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Viadoom’s final Week 2 commute snarled by early bus fire

Jan 25, 2019, 6:12 AM | Updated: 5:50 pm

Viadoom...

(AP)

(AP)

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BY MYNORTHWEST STAFF


MyNorthwest.com

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.

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6:00 p.m.

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5:30 p.m.

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5:00 p.m.

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4:40 p.m.

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4:35 p.m.

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4:10 p.m.

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4:00 p.m.

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3:45 p.m.

North and southbound I-5 is snarled early in the afternoon commute.

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3:35 p.m.

Two lanes are now open on northbound I-5 following a bus fire.

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3:30 p.m.

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3:20 p.m.

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3:10 p.m.

Good news! Airport Way and one lane of I-5 northbound are now opened.

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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.

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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.

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.

8:25 a.m.

8:15 a.m.

Sullivan notes that despite some slowing, the West Seattle Bridge is not being hit as hard as earlier this week.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

5:30 a.m.

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