Finding a pattern in crashes on Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct
Jan 26, 2018, 5:10 AM | Updated: 8:32 am
Why has the Alaskan Way Viaduct had so many marine-themed traffic woes?
First it was 2015’s fish truck fiasco — traffic was halted on the northbound viaduct for nine hours after a semi-truck spilled fish all over the roadway. In that incident it became clear that city officials valued insurance and property over traffic and people trapped on the road.
RELATED: Comparing Crabpocalypse and the fish truck fiasco
Then there was 2016’s Crabpocalypse — again on the northbound lanes of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. A truck left its trailer resting on the edge of the raised roadway near where the fish truck had overturned a year before. Traffic backed up behind the incident for four hours before one lane opened. It was seven hours until both were open. Crabpocalypse made it clear that officials learned to speed things up, a little, when there are cars trapped on the road … and also, that there were boxes of free crab on First Avenue below the viaduct.
And on Thursday, it was marine mayhem. This time the crash was in the southbound lanes of the viaduct, on the lower level. A box truck crashed through the roadside barrier. Its two front wheels were hanging off the edge of the viaduct. No seafood was involved in the crash — that we know of — but the box truck was used by a marine mechanic. Perhaps that’s why traffic was only backed up for a couple of hours before one lane opened — no seafood insurance reps to stall things. The guardrail repair, however, took about 5.5 hours, halting the viaduct from fully opening. Traffic downtown suffered.
If I’m being unscientific and just looking for a pattern here — it seems that any deliveries related to the sea should be banned from the Alaskan Way Viaduct. No seafood trucks, no marine suppliers, not even sushi takeout. Let them take I-5.
Actually, come to think of it, that might not be a good idea either.
