Viadoom’s final Week 2 commute snarled by early bus fire
Jan 25, 2019, 6:12 AM | Updated: 5:50 pm
(AP)
(AP)
Friday Jan. 25 marked the final day of Viadoom’s second week, and it kicked off running smooth in the morning, before a bus fire snarled the early afternoon commute in a big way.
RELATED: How Seattle city employees have commuted during Viadoom
The fire blocked all lanes of northbound I-5 near South Spokane Street in Seattle, with the backup extending four miles at its peak. Washington State Patrol said it appeared as though it started from a brake fire.
The bus was carrying the Stanford University track and field team, in town for a meet this weekend. Seattle Fire reported all 31 occupants of the bus have been accounted for. There were no reports of injuries.
The scene was almost entirely cleared by 5:30 p.m., with the city citing emergency drills for the new SR 99 tunnel as a driving factor in response time and preparation. Over 1,000 feet of hose was used to douse the fire.
The following are updates from the Friday’s commute, including some updates from KIRO Radio Traffic Reporters Chris Sullivan and Tracy Taylor.
—
6:00 p.m.
SMILE, Seattle, it's the weekend! Plan ahead for getting around this weekend by reading our advisory blog: https://t.co/PqjTpdgd9v pic.twitter.com/iX4RWNviTW
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 26, 2019
—
5:30 p.m.
#Seattle update: 🧹🧹🧹🧹 Sweeper truck is at the scene 🧹🧹🧹🧹 pic.twitter.com/wzMTLFvvCx
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 26, 2019
—
5:00 p.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (5 PM):
🔴Heavy NB/SB on I-5 into downtown
🔴Heavy EB on West Seattle Bridge between SR-99 and I-5
🔴Heavy EB Mercer St between Dexter and I-5
🔴Heavy NB/SB on 1st & 4th Ave S in SODO
🔴Heavy on city bridges
🔴Heavy on major roads in downtown— seattledot (@seattledot) January 26, 2019
—
4:40 p.m.
Progress report: The bus is now loaded on the back of a tow truck and WSDOT crews are cleaning up what's left of spilled fluids. Please be patient as these folks work to reopen the roadway. pic.twitter.com/kXsC4ULxLH
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 26, 2019
—
4:35 p.m.
LIVE at 4:45, @MayorJenny @wsdot @seattledot @SeattlePD @SeattleFire to update media & public on this afternoon's bus fire on I-5. https://t.co/YEGmB3NkVf
— Seattle Channel (@SeattleChannel) January 26, 2019
—
4:10 p.m.
Oof. The commute is taking a hit tonight. Both directions of I-5 through Seattle are seeing heavy delays and northbound I-405 is very slow from Southcenter. #Southcenter to #Bellevue: 46 minutes #SeaTac to #Seattle: 51 minutes#Lynnwood to #Seattle: 64 minutes pic.twitter.com/4RB1b8yIH2
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 26, 2019
Current Traffic Conditions (4 PM):
🔴Heavy NB/SB on I-5 into downtown
🔴Heavy EB on West Seattle Bridge between SR-99 and I-5.
🔴Heavy EB Mercer St between Dexter and I-5.
🔴Heavy NB/SB on 1st & 4th Ave S in SODO.
🔴Heavy on city bridges.
🔴Heavy on major roads in downtown.— seattledot (@seattledot) January 26, 2019
—
4:00 p.m.
Be sure to check #TravelTimes before you leave the house tonight! This is not your average Friday evening commute. https://t.co/kOpKtlMgAq pic.twitter.com/qrr94HnNZF
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 25, 2019
—
3:45 p.m.
North and southbound I-5 is snarled early in the afternoon commute.
Friday afternoon commute is rough! And we're not just talking about NB I-5 following the vehicle fire at the West Seattle Bridge. SB I-5 is feeling the heat too! Northgate area to West Seattle Bridge will take more than 1 hour and 15 minutes! Be patient out there!
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 25, 2019
—
3:35 p.m.
Two lanes are now open on northbound I-5 following a bus fire.
#Seattle update: Two left lanes are now open on NB I-5 at the West Seattle Bridge. The backup extends from the W. Seattle Bridge to mid-Boeing Field. The southbound I-5 commute is also seeing backups from Northgate to West Seattle. Expect delays! pic.twitter.com/8TTcXDbCxm
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 25, 2019
—
3:30 p.m.
the charter bus that caught fire was the @Stanford track team. No one was hurt, everyone is accounted for
per @KIRO7Seattle— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 25, 2019
—
3:20 p.m.
UPDATE! ONLY HOV Lane getting by NB 5 at Spokane St
You can now use Airport way south! 1st ave s & 4th ave south are alt routes. Take the drive around the lake NB 405! Drivers in SODO are in it for the long haul. Ramp frm West Sea Bridge to NB now open. #SeattleSqueeze #viadoom— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 25, 2019
—
3:10 p.m.
Good news! Airport Way and one lane of I-5 northbound are now opened.
Airport Way is now open, all directions. https://t.co/qfUh6EIYLo
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) January 25, 2019
—
3:00 p.m.
The bus fire has traffic on I-5 being directed to the Columbian Way/West Seattle off-ramp, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Airport Way and all northbound lanes of I-5 in the area are completely blocked to allow fire crews through, and SDOT is advising drivings to avoid the area and try 4th and 1st Avenues, or take East Marginal Way.
Seattle Fire is reporting the fire is extinguished, but crews will still need to clean up. A single lane of traffic will open soon.
UPDATE: Charter bus fire is extinguished, however, crews will be on scene cleaning up. One lane of NB I-5 traffic expected to be open soon.
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) January 25, 2019
—
9:35 a.m.
The easy drives around Friday morning’s commute are further easing up. The drive from Federal Way to Seattle is now 35 minutes.
Renton to Bellevue on I-405 is about 30 minutes.
The bridges over Lake Washington into Seattle are running smoothly.
9:25 a.m.
“It’s been Friday light,” Sullivan says.
There are still issues caused by the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Many drivers are switching over to I-405 heading north to avoid I-5 through Seattle.
The drive from Federal Way to Seattle is about 45 minutes. The main slowing happens at Boeing Field.
The West Seattle Bridge is slow, but not nearly as bad as the past couple days.
9 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (9 AM):
🔴Heavy NB I-5 into Downtown
🔴Heavy EB on W Seattle Bridge
🔴Heavy EB on Mercer St
🔶Moderate SB I-5 into Downtown
🔶Moderate SB SR 99 into Downtown
🔶Moderate NB 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate NB 1st Ave S Bridge
✅Light NB on 4th Ave S in SODO— seattledot (@seattledot) January 25, 2019
8:55 a.m.
A crash on westbound SR522 near the Maltby area is baking up traffic feeding into I-405, and on to North Seattle. The backup is about 3.5 miles.
It’s a 30 minute drive from Southcenter into Seattle.
The drive from Everett to Seattle is 45 minutes.
On SR 518 westbound just west of I-5 there is a disabled vehicle blocking the center lane.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 25, 2019
8:25 a.m.
On northbound SR 99 at W Marginal Way there is a collision blocking the right lane. pic.twitter.com/W2onEQ7b6u
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 25, 2019
8:15 a.m.
Sullivan notes that despite some slowing, the West Seattle Bridge is not being hit as hard as earlier this week.
Current Traffic Conditions (8 AM):
🔴Heavy NB I-5 into Downtown
🔴Heavy EB W Seattle Bridge
🔴Heavy on Mercer St
🔴Heavy NB 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate SB I-5 into Downtown
🔶Moderate SB/NB SR 99 north of Downtown
🔶Moderate NB on 1st Ave S Bridge
✅Light NB on 4th Ave S in SODO— seattledot (@seattledot) January 25, 2019
8:08 a.m.
A collision involving a semi-truck, box truck, and a bus around 6 a.m. has snarled traffic around Sumner all morning. KIRO 7 reports that eight people on the bus have minor injuries.
Update: tow is on scene. Still use alt routes but hope to get roads back open soon. pic.twitter.com/amma3YFV0P
— Sumner, Washington (@CityOfSumnerWA) January 25, 2019
8 a.m.
“There are lighter volumes out there today, which is generally the case on Fridays,” Sullivan reports. “We are still doing reasonably well.”
It remains about 45 minutes driving from Everett to Seattle on I-5.
It is about 40 minutes from Federal Way to Seattle on I-5, with significant slowdowns at Boeing Field.
7:35 a.m.
Here’s a Friday morning check of your commute times:
Bellevue to Seattle: 13 min/HOV 11 min (moderate traffic)
Everett to Seattle: 36/34 (moderate traffic)
Federal Way to Seattle: 41/32 (heavy traffic)
Renton to Bellevue: 36/22 (heavy traffic) pic.twitter.com/sgGV2pMwu1— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 25, 2019
7:25 a.m.
It’s a 45 minute northbound drive from Federal Way into downtown Seattle, with major slowing happening at Boeing Field.
It’s 40 minutes going southbound from Everett to Seattle on I-5.
The floating bridges over Lake Washington are running smoothly.
The West Seattle Bridge continues to be among the worst chokepoints in the commute with backups to Delridge Way. Though Sullivan notes that nearby surface streets in SoDo are fairly clear at this time.
7:15 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (7 AM):
🔴Heavy NB I-5 into Downtown
🔴Heavy EB W Seattle Bridge
🔶Moderate SB I-5 into Downtown
🔶Moderate NB on 1st Ave S Bridge
✅Light on Mercer St
✅Light NB on 1st/4th Ave S in SODO
✅Light SB/NB SR 99 north of Downtown
✅Light on Downtown roads— seattledot (@seattledot) January 25, 2019
7 a.m.
Crews have moved a stalled car on I-5 on Dearborn Street, but traffic on northbound I-5 into Seattle has slowed.
“You are free and clear on the I-5 corridor until you get to the Boeing Field area,” Sullivan reports.
It’s a 35 minutes drive into Seattle from Southcenter, with traffic crawling from Boeing Field on.
The drive from Everett to Seattle (or Bellevue) is 35 minutes.
The West Seattle Bridge is lighter than the past couple days, but eastbound to I-5 is slow starting at Delridge Way.
6:30 a.m.
On northbound I-5 at S Dearborn St there is a disabled vehicle partially blocking the left lane. pic.twitter.com/piV310T44M
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 25, 2019
6:15 a.m.
It’s going well so far.
“I’m hoping for a light Friday, even with the Alaskan Way Viaduct out of commission,” Sullivan said. “It’s suppose to be dry today, so hopefully we won’t be running into each other like we have been the last couple days.”
Commuters into Seattle have once again started early. Roads showed signs of heavier traffic in the 5 a.m. hour, especially out of West Seattle. Slowing on northbound I-5 begins at Boeing Field.
6 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (6 AM):
🔶Moderate NB/SB I-5 into Downtown
🔶Moderate EB W Seattle Bridge
🔶Moderate NB along 1st Ave S Bridge
✅Light NB/SB along SR 99
✅Light on Mercer St between Dexter & I-5
✅Light on Downtown roads— seattledot (@seattledot) January 25, 2019
5:30 a.m.
Starting to see the #Realign99 slowing from early commuters on I5 NB from Albro to downtown.
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 25, 2019
