Viadoom day 3: High-speed chase snarls I-5 early in the afternoon
Jan 16, 2019, 5:40 AM | Updated: 6:49 pm
(KIRO 7)
The first two days of Viadoom have seen drivers experiencing traffic that was lighter than expected.
Check out MyNorthwest’s hub for things Viadoom
The third morning commute was a bit bizarre. Someone was able to drive onto the southbound lanes of the closed Alaskan Way Viaduct. And a train stopped at a quite inconvenient spot, for a rather long time, south of downtown. The railway had to urge pedestrians to stop climbing through and over the train cars.
Things only got weirder during the afternoon commute, after a high speed chase stemming from an armed robbery in Lynnwood saw backups gather on I-5 southbound near Northgate.
The incident saw a 38-year-old man crash a stolen taxi while speeding away from the police, and at one point was even driving the wrong way on I-5.
For tomorrow, traffic experts are cautioning commuters against getting too confident about conditions. The worst is yet to come, especially if people revert to old habits as the weather takes a turn for the worst.
“Here’s the deal, I’m going to level with you — don’t stray away from your plan, do not think that just because the first days have been relatively easy, that it’s a cake walk from here, because that is not the case,” cautions KIRO Radio Traffic Reporter Tracy Taylor
“Do not jump into your vehicle and think that you are going to be fine — this is not the end,” she added.
Keep that in mind for tomorrow, with the forecast for Thursday calling for rain.
Our dry stretch in weather comes to an end tonight as rain arrives with the next storm system! Expect periods of rain through early Saturday with breezy conditions both Thursday night and Friday night, especially along the Coast and North Interior. #WAwx pic.twitter.com/5mxJDF5p5d
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 17, 2019
Below are updates, with reports from KIRO Radio’s Tracy Taylor and Chris Sullivan for the afternoon and morning commutes respectively.
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6:40 p.m.
Well, we made it through another day of Viadoom! See you out there on the roads tomorrow, and remember to keep sticking to your altered commuting schedule.
Looks like we made it through another day of #SeattleSqueeze. Let's do the same things tomorrow and we'll get through Thursday as well. pic.twitter.com/lUQjRUFKlU
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 17, 2019
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6:20 p.m.
It's taking the usual time or maybe a few extra minutes to get to most places on the highways around the Seattle area. Big exceptions are leaving Bellevue, to:
Bothell: 36 min
Everett: 70 min
Lynnwood: 47 min— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 17, 2019
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6:00 p.m.
There’s a long lineup on 520 causing an 84 minute drive from Bellevue to Everett, while southbound 405 is “brutal” outside of Bellevue says Tracy.
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5:30 p.m.
It should go without saying, but Tracy has some advice for anyone feeling like they can revert back to their pre-Viadoom commuting habits:
I can't stress this enough. DON'T GET COMPLACENT & start going back to your regular commute. I'm hearing from a LOT of you saying it's been a easy commute. Tomorrow the weather changes, and Thursday typically has a tough commute all around. STAY THE COURSE!
— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 17, 2019
Tracy also has an alert from Metro Transit: Buses are rerouted off NE 145 Street and a portion of 5th Avenue NW. Instead, use stops on 15th Avenue NE south of NE 145th, or on 5th Avenue NE north of NE 155 Street.
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5:07 p.m.
While the commutes have been manageable for the early part of this week, rainy weather starts tomorrow. That could very well mean more traffic, so be sure you’re leaving plenty of following space tomorrow morning.
Our dry stretch in weather comes to an end tonight as rain arrives with the next storm system! Expect periods of rain through early Saturday with breezy conditions both Thursday night and Friday night, especially along the Coast and North Interior. #WAwx pic.twitter.com/5mxJDF5p5d
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 17, 2019
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4:45 p.m.
A collision in the southbound I-5 HOV bypass at Southcenter is snarling traffic, slowing the drive from Seattle to Federal Way considerably.
The collision in the SB I-5 HOV bypass at Southcenter has helped clog traffic; it's about a 6-mile backup. It takes nearly an hour to get from Seattle to FedWay now. pic.twitter.com/40t2FuqGGR
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 17, 2019
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4:30 p.m.
After early delays, the commute on northbound I-5 has cleared up considerably.
NB I-5 travel times out of Seattle now actually a little quicker than usual – 31 min to Lynnwood, 59 to Everett. pic.twitter.com/UcpPVOKEcl
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 17, 2019
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4:05 p.m.
With traffic snarled early on in the afternoon commute, it’s important now more than ever to stick to your Viadoom plan.
Let's all stick with what has worked so far for #SeattleSqueeze. Keep up with telework, shift hours, use alternatives. As a couple of incidents this afternoon showed, it doesn't take much to create big traffic backups.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
The latest on the downtown Seattle, West Seattle, and Northgate drive:
3rd evening commute of the #SeattleSqueeze! Currently:
▶️Moderate traffic on downtown streets
▶️Heavy traffic on Mercer St EB, West Seattle Bridge EB from SR 99 to I-5, I-5 NB and SB
▶️Signal flashing red at NE Northgate Way at 5th Ave NEStay tuned for another update at 5PM!
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 17, 2019
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3:45 p.m.
WSDOT says that the Seattle to Everett drive time is down to 71 minutes, but Tracy remains skeptical.
“Here’s the deal, I think this is going to take us a little longer — there are a lot of things holding us up,” she said.
We’re still looking at a lot of heavy traffic, with a “brutal” commute on northbound I-5 from the Convention Center all the way to Northgate.
Southbound 405 from just after NE 8th all the way out to the Valley Freeway is “bumper-to-bumper.”
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3:15 p.m.
All lanes of southbound I-5 have been cleared, while the investigation continues on the express lanes entrance. The backup extends about a mile.
According to Tracy, a good deal of the congestion is being caused by drivers slowing down to look at the incident, so be sure to keep that rubbernecking to a minimum.
All lanes of SB 5 at Northgate are now open while the investigation continues on the express lanes entrance. Backup is about a mile. pic.twitter.com/LI3xygWWhk
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
The rest of I-5 is already what WSDOT is calling “a big mess.”
The Seattle to Everett drive is currently 103 minutes, between the visual distraction caused by the high speed chase, and the earlier crash on northbound I-5 near Everett south of US 2.
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3:00 p.m.
Things got off to something of a rocky start today on the commute, but not due to any Viadoom-related incidents.
A high speed chase following an armed robbery in Lynnwood saw backups gather on I-5 southbound near Northgate, after law enforcement eventually crashed the escaping vehicle.
Pursuit of suspect ended in single vehicle crash near Northgate on SB I5. One male in custody. https://t.co/Id5Txsnt9r
— Snohomish Sheriff (@SnoCoSheriff) January 16, 2019
The armed robber fled the scene of the robbery in a yellow cab, with the pursuit ending near Northgate with one male in custody.
The ensuing backup is a little more than a mile to around 130th.
Meanwhile in Everett, a wreck on northbound I-5 just south of US-2 has the two right general purpose and HOV lanes blocked. WSDOT advises drivers to consider alternate routes as the crash is cleared.
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Below are updates, with reports from KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan, from the morning commute, Wednesday, Jan. 16.
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10:43 a.m.
Answering inquiries from KIRO Radio Traffic Reporter Chris Sullivan, Sound Transit offered an explanation for Wednesday morning’s traffic snarl caused by a freight train blocking the roadway under the West Seattle Bridge at 1st Avenue and Spokane Street.
A Sound Transit spokesperson said that BNSF dispatches Sounder, Amtrak and their own freight trains. Passengers trains, like the Sounder are a higher priority on the tracks than freight trains. BNSF had a freight train wait while it prioritized the Sounder train.
This caused the freight train to wait, blocking the road, and causing a traffic delay near the train yard.
9:47 a.m.
Heavy traffic from Southcenter into downtown, though travel times have improved by about 10 minutes over the past hour.
West Seattle Bridge is solid from Delridge Way.
9:25 a.m.
Only 7⃣ – count ’em, SEVEN! – travel times that are above-average at 9 a.m.. Not seeing any delays over 4 minutes.
FED->TAC: 13 min (+4)
REN->SEA: 35 min (+3)
SEATAC->SEA: 37 min (+3)
SEA->EVT: 29 min (+2)
SEA->LYN: 17 min (+1)
SEA->RED: 22 min (+4)
SEA->WOOD: 32 min (+4) pic.twitter.com/r2QRcOXh7x— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
8:49 a.m.
Because of the viaduct closure, there is heavy slowing on northbound I-5 from around Boeing Field into downtown.
“It’s going to be a grind,” Sullivan said. “It’s going to take you a significant amount of time getting through that.”
The West Seattle Bridge continues to crawl.
8:25 a.m.
It’s a 50 minute drive from Federal Way into Seattle, but more than 40 of those minutes are from Southcenter into downtown.
The West Seattle Bridge is still backed up to near Delridge Way.
Surface streets south of downtown are crawling. Airport Way is still bogged down through the north end of Boeing Field, and 4th Avenue is solid with cars (this route is missing a lane from a construction project).
8:10 a.m.
Despite being closed, a driver was apparently able to get onto the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct this morning. A video posted to Twitter Wednesday morning shows a car driving southbound.
Whaaat? https://t.co/xgY6j1kNge
— Chris Sullivan (@NEWSGUYSULLY) January 16, 2019
“I just saw an unbelievable video … someone actually made it onto the viaduct in a car and was driving southbound,” Sullivan said. “I don’t know how that person got there. It doesn’t look like a police car, but I’m hoping it was someone in authority. But someone got on the southbound deck and was probably wondering where everyone was.”
Hearing this might be the security guard making a run. Hope that’s true. https://t.co/UQp2eTgDnh
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 16, 2019
Just like the last two days, the AM commute started earlier and is running slower than usual
8 a.m. headlines:
▪️Earlier crashes slowed north end commute; 5-10 min delays
▪️NB I-5 backup into SEA longer than normal; 4 min delay from REN
▪️Biggest delay: REN->BELV = 52 min (+16) pic.twitter.com/oPkUOdr1wc— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
8 a.m.
BNSF is in the process of trying to move the train that has snarled traffic under the West Seattle Bridge at 1st Avenue and Spokane Street. The train has been sitting idle for nearly 50 minutes.
In the meantime, the railway is asking pedestrians to stop crawling through and over the train while it is sitting there.
To pedestrians at the railroad crossing at 2nd & 4th in SoDo, Seattle: Stop crawling through the train immediately! It will be moving at any moment. Please be mindful of your own safety. #seattle #seattlesqueeze #viadoom #realign99 @kirotraffic
— BNSF Railway (@BNSFRailway) January 16, 2019
7:50a.m.
The West Seattle Bridge is slow, with traffic backing up to Admiral. Another problem with the commute out of West Seattle is a train blocking the roadway at 1st Avenue and Spokane Street — under the bridge. It’s been sitting for more than 45 minutes and will not move out of the way.
“West Seattle, you’re taking it on the chin,” Sullivan said. “According to BNSF they have people out there checking it out. And I just got a note from BNSF that the train had to wait for commuter trains to get through first. It might be a traffic jam related issue on the tracks. That seems to be the issue, from BNSF’s perspective.”
biggest issue this morning is the train traffic. It’s been a nightmare for transit riders and drivers along 1st ave
— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 16, 2019
Federal Way to Seattle is 55 minutes, and 44 of those minutes are from Southcenter.
Everett to Bellevue is an hour and 15 minutes, Everett to Seattle is an hour and five minutes.
7:40 a.m.
The Lower Spokane St Bridge has closed to traffic at 7:36:40 AM
— seattleDOTbridges (@SDOTbridges) January 16, 2019
Ever wonder how our TMC in Shoreline is laid out? Here ya go!
Currently watching the 7:30am commute. Still seeing biggest delays out of the north end, but NB I-5 & I-405 looking slow as well. pic.twitter.com/ecV7YnYyGZ
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
7:25 a.m.
While traffic downtown is light, we’re seeing heavy traffic on I-5 NB and SB, 1st Ave S NB from S Spokane St to rail overpass bridge, & West Seattle Bridge EB. If you can, come in a bit later or try a different mode of transportation. #SeattleSqueeze
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 16, 2019
7:17 a.m.
I-405 southbound has a stalled car in a toll lane, at SR522, affecting the commute through Bothell. The express toll lanes have reached the $10 max.
JUST IN: Crash blocking toll lane on SB I-405 at SR 522 in #Bothell. However, Everett->Bellevue running four minutes faster than usual.
These times…not so much:
▪️Renton->Bellevue: 43 minutes (+8)
▪️Fed Way->Seattle: 54 minutes (+3)
▪️Arlington->Everett: 21 minutes (+7) pic.twitter.com/47yuk4A7KN— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
7:03 a.m.
It’s about an hour between Federal Way to Seattle, with 36 of those minutes are form Southcenter.
Renton to Bellevue is 40 minutes.
It’s a crawl over the West Seattle Bridge.
There is a power outage int he Meadowbrook area of north Seattle. This is potentially affecting traffic signals in the area which neighbors Lake City Way. Treat dark signals as four-way stops.
6:52 a.m.
Drivers are once again avoiding I5 by using NB 405 through Renton. Already 40 mins to Bellevue. #Realign99
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 16, 2019
ALL CLEAR on SB I-5 before Boeing Freeway, but we’ll see the effects of this crash for a while. Traffic stop and go about seven miles, past SR 529. Plan for BIG delays if traveling south from the north end.
Arlington->Everett: 30 minutes (+16)
Everett->Seattle: 57 minutes (+8) pic.twitter.com/SxHuDuq4Bs— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
6:43 a.m.
6:30 a.m. and here’s how traffic is looking ⬇️
🔹North end commuters seeing the biggest delays (10+ minutes) thanks to a pair of collisions in Everett
🔹South end commute is heating up, but delays hovering around 5-8 minutes for now pic.twitter.com/4ouAlksoyM— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
6:30 a.m.
There are two lanes blocked near the Boeing Freeway, north of the Everett Mall (the HOV lane and a general purpose lane). It’s not directly related to the viaduct closure, but it is causing a three mile backup into downtown Everett and slowing the drive south ahead of Viadoom traffic. It’s an hour from Everett to Bellevue, and 55 minutes from Everett to Seattle.
Federal Way to Seattle is 55 minutes, with 35 of those minutes from Southcenter into downtown.
The West Seattle Bridge is backed up beyond the Delridge area.
“Looks like if you want to beat that West Seattle traffic, the idea is to get on that bridge before 6 a.m., even by a couple of minutes,” Sullivan said.
6:10 a.m.
It’s about 55 minutes between Everett and Bellevue. Sullivan says that drivers on KIRO Radio’s text line report noticing more people on I-405 southbound today.
The morning commute from the south end has officially begun, with traffic times going up by 35 minutes between Southcenter and downtown — a 10 minute delay over normal.
I5 NB drive started about an hour early again, at least for the stretch between Southcenter and Seattle.
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 16, 2019
If you took Sullivan’s advice to use the West Seattle Bridge earlier, good on you. The bridge is now a solid line of slowing cars backing up to Delridge Way. This heavy commute is starting about an hour ahead of normal for West Seattle.
5:50 a.m.
There is three miles of slowing on southbound I-5 out of the Everett area following a couple of collisions near the Everett Mall. It’s about 40 minutes from Everett to Seattle or Bellevue.
There’s the #Everett crash everyone is talking about.
Blocking SB I-5 HOV lane between 41st St and SR 526. Stop and go for about a mile. pic.twitter.com/UmFMfzESSY
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 16, 2019
It’s 45 minutes driving from Federal Way to Seattle, 25 of those minutes going into Southcenter.
The West Seattle Bridge is still moving smoothly. Sullivan expects that route to fill up within 25 minutes.
5:30 p.m.
It’s “normal” in Tacoma, which means I-5 is slowing around the Tacoma Dome.
The biggest slow downs are around Puyallup, near Sumner. Auburn is showing signs of heavy traffic as well. This is likely from many drivers opting to use SR167 and I-405 to avoid I-5 through Seattle. It’s a 40-minute drive from Puyallup to Renton.
There is one accident on southbound I-5 just north of the Everett Mall. One car is upside down, and another is facing the wrong way. The scene has been moved to the side of the freeway, but is causing a slowdown.
West Seattle Bridge is not showing signs of slowing down so far, but that will likely change as the morning continues. This has been the worst chokepoint during Viadoom.