Viadoom’s worst traffic yet hits as Week 2 commutes begin
Jan 22, 2019, 6:07 AM | Updated: 6:44 pm
(Michael Simeona, KIRO Radio)
Viadoom’s first week was surprisingly manageable, as people adjusted their commutes to keep congestion to a minimum. But will the second week bring the same results?
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Below are updates on the morning commute, including reports from KIRO Radio Traffic Reporter Chris Sullivan.
“So far it looks like people are doing the exact same thing they did last week to avoid the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure,” Sullivan noted early in the commute.
But as the morning progressed, it became apparent that more cars were joining the commute than last week. Sullivan says that could be the result of a few snarls around the West Seattle Bridge (marine traffic closing a bridge, and heavy port traffic). The rest of the commute started early and was slow heading into downtown.
In the afternoon and evening, the commute was easily the worst we’ve seen since the viaduct closed. Texting into KIRO Radio, one person reported a drive of an hour and 15 minutes getting between SoDo and downtown Seattle. Another said it took an hour and a half getting to Maple Valley from Capitol Hill.
For Wednesday, SDOT renewed its ask of drivers to alter commute methods and schedules.
We're seeing increased travel times across the board this evening. If possible, shift your travel time this evening or try a different commute on your way to your next destination. It's going to take all of our help to get through the #Realign99 closure and the #SeattleSqueeze!
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 23, 2019
With more rain in the forecast for tomorrow, things are likely to continue being difficult.
Below are updates on the day’s commutes from KIRO Radio’s Tracy Taylor and Chris Sullivan.
—
6:45 p.m.
Looking to join the many others who have adjusted their #Realign99 commutes? Here’s a great resource page from @kcmetrobus on different rideshare options. #vanpool #carpool. Some of them even offer gift cards! Check out the options here: https://t.co/hLSaC4VT9D pic.twitter.com/h3xNkWequ9
— SR 99 (@BerthaDigsSR99) January 23, 2019
—
6:20 p.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (6 PM):
🔴Heavy NB/SB on I-5 in/out of downtown
🔴Heavy EB on WS Bridge to I-5
🔴Heavy EB Mercer St btwn 5th Ave & I-5
🔴Heavy EB on Denny Way btwn 4th Ave & I-5
🔴Heavy NB on 1st & 4th Ave S in SODO
🔴Heavy on city bridges & major roads downtown— seattledot (@seattledot) January 23, 2019
—
6:04 p.m.
the 8:30 pm sailing from Port Townsend and the 9:10 pm sailing from Coupeville is cancelled. Be advised the last sailing from Port Townsend is at 6:45 pm and from Coupeville at 7:30 pm
— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 23, 2019
—
5:46 p.m.
Experiencing increased traffic volumes across the board on streets and highways leading into and out of downtown. Plan ahead and shift your commute schedule if possible. pic.twitter.com/Uno1CQlUx0
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) January 23, 2019
—
5:20 p.m.
We're seeing increased travel times across the board this evening. If possible, shift your travel time this evening or try a different commute on your way to your next destination. It's going to take all of our help to get through the #Realign99 closure and the #SeattleSqueeze!
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 23, 2019
—
5:00 p.m.
“I don’t like these backups right now, these are brutal — worse than I’ve seen since the viaduct shut down,” says Tracy. That’s confirmed by heavy traffic conditions on virtually every major surface street in Seattle.
Current Traffic Conditions (5 PM):
🔴Heavy NB /SB on I-5 into downtown
🔴Heavy EB on West Seattle Bridge to I-5
🔴Heavy EB Mercer St btwn 5th Ave and I-5
🔴Heavy EB on Denny Way btwn 4th Ave and I-5
🔴Heavy NB on 1st & 4th Ave S in SODO
🔴Heavy on major roads downtown— seattledot (@seattledot) January 23, 2019
—
4:40 p.m.
An update from Tracy on surface streets:
back up now on Mercer starts at 2nd ave north to I-5
Denny jammed frm 4th to Stewart
2nd from Belltown to James
5th from Battery to Union
1st ave south from Pioneer Square to Horton
4th ave south and Airport way south are in pretty good shape at 4:30p#SeattleSqueeze #viadoom— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 23, 2019
—
4:00 p.m.
Things aren’t looking good on surface streets in Seattle right now.
“It’s brutal out there,” says Tracy.
guys… surface streets in downtown are JAMMED.
Mercer from the parking garage to I-5
Denny from a little bit better than Pac Science Center to Stewart st
and drivers telling me it's taking them over 25 min to get on to I-5 from Stewart #SeattleSqueeze #viadoom— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 22, 2019
—
3:45 p.m.
As poor weather sets in during the second week of Viadoom, travel times are getting steadily worse.
Travel times are up on a Tuesday. We're seeing backups that will cause you delays on I-5 in either direction out of Seattle and southbound I-405 from Bellevue. Southbound SR 167 from Renton is slow as well. ➡️ https://t.co/kOpKtlMgAq pic.twitter.com/xDL9rijTZT
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 22, 2019
—
3:15 p.m.
“One it’s raining. Two, it’s bad traffic,” says Tracy. Rainy weather already has drive times on the rise.
There are two separate incidents in Tacoma right now: The first is on southbound I-5 approaching 72nd blocking the left lane, and then another wreck on southbound I-5 at 84th that’s got the right lane blocked.
“If we don’t get one of these cleared up here shortly we’re going to see lineups on southbound I-5 extend from the Tacoma Dome,” Tracy warns.
Over on the West Seattle bridge, eastbound traffic is already heavy.
Heavy traffic eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge a few minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/w9Ctc3PeUC
— Graham Johnson (@GrahamKIRO7) January 22, 2019
—
10 a.m.
We’re back at it! Another #Realign99 commute. First – Thanks again to all those who adjusted their commute habits last week! Second – A reminder to all those hitting the road today and the rest of this week to do what you can to carpool, adjust travel times, and use transit! pic.twitter.com/jzytzF0e7L
— SR 99 (@BerthaDigsSR99) January 22, 2019
9:35 a.m.
9:27 a.m. IRT says we are now clear on westbound SR 520.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 22, 2019
9:15 a.m.
The Bellevue to Seattle drive is 40 minutes — about double than normal. This is due to a multi-car collision on the Westbound SR520 bridge. It initially blocked all lanes, but has been moved to the right lane.
9:05 a.m. – Visual update to how it’s looking on westbound SR 520. Westbound I-90 is still slow-going as well. pic.twitter.com/HwRibHCbcl
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 22, 2019
9 a.m.
UPDATE: Truck backups related to Terminal 46 on E Marginal Way have largely dissipated.
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) January 22, 2019
8:45 a.m.
Much of the heavier traffic from earlier has eased up, but the commute out of West Seattle continues to crawl. Sullivan reports this is due to a few factors such as truck traffic to the port and marine traffic causing the lower Spokane Street Bridge to open.
UPDATE: Here’s how the backup’s looking on WB SR 520 after the crash on the floating bridges. Vehicles have already reached the east highrise. WB I-90 not looking free-flowing either if you’re contemplating your options. pic.twitter.com/l9TPECeVhU
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 22, 2019
8 a.m.
just like last week, diversion to NB 405 and across the late.
Here’s a look at the drive times pic.twitter.com/gNVo9DdNzm— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 22, 2019
Grab a coffee, delay your trip.
Slow going on northbound I-5 at Albro right now (7:50 a.m.).
About a 10 minute delay (similar to what we saw with Week 1 of #Realign99) pic.twitter.com/gVylcPBnjE— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 22, 2019
7:45 a.m.
It gets worse for the West Seattle Bridge. The backup now extends to 35th Avenue.
“West Seattle is getting it much worse today,” Sullivan said. “…What’s been unusual compared to last week is Delridge Way, Admiral Way, and Harbor Avenue, are all a lot heavier than last week. Same goes for West Marginal and East Marginal for those heading up past Terminal 46. There’s a lot of truck traffic out today.”
The lower Spokane Street Bridge also lifted for marine traffic earlier, halting car traffic around the same area. That didn’t help.
7:30 a.m.
Seeing a lot more cars on the SB 5 and 405 drives out of Snohomish County today. Heavier than all of last week but manageable.
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 22, 2019
I’m seeing the same thing. https://t.co/k3lLSSnBjL
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 22, 2019
7:15 a.m.
The West Seattle Bridge continues to inch along. There is a long line of trucks waiting to get into Terminal 46 at the port on East Marginal Way. Delridge Way is slammed.
Current traffic conditions (7 AM):
🔴Heavy NB on I-5 into downtown
🔴Heavy EB on W Seattle Bridge
🔴Heavy NB on 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate SB on I-5 into downtown
🔶Moderate Mercer St btwn I-5 & Dexter
🔶Moderate NB on 4th Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate SB on SR 99 into downtown— seattledot (@seattledot) January 22, 2019
7 a.m.
Sullivan is noticing that traffic volumes have grown a bit larger than last week when things went relatively smooth, even without the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
“We’re still hanging in there,” he says.
The drive from Federal Way into Seattle is still slow at an hour, but 40 minutes are from Southcenter.
The West Seattle Bridge continues to be the major chokepoint in the region. It didn’t help that the nearby Spokane Street Bridge had to lift for marine traffic earlier, stalling traffic up through Delridge Way and Admiral Way.
Surface streets through SoDo are “slammed.” There are backups on Airport Way and 4th Avenue. But 1st Avenue may have some options for drivers, Sullivan says.
6:40 a.m.
Glimpse of northbound travel times on this Tuesday morning. Almost everyone is a bit slower as we creep into the 6:30 a.m. commute window. All travel time tables live here –> https://t.co/yZf8KwyztL pic.twitter.com/sOxHNxOlmT
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 22, 2019
6:30 a.m.
A stall that was slowing northbound traffic on I-405 near Sunset Boulevard in Renton has been cleared. The damage is done, however. It’s 45 minutes from Renton to Bellevue — 15 minutes slower than usual for this time of day. Part of that could be drivers diverting to SR167 and I-405 to avoid I-5 traffic during the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure.
The West Seattle Bridge is now slammed.
The I-5 corridor is crawling from the middle of Boeing Field into downtown. It’s a 35 minute drive from Southcenter into Seattle, and an hour from Federal Way.
It’s now 50 minutes from Everett to Seattle or Bellevue.
6:15 a.m.
The commute has hit the West Seattle Bridge. Though it is not as slow as it could be, just yet. The main congestion is coming from SR99.
6 a.m.
So far, so good — if you compare the Tuesday morning traffic to the first week of Viadoom. Just like last week, the morning commute began about an hour early.
Travel times from Federal Way to Seattle is 50 minutes on northbound I-5, with 25 minutes of that from Southcenter. Traffic slows more and more on I-5 after Albro Place.
Many drivers are avoiding the I-5 slowing by going over to SR167 and I-405. It’s 20 minutes from Auburn into Renton.
It’s also slowing from Everett to Seattle with that southbound drive taking 45 minutes. Everett to Bellevue is 40 minutes.
this is the WORST afternoon commute since the viaduct shutdown #SeattleSqueeze #viadoom
My twitter timeline is proving to be just that. People are frustrated and stuck, traffic is rough from the wrecks and the rain.
I'm anxious to hear from @BerthaDigsSR99 on what they think.— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 23, 2019