TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: Tuesday watch, fourth week of West Seattle Bridge closure

6:30 AM: The high-rise West Seattle Bridge is now empty for the 22nd consecutive morning. Restrictions remain for the low bridge – transit, freight, and emergency responses; SPD presence continued on Monday.

For general traffic, the main route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – that’s also the main way to get to I-5, cutting across Georgetown.

Or use the South Park Bridge (map), which drops you onto East Marginal Way a mile south of the north end of the 1st Ave. South Bridge.

Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if a bridge is opening for marine traffic.

TRANSIT ALERTS FOR THIS WEEK:

As first reported here, the Metro and Water Taxi schedules have been slashed. Use the lookup to see which bus trips are canceled.

ROAD WORK UPDATE:

Permanent striping/marker placement in the Avalon/35th/Alaska project zone is scheduled to continue today, as are parking restrictions. Here’s the latest.

OTHER LINKS

SDOT’s traffic map
Our traffic-cams page

Let us know what you’re seeing – comment, or text (not if you’re at the wheel!) 206-293-6302.

Kyle April 14, 2020 (10:46 am)

Just a thought, but I wonder if SDOT has consulted with WSDOT on the fix? I think back to the Skagit River bridge collapse a few years ago, and I believe WSDOT had a temporary span in place in roughly a month, and a permanent fix in roughly 4-6 months. We’re almost a month in with SDOT and they don’t know the root cause, nor do they have a plan, nor do they know how to pay for it. I’m sure there are some key differences between the two bridges. I just think WSDOT has more experience with complicated structures. When I think SDOT, I think traffic signals, road diets, and bike lanes.

WSB April 14, 2020 (11:34 am)

Someone brought that up before. The Skagit River situation (both the setting and the bridge itself, not to mention the fact what led to the collapse was no mystry) and this are not remotely comparable. SDOT is not trying to do this alone; they are working with outside experts.
https://www.wsp.com/en-US/sectors/bridges

We’ve reported multiple times on why this situation is so complex but if you still don’t believe it, tune in later today for what more we just heard on the bridge tour (which was more Q&A beneath the bridge) …

James April 14, 2020 (2:05 pm)

This bridge was doomed from the start. All concrete and not a suspension bridge with support from the top….so stupid. Build a new one.

Trickycoolj April 14, 2020 (2:20 pm)

Had to leave for the first time since the first week of March today. The traffic light at HP Way was AMAZING. No stress looking up and down the hill trying to judge what lane the oncoming traffic is in. Left turn on a green arrow. Protected right turn going uphill with a green arrow. Just…. can’t put it into words after commuting both directions through this intersection for 8 years. This quite frankly was all we needed to begin with, we didn’t need fancy roundabouts. A weekend installation of a traffic light.

Pilsner April 14, 2020 (3:03 pm)

15 years going through there. I agree, the light works well as is, for now.
Jon Wright April 14, 2020 (3:22 pm)

It really is discouraging that such a longstanding problem could be addressed so quickly–it just took a little bit of political will. Makes one wonder how many other chronic nagging issues could be taken care of equally fast.
KM April 14, 2020 (3:52 pm)

Isn’t it amazing? I wonder the thoughts on making it permanent. What is the cost to do so, and flesh out the intersection fully with crossings and full signals? We’ve got to be about halfway there?

Sorry, comment time is over.