California)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm, bring the toddlers and preschoolers along for stories, songs, more at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
NIGHTLIFE AND MORE … our daily highlights are just a sampling of what you’ll find on the complete calendar.
A celebration of life is planned in West Seattle this Saturday for Steve Murray, whose family is sharing this remembrance with the community:
Stephen B. Murray, 70, passed away on July 6, 2015 at the UW Medical Center in Seattle, with the love of his life, Linda Mae, by his side.
Steve was born in Chicago on December 28, 1944 in the elevator at the hospital.
He left Chicago and moved to Seattle in 1968. Steve began his 40-year career in the natural gas industry in 1969 at the Washington Natural Gas Company, later to become Puget Sound Energy. The last 9 years of his career were spent at Pilchuck, a gas service provider.
Steve was an easy-going, very likable man, always quick with a clever quip, or a smart remark. His sense of humor could defuse many a situation. He never realized how many friends he really had.
Although a devoted Seahawks and Mariners fan, he never masked his love for the Chicago Blackhawks, and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. When asked about the Cubbies, he used to say “someone’s gotta love ‘em.” He followed up his Cubs devotion with a bright blue and red tattoo on his arm of their logo. Watching hockey was a favorite pastime, and he always enjoyed golfing, and took more than a few golfing road trips.
But the true loves of his life were his family. And it was an extensive one, spread from coast to coast.
Steve is survived by wife and best friend of 34 years, Linda; his daughters, Jennifer (Johnson) and her husband Mike, Amanda (Mason) and her husband Doug, and son Spencer and his wife Jessica (Sutyla), as well as 7 grandchildren.
He leaves behind his siblings, brother Mike and sister-in-law Judy, sister Mary Pat (Arostegui) and brother-in-law Vince, brother Mark, brother John and sister-in-law Connie, sister Maureen (Carlson) and brother-in-law Mark, and brother Matthew and sister-in-law April (Cody). Stephen also leaves many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, John and Patricia, and his oldest brother, Jerry, in 2014.
A Celebration of Life will be held in West Seattle on Saturday, July 25th, from 12 – 3 p.m. at 6040 California Ave SW.
Please come, share your condolences, share a story, share your favorite Steve(ism), and share a laugh.
If we could all be as nice to people as Big Steve was, the world would be a better place.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@wsb.blackfin.biz)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:22 AM: It’s raining for the first time in a long time, so be careful out there. That’s the big commute news so far this morning.
7:29 AM: Via Twitter, Liz says traffic’s backed all the way up the hill on Fauntleroy. We’re not seeing any reports of an incident or stall, so might just be the rain.
8:28 AM: If you head toward Top Hat, Boulevard Park, and beyond to Burien for work/shopping/etc., be aware of a power outage involving almost 8,000 homes and businesses – shown on the Seattle City Light map here.
8:52 AM: Trouble on the ramp from the eastbound bridge to southbound I-5:
Looks like this car hit the wall and is partially blocking ramp from Spokane to SB I-5. pic.twitter.com/tliLaxG7ho
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) July 21, 2015
Just out of the WSB inbox from Bob:
I just wanted to let you know the coyotes in Schmitz Park have very vocal the past two nights. We have not seen them yet but our dog has been on alert in the back yard. You might want to let the neighbors know to watch their cats and small pets.
We share coyote reports when we get them, not to be alarmist, but because not everyone realizes they live among us, and if you realize that they do, you have a better chance of taking measures to ensure we and they stay a healthy distance apart. This info from the state can help.
That’s Alina Guyon, a West Seattleite chosen by the United Nations Foundation to be a Teen Advisor for Girl-Up. She is one of 20 girls chosen, and the only girl from Washington State. More about what she’s doing:
Girl-Up advocates for adolescent girls in developing nations; they focus on the countries where it is hardest to be a girl. They stress the importance of education for girls, health and safety.
To become a teen advisor, a girl first needs to be nominated by someone from outside her family. A letter is submitted to describe why the applicant would be a good candidate, and describes her past experience advocating for girls in developing nations. Girl-Up then selects 100 girls to complete an extensive application, including essays, videos and photos.
Why focus on adolescent girls? Statistics show that investing in girls between the ages of 12-15 has tremendous long-term benefits. A girl who is educated is less likely to be married as a child; she will have a better income and can provide for her family. She is more likely to value education for her children, which breaks the cycle of extreme poverty. Adolescent girls are agents of change.
Alina’s first task was to travel to Washington DC for a United Nations Leadership Summit. She even met First Lady Michelle Obama after her talk supporting Girl-Up. In the coming year, Alina will advocate for policy change on behalf of adolescent girls, meet with our state representatives and senators, and encourage students to start Girl-Up clubs. Girl-Up clubs meet to raise awareness of girls rights and support girls who need it the most.
If you are interested in learning more, go to www.girlup.org. Contact sherylguyon@gmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in starting a Girl-Up club.
Right in the middle of a wildly busy summer season of parades and other performances, the Seattle Schools All-City Band is at Seacrest Park tonight for its annual photo session – which tends to spark some curiosity, including potential future members:
Its members are high-school-age musicians from all over the city, led by Marcus Pimpleton, the acclaimed music leader from Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School.
All-City Band put on an award-winning show in the West Seattle Grand Parade this past Saturday, and next Saturday, they’ll be in the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown. But first – the big, fun, free annual pre-parade tuneup event happens this Friday here in West Seattle, and you’re invited as always: It’s “Band Jam,” 7 pm Friday (July 24th) at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, the stadium across from Chief Sealth, featuring not only ACB but also some of the bands that will join them in the Torchlight Parade. Never been? Check out our past coverage.
Last month, when the Seattle Public Library announced upgrade work was ahead for the West Seattle (Admiral) branch, it said a two-week closure would be needed as part of the project, likely in September. The dates have just been announced, and it’s coming up sooner – the second half of August. Here’s the announcement:
The West Seattle Branch and book drop, 2306 42nd Ave. SW, will be closed from Monday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 30 while the front steps are being replaced as part of an exterior construction project to improve access to the branch.
The branch is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31.
While the branch is closed, patrons may choose any other Library location as a pickup location for items placed on hold and may return materials to any branch. If patrons don’t select an alternate branch, their holds will be sent to the Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW, 206-684 7455.
Other nearby branches are:
· Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW, 206-733-9125
· High Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St., 206-684-7454Exterior construction work started June 15. Improvements include:
· Rebuild front steps
· Redo ramp from rear parking lot to main front entrance
· Redo ramp from rear parking lot to lower-level meeting room
· Add lighted handrails to ramps and steps
· Resurface parking stalls on north end of the lotThe project is expected to be completed in late September.
If you’ve seen temporary traffic cameras up along west Admiral Way in the past week or so – yes, they’re related to the SDOT proposal for changes along the road between California and 63rd, including removal of 200 parking spaces and channelization changes. In our followup published last week featuring one of the meetings City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has had with local groups both pro and con, we mentioned we had questions out to SDOT. Today, we talked with project manager Emily Ehlers. She says they’re expecting the promised followup meeting with the community to be in “late August.”
Between now and then, they’re expecting two sets of data – one gathered by temporary cameras like the one you see above, five of which she says are in place, recording pedestrian activity in the project zone. That data, according to Ehlers, will help them decide if new crosswalks and flashing-beacon-type signage are needed. The other set of data will involve the next parking study, which she says has not started yet – you might recall that SDOT raised eyebrows by basing its first round of recommendations on parking-usage studies done in the winter, so, agreed to community demands to do a study in the summer too. She says they’re working with a consultant to get going on that and she expects it to happen soon. Ehlers added that they are receiving lots of community feedback and said that’s part of what they’re working with, too – so you have plenty of time to e-mail her at emily.ehlers@seattle.gov.
2:37 PM: When Seattle Parks officially opened the five-years-in-the-making Westcrest Park expansion almost two weeks ago, they mentioned a July 25th celebration. That’s coming up Saturday, and today Parks shared more details: Music, balsa-wood planemaking, a bouncy house, and an obstacle course from Camp Long will all be part of the 11 am-1 pm party next Saturday. Plus the dedication of Flyers (part of which is in our photo above), the park expansion’s wind-spun public art by David Boyer. If you’re new – this all happened because the city decided to bury what had been an open-air reservoir in this area of Westcrest Park, and that made room for more park space on top, including a new permanent play area.
6:16 PM: We’ve verified a few more details with Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor: The What Up Dog food truck will be there (maybe you’ve seen it recently at Don Armeni Boat Ramp) and music will be by Correo Aereo.
12:58 PM: A full Seattle Fire response is headed to the 5600 block of 36th SW (map) for a possible house fire. Updates to come.
1:01 PM: First units to arrive aren’t seeing anything, and are hearing it might just be a “dryer fire.”
1:06 PM: Our crew at the scene says that’s been confirmed – a small dryer fire, and it’s out. Most of the responding units have been sent back.
(WSB file photo)
“Say it isn’t so!” wrote one tipster who e-mailed to let us know that the Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction has just made this announcement online:
FEEDBACK LOUNGE SAYS GOODBYE
LAST DAY: SATURDAY, AUGUST 8th, 2015What a wild ride we’ve had over the last seven years. There are simply no words to express how \ grateful we are to have been a part of the West Seattle Business Community and to have made countless, wonderful friends and worked with a many of the industry’s best.
But all good things come to an end. The owners are moving on and the Feedback Lounge is closing. New ownership will be remodeling the space with anticipated reopening in the fall. Our last day of business will be Saturday, August 8th with a final blowout show. We’ll announce the line-up soon.
But in the meantime, please drop by to have a drink with us and say goodbye.
Stay tuned to our Facebook page – we have a few surprises coming up.
The Feedback opened in April 2009 and became known for its craft cocktails as well as for its rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia collection and, eventually, live shows including rock and comedy, as well as for its community support of various causes – it’s hosted countless fundraisers. We’re working to find out more about its owners’ plans and the space’s future.
12:22 PM: We just heard back from Feedback co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert (at left in a 2011 WSB photo with co-proprietor Matt Johnson, sporting T-shirts with a slogan they became well-known for). He says they can’t elaborate on the new ownership just yet. As for the reasons for closing, he cites several, including his ongoing work in Portland that he jokes has almost required “dual citizenship,” all adding up to the owners not being able to devote enough time to the enterprise.
(May photo by Paul Weatherman: Shell’s Aiviq and Polar Pioneer @ T-5)
This Thursday was supposed to be the day that the city Hearing Examiner started listening to arguments in the fight over permits allowing the Port to allow Foss to host Shell at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5. But it’s been pushed back three weeks, according to a notice in this morning’s city Land Use Information Bulletin, with the new start date August 13th, continuing into the following day and August 24th if necessary; the delay was requested by Foss, according to the case file. The Port, Foss, and Shell are appealing the city Department of Planning and Development‘s May “interpretation” saying that the port’s permits for use of the terminal don’t cover what’s involved in hosting Shell. More than a dozen maritime-related businesses sought to join the case in their support, as we reported last month, while environmental groups requested permission to support the city’s position. It’s been five weeks since the Polar Pioneer drill rig left West Seattle to head north; what happens in the appeal process now could affect whether it returns here after whatever happens in the Arctic Ocean later this summer.
The summer’s biggest weekend is just a memory – but before we totally move on, one last West Seattle Grand Parade photo gallery, the biggest of all – more of the people, your neighbors, who paraded down California SW at midday Saturday!
Cora boogied her way down the route for the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club again this year – but did you know, the tower replica behind her was flashing Morse Code all the while? A little hard to see in the sunshine, but a WSARC rep we talked to before the parade thought you should know.
This year’s Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Community Service recipient, former West Seattle Big Band director Donn Weaver (backstory here), got a visit from his WSBB successor, parade co-coordinator Jim Edwards, in The Junction:
Weaver also is a former longtime music teacher at West Seattle High School, which had an entry in this year’s parade, the cheer squad:
Seattle Lutheran High School sent its cheer squad to the parade too:
**30+ MORE PHOTOS AHEAD!**
Read More
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The temperature is down 30 degrees from where it peaked Sunday on the hottest day of the year, and so far, no traffic trouble through/from West Seattle. However, we do have a ferry alert, one that follows advance warning:
TWO-BOAT SCHEDULE ON FAUNTLEROY/VASHON/SOUTHWORTH: Because of repairs involving vessels elsewhere in the system, this route is being served by M/V Issaquah and Cathlamet on the two-boat schedule, with unscheduled supplementary service by the 34-vehicle Hiyu. WSF says this could last three days. Check ferries’ statuses on this WSF run, or any other, here.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: A few links. First, the Seattle Times gets an advance copy of an independent analysis saying the city needs to do a better job of clearing crashes (most notably, the fish-truck fiasco) – read Mike Lindblom‘s report here … At 21st/Genesee in Pigeon Point, neighbors painted a new “street mural” on Sunday in hopes it will help slow traffic … A different West Seattle street-painting project on Sunday did not go so well.
SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Early heads-up – this Saturday night brings the Seafair Pirate Run before the Torchlight Parade, and that means a few hours of Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. More details as the week goes on.
8:34 AM: Crash on the eastbound bridge near the 4th Avenue South exit. Thanks to the person who texted us about it. SDOT shows the bridge-cam image:
Collision on WSB at 1st Ave going EB has 2 left lanes blocked to traffic. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/3jk5xpMljE
— seattledot (@seattledot) July 20, 2015
Jeremy reports via Twitter:
@westseattleblog buses to 99 are moving, but everybody else backed up west over the bridge
— Jeremy Kahn (@trochee) July 20, 2015
8:45 AM: The Seattle Fire units have cleared the scene, suggesting no major injuries.
8:55 AM: Now one lane blocked, and not for long, per scanner. But SDOT warns the lower bridge is about to swing open for vessel traffic, so don’t use that as an alternate route for a while.
9 AM: Crash scene now cleared, but SDOT says backups still stretch all the way across the eastbound bridge.
3:45 PM: Trouble on southbound 99:
Stall on SB SR 99 Viaduct after Western Ave now has a backup of 2 miles and growing. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/FM33uOA5pm
— seattledot (@seattledot) July 20, 2015
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