MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle commutes continue to be relatively smooth despite viaduct absence

Jan 29, 2019, 6:07 AM | Updated: 6:55 pm

Viadoom...

Northbound I-5 at I-90 during the afternoon commute amid Viadoom, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. (Matt Pitman, KIRO Radio)

(Matt Pitman, KIRO Radio)

It’s safe to say on Tuesday of the final week of Viadoom that Seattle commuters are on the home stretch.

What was expected to be a traffic nightmare for three weeks while the Alaskan Way Viaduct was closed, turned out to be more of a day dream filled with relatively smooth commutes. Tuesday was no different. Aside from some collisions that slowed traffic down, the commute was similar to the rest of the Seattle Squeeze — about an hour from Everett or Federal Way into Seattle via I-5.

Dry weather continued into the afternoon and evening commute, making for a relatively quiet journey home for most drivers.

MyNorthwest continues its coverage of Viadoom. The following are updates from the Tuesday’s commute, including reports from KIRO Radio Traffic Reporters Chris Sullivan and Tracy Taylor.

6:55 p.m.

Another Viadoom commute ends smoothly! We’re just days away from the opening of the SR 99 tunnel, so keep up the good work!

6:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

A transit alert for anyone who rides the 50 in Seattle:

5:45 p.m.

5:25 p.m.

5:15 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:15 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

3:40 p.m.

The evening commute is starting with some increased travel times.

3:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

10 a.m.

“West Seattle is just getting hammered today,” Sullivan said. “You’re just not moving from 35th, around the corner and over to I-5.”

“I-5 northbound is slammed because of the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure,” he said. “It’s 45 minutes to drive from Southcenter into Seattle.”

9:31 a.m.

9 a.m.

8:40 a.m.

It’s an hour and 15 minutes between Everett and Bellevue, and it’s an hour from Everett to Seattle.

Northbound I-5 is a solid grind from Boeing Field into downtown Seattle. The drive from Southcenter into downtown is 50 minutes.

The West Seattle Bridge is a crawl with backups to Delridge Way. There may be a car fire on the exit to Columbian Way, Sullivan reports.

A six mile backup remains after an incident on southbound I-5 was cleared in the Marysville area. That is snarling traffic between Arlington and Everett.

8:25 a.m.

8 a.m.

7:35 a.m.

A collision near Sammamish is slowing things down on I-90.

7:30 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

6:55 a.m.

6:45 a.m.

A stall blocking southbound I-5 at the ship canal bridge has been cleared, but a four-mile backup remains. The southbound I-5 drive from Everett to Seattle is an hour and 10 minutes, with 53 of those minutes crawling from Lynnwood.

Sullivan notes that southbound SR99 through North Seattle is a viable option around slow I-5.

It’s an hour to drive north from Federal Way to Seattle, with 40 of those minutes from Southcenter. That’s 15 minutes slower than before the absence of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The West Seattle Bridge has now gotten to its usual morning crawl, backing up to Delridge Way.

6:35 a.m.

6:30 a.m.

6:15 a.m.

6 a.m.
The commute is filling in. It’s already 50 minutes traveling north from Federal Way to Seattle. The heaviest traffic slowdowns begin at Boeing Field in Seattle.

The southbound I-5 drive from Everett to Seattle is 40 minutes, with some slowing just south of the Everett Mall. Traffic slows down considerably around Lynnwood.

“The West Seattle Bridge is good for now,” Sullivan said. “That door usually closes in about 15 minutes.”

5:30 a.m.

MyNorthwest News

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize up for grabs after $1.1B Mega Millions ticket sold

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $865 million ahead of Wednesday night's drawing.

6 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

8 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

9 hours ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

10 hours ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

10 hours ago

Image: A Tacoma teen was shot outside her Tacoma Hilltop area apartment over the weekend....

Heather Bosch

Estranged boyfriend suspected in Tacoma teen’s death turns himself in

We're learning more about the man who's accused of fatally shooting a teenager outside her Tacoma Hill Top area apartment over the weekend.

11 hours ago

Seattle commutes continue to be relatively smooth despite viaduct absence