Updates from the first commute of Viadoom’s final week
Jan 28, 2019, 6:03 AM | Updated: 6:58 pm
(King County Metro)
(King County Metro)
Viadoom has certainly been a roller coaster during its first two weeks — easy commutes have been broken up by a bus fire, a pair of semi crashes, and rainy weather. All told, though, the general lack of congestion has been a pleasant surprise for many.
RELATED: How Seattle city employees have commuted during Viadoom
Overall, the Monday morning commute that kicked off the final week of Viadoom was rather quiet. Aside from a few collisions and stalls, traffic went smoothly. The Sounder train, however, snarled some commutes with cancellations over the morning.
Later in the morning, a five car rollover collision on northbound I-5 near Seattle had three lanes closed down for over an hour.
The following are updates on the Monday morning commute, with reporting from KIRO Radio Traffic Reporters Chris Sullivan and Tracy Taylor.
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7:00 p.m.
Monday’s Viadoom commute winds to close with little to report, beyond the standard backups and congestion. Keep up the good work everyone, we’re almost done!
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6:30 p.m.
#SeattleSqueeze Tip: If you need to drive and you're running into backups on the I-5 on-ramps downtown, try heading a bit north or south! This helps spread out congestion and keeps traffic moving more smoothly. More info in our latest blog: https://t.co/6f9UimwCQv pic.twitter.com/ySM5RnmJa5
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 29, 2019
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6:05 p.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (6 PM):
🔴Heavy NB/SB on I-5 into downtown
🔴Heavy EB Mercer St btwn I-5 & Dexter
🔴Heavy SB on 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate EB & WB on West Seattle Bridge btwn SR-99 & I-5
🔶Moderate on major roads in downtown ✅Light SB on 4th Ave S in SODO— seattledot (@seattledot) January 29, 2019
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5:40 p.m.
The traffic map is remarkably clean for 5:20 p.m. on a Monday. Travel times are down across the region. For comparison, we included what the map looked like at the same time on Friday (right) after a vehicle fire blocked multiple lanes of NB I-5 in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/Z9BvAs9NoP
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 29, 2019
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5:15 p.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (5 PM):
🔴Heavy NB/SB on I-5 into downtown
🔴Heavy EB on West Seattle Bridge btwn SR-99 & I-5
🔴Heavy EB Mercer St btwn I-5 & Dexter
🔴Heavy SB on 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate SB on 4th Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate on major roads downtown— seattledot (@seattledot) January 29, 2019
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5:00 p.m.
Surface streets are beginning to fill in, with the drive on Denny getting “challenging” according to Tracy. Over on the freeways, travel times are fairly reasonable.
Travel times are pleasant this evening ➡️ https://t.co/kOpKtlMgAq.
The only notable delay is from Federal Way to Tacoma. That drive will run you 13 minutes over the average. Looks like the collision that was slowing things down just cleared, though. ⬇️https://t.co/23JzWNPH65— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 29, 2019
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4:15 p.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (4 PM):
🔴Heavy SB I-5 into downtown
🔴Heavy EB West Seattle Bridge btwn SR-99 & I-5
🔴Heavy EB Mercer St btwn I-5 & Dexter
🔴Heavy SB 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate NB I-5 into downtown
🔶Moderate on major roads downtown
✅Light SB 4th Ave S in SODO— seattledot (@seattledot) January 29, 2019
—
3:45 p.m.
Westbound 512 going up south hill, accident in the left two lanes traffic backed up to the 512/410 interchange
— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 28, 2019
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3:10 p.m.
Sounder south lines evening commute will not be affected by this mornings cancellations. At this time, all trains are scheduled to operate.
— TracyTaylorTraffic (@TracyTTraffic) January 28, 2019
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3:00 p.m.
Oh, it's certainly a Monday. Let's keep our feet (and wheels) underneath us this afternoon by being alert in the driver's seat! We're beginning another week of afternoon commutes as we #Realign99, so keep checking travel times – https://t.co/kOpKtlMgAq – and know when to go! pic.twitter.com/mYFjhcc45u
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 28, 2019
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10 a.m.
Sounder south line train #1518 (10:16 a.m. Lakewood departure) is canceled due to a mechanical issue. Riders should take regularly scheduled buses
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 28, 2019
9:30 a.m.
Current #TravelTimes ➡️https://t.co/Fh3UVnL4sY
🔸FEDERAL WAY
To Bellevue: 66mins (+16 above avg)
To Seattle: 50mins (+12 above avg)
🔸LYNNWOOD
To Bellevue: 21mins (-5 below avg)
To Seattle: 25mins (-2 below avg) pic.twitter.com/LojFq9OxY1— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 28, 2019
9:15 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (9 AM):
🔴Heavy NB/SB I-5 into Downtown
🔴Heavy EB on W Seattle Bridge
🔴Heavy SB SR 99 into Downtown
🔴Heavy EB on Mercer St
🔴Heavy NB on 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate NB on 4th Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate NB 1st Ave S Bridge
🔶Moderate on downtown roads— seattledot (@seattledot) January 28, 2019
8:45 a.m.
There is a collision on northbound I-405 in Bellevue causing a 3.5 mile backup.
#Bellevue: A crash is blocking the left lane of NB I-405 @ NE 4th St. pic.twitter.com/u4iXggGp9G
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 28, 2019
Northbound traffic into Seattle is still slowing down at Boeing Field.
The westbound drive over the SR520 bridge is slow, though Sullivan says he can’t find any particular reason for it.
It’s 45 minutes to drive from Everett to Seattle on I-5.
8:30 a.m.
Sullivan is noticing a lot of drivers, including a semi-truck, using the bus-only lane on the West Seattle Bridge. He has observed a lot of drivers using the bus-only lane since the Alaskan Way Viaduct closed. Last week, Seattle police posted an officer in a patrol car alongside the lane who was directing drivers back into the general-purpose lanes.
8:15 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (8 AM):
🔴Heavy NB/SB I-5 into Downtown
🔴Heavy EB on W Seattle Bridge
🔴Heavy SB SR 99 into Downtown
🔴Heavy EB on Mercer St
🔴Heavy NB on 1st Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate NB on 4th Ave S in SODO
🔶Moderate NB 1st Ave S Bridge
✅Light on downtown roads— seattledot (@seattledot) January 28, 2019
7:57 a.m.
Despite clearing stalled vehicles and other issues across the commute around Seattle, backups remain on multiple routes.
The northbound Federal Way to Seattle drive is 58 minutes, with 45 minutes from Southcenter. Slowing begins at Boeing Field.
The West Seattle Bridge remains a crawl from Delridge Way over to I-5.
The floating bridges over Lake Washington are beginning to slow heading into Seattle, but Sullivan says they are manageable.
7:35 a.m.
Sounder south line train Cancellations/Delays and Options:
#1510 (6:26 am Lakewood departure) is canceled
#1512 (6:46 am Lakewood departure) has an unknown delay time
#1514 (7:20 am Tacoma departure) is operating on-time at this time— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 28, 2019
7:30 a.m.
Current traffic conditions ⬇️ Here are a few resources to help you #KnowBeforeYouGo:
🔸Our #TravelTimes webpage: https://t.co/Fh3UVnL4sY
🔸Our mobile app: https://t.co/piVn9OxkcL
🔸Our traffic map & cameras: https://t.co/Ya0AMMJgGM pic.twitter.com/Sl3fvk2Rfq— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 28, 2019
7:05 a.m.
“Looks like a normal drive for the Alaskan Way Viaduct being out of commission,” Sullivan said. “…Looking at virtually no slowing on the I-5 northbound drive until you get to Boeing Field. From then on, it’s not fun.”
It’s 45 minutes from Federal Way to Seattle.
“The West Seattle Bridge, it’s not in bad shape, though I’m hearing from my KIRO Radio drivers that there might be a stalled garbage truck on the west high rise going east,” Sullivan said.
It’s about 45-50 minutes from Everett to Seattle or Bellevue.
6:45 a.m.
There is a stalled bus on northbound I-5 in Federal Way is blocking a right lane, slowing traffic. The drive from Federal Way to Seattle is about 50 minutes with 30 of those minutes are from Southcenter.
#DesMoines: A stalled bus is blocking the right lane of NB I-5 @ S 272nd St. pic.twitter.com/bJ2CwfhE8U
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 28, 2019
“The West Seattle Bridge is experiencing Alaskan Way Viaduct closure congestion with it starting at Delridge and working all the way across,” Sullivan said. “The surface streets are not bad around that.”
The drive into Seattle is relatively good. Slowing begins on southbound I-5 after Lynnwood.
Current Traffic Conditions (6 AM):
🔴Heavy NB I-5 into Downtown
🔶Moderate SB I-5 into Downtown
🔶Moderate EB on W Seattle Bridge
🔶Moderate NB 1st Ave S Bridge
✅Light NB/SB SR 99
✅Light along Mercer St
✅Light on downtown roads— seattledot (@seattledot) January 28, 2019
6:30 a.m.
We are already seeing delays headed northbound this morning. Make sure you check #TravelTimes before you go ➡️https://t.co/Fh3UVnL4sY
Federal Way to Seattle: 50mins (+10 above avg)
Federal Way to Bellevue: 57mins (+11 above avg) pic.twitter.com/Hnlg8ykT6g— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 28, 2019
Watching responders move this off to the right. Great job! https://t.co/Wfj8D2BYMw
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 28, 2019
6:05 a.m.
Metro’s Monday AM Commute: Currently there are no major delays in transit service to report, visit Metro’s Get Ready page https://t.co/ajZMwWbp5I
— King County Metro🚏🚎⛴ (@kcmetrobus) January 28, 2019
Another dry day on tap. Remaining clouds will continue to scour out for afternoon sun (for real this time 🤣). Rain returns Thursday. #wawx pic.twitter.com/r5xMlXugTp
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 28, 2019
5:55 a.m.
“We are filling in across the board,” “Sullivan said. “Especially on the drive from Federal Way to Seattle. It’s pretty thick now up through the Kent Des Moines Road and already from the north end of Boeing Field into downtown (Seattle). We’ve jumped up to 45 minutes from Federal Way to Seattle.”
The West Seattle Bridge has been flowing smoothly, but now is the time that congestion has begun during past weeks of Viadoom.
It’s 40 minutes driving south from Everett to Bellevue and Seattle.
5:30 p.m.
This should be the final week of #realign99. Hope you’re sticking with your gameplan. Rain is coming later in the week.
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 28, 2019
Starting today, Crews will begin temporarily removing parking spaces in the lot to the east of Alaskan Way between the Pike Street Hillclimb and Pine Street. This area will be used for equipment and materials storage during viaduct removal
— KIRO Radio Traffic (@KIROTraffic) January 28, 2019
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