On the Move Blog Department of Transportation

On The Move

Advisories from the Seattle Department of Transportation

Your traffic advisories have a new home! Visit our SDOT Blog.

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PLEASE NOTE: Starting January 14, 2019, we will retire the On the Move blog channel and all traffic advisory blogs will be posted on the SDOT blog channel. 

 

Visit our SDOT blog for traffic advisories.

Multi-Modal Improvements Coming to Green Lake & Wallingford!

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The Green Lake and Wallingford Paving & Multi-Modal Improvements project has been out talking to the community about changes coming to Green Lake and Wallingford. Design is nearly complete, and we’ve made changes based on the design feedback we heard from the community earlier this year.

Map of Green Lake and Wallingford paving area; new/upgraded bike facilities and connections with existing bike facilities; and on-street parking removal.

 

What we heard

In July, more than 670 people joined us at drop-in sessions and many visited our online open house, to learn about streetscape improvements and give feedback.

In review of design and construction planning, we heard support for our general safety and mobility goals, and some suggestions for changes. We’ve summarized everything we heard and our response to the feedback; for details, read our Feedback and Action Plan: What We Heard and What We’re Doing document!

 

Some changes based on your feedback.

Improving safety for people walking on N 40th St | We’re adding rapid flashing beacons and repairing some stretches of sidewalk on 40th.

Reviewing east-west bike connections in Wallingford | We’re taking a step back to reconsider the design for bike improvements on N 40th St. In the coming months, we’ll evaluate other potential improvements to east-west bike connections in Wallingford.

Evaluating options for people walking and biking through the N 50th St, Stone Way N, and E Green Lake Way N intersection | We’re looking at ways to make improvements at this intersection by clearly marking crossings and improving visibility and sightlines.

Partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation to explore an alternative to the planned bike improvements on Green Lake Way N | Our original design included a new signal on Green Lake Way N at N 52nd St. We’re now partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation to explore transforming a portion of the planting strip bordering the Lower Woodland Parks Playfield parking lot into a 1-way protected bike lane.

Making the NE Ravenna Blvd, NE 71st St and E Green Lake Way N intersection more predictable | We’re squaring up this intersection as much as possible by adding curb bulbs and widening the west side sidewalk. We’re also adding a rapid flashing beacon one block south of the intersection.

Improving safety and visibility at intersections | We’re adding “no parking” signs 20 feet from all intersections in the project area; on the north side of N 80th St on either side of the Ashworth Ave N intersection, we’ll add paint and post curb bulbs to improve visibility.

Reducing speed limits to improve traffic safety for all | We’ll post a 25 MPH speed limit around the east side of Green Lake, which is a reduction from the current 30 MPH speed limit.

 Visit the project web site for details!

 

What’s next.

We’ll continue to engage you this fall and next year as we prepare for construction. This includes opportunities for public comment in early 2019 regarding bike improvements on N 40th St.

 

We anticipate completing the design by the end of 2018, beginning construction in late spring of 2019, and completing the project in 2020. For more information, please visit our project webpage.

 

Spokane St Bridge outage 7 – 9 PM tonight | Shuttle van available!

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Image by Google Maps | www.google.com/maps

 

For 2 hours tonight, starting at 7 PM, the Spokane St Bridge (West Seattle Lower Bridge) and the bike trail will be closed, so crews can replace a power control cable. A shuttle van will be available both directions, to take interested travelers over the high bridge.

 

What you can expect:

During this project, barrels and barricades as well as message boards, will direct traffic. After cable replacement and successful bridge testing, the bridge will reopen to traffic.

November 13 | 7 – 9 PM

Impacts | 

  • Spokane St Bridge (aka Lower W Seattle Bridge) closed.
  • W Seattle Bridge Trail closed.

 

Assistance | A shuttle van will travel back and forth over W Seattle High Bridge, in 15-minute intervals, with the following stops:

  • East Side – 11th Ave SW and SW Spokane St.
  • West side – SW Spokane St and Port of Seattle Terminal 5 Entrance.

 

Shuttle service is scheduled to run during the duration of the outage. Should this maintenance work experience unexpected challenges, the shuttle will run all night, as needed.

 

Questions?

Email paul.jackson@seattle.gov to learn more.

Thank you for your patience as we maintain the Spokane St Bridge!

 

What’s Moving Seattle | This Week UPDATE: Revive I-5 Postponed

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There’s only ONE game this week if they win again tonight!

We know–they’re in Fairfax, Virginia for game 3 of 5 in the WNBA Finals, just a hop over the Potomac from D.C., but fans might decide to stay home to watch the game, or stay put for a while at a favorite sports pub to watch…leaving streets with lighter traffic. What?! It could happen! (and this last scheduled I-5 Revive weekend would me a good time for it…)

Let us just take this moment to honor them….

 

Wednesday, September 12

Game 3 of the WNBA Finals‘ Best-of-5 is tonight, after the Storm took the first two against the Mystics! There can be only one…. | 5 PM PST on ESPN. We probably don’t even need to know this, but the last 2 games of the Best-of-5 are:

  • Game 4: Near the other Washington, Sept. 14, 8 PM ET
  • Game 5: In Seattle, Washington, Sept. 16, 5 PM PST

 

Seattle Mariners host San Diego Padres at Safeco Field, for a second time this week; 3:40 PM start.

 

Thursday, September 13

Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 11 AM – 6 PM.

Virtual Self – Utopia Tour concert at WaMu Theater; 7 PM – 11:45 PM.

 

Friday, September 14

The Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day, Opening ceremony at Seattle Center North Fountain Lawn; 7 AM (walkers arrive 5:30-6:30 AM). Note: public parking will NOT be available in Memorial Stadium Parking Lot. Visit Seattle Center’s parking page for more info.

Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 11 AM – 6 PM.

Seattle Greek Festival at St. Demetrois Greek Orthodox Church, in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood; 12 PM – 9 PM.

Leon Bridges: Good Thing Tour concert at WaMu Theater; 8 PM – 11 PM.

**Revive I-5 weekend | NB I-5 reduced to 2 lanes, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Olive Way; 8 PM Fri. – 5 AM Mon. See more details below. POSTPONED due to weather!

**SB SR 99 will be closed, S end of Battery St Tunnel – S Spokane St; 11:59 PM Fri. – 11:59 PM Sun.

 

Saturday, September 15

Seattle Fiestas Patrias, Annual festival and parade in Seattle’s South park neighborhood to commemorate the independence of Latin American countries; parade 10 AM – 1 PM then festival 1 PM – 6 PM.

Seattle Greek Festival at St. Demetrois Greek Orthodox Church, in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood; 10 AM – 9 PM.

Battery Block Party event, closing Battery St between 1st and 2nd avenues; 10 AM – 8 PM.

Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 10 AM – 6 PM.

The Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day, spectator/route information here (starts/ends at Seattle Center).

**Revive I-5 weekend | NB I-5 reduced to 2 lanes, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Olive Way; 8 PM Fri. – 5 AM Mon. See more details below. POSTPONED due to weather!

**SB SR 99 will be closed, S end of Battery St Tunnel – S Spokane St; 11:59 PM Fri. – 11:59 PM Sun.

**Mercer St will be closed for repaving, between Eastlake Ave E and Yale Ave N, and parking restricted; 7 AM – 5 PM  Local access only with up to 15-minute waits to clear equipment, along Yale Ave N between Republican St and Mercer St and Mercer St between Pontius Ave N and Yale Ave N.

**Seattle City Light Denny Substation work (7 AM – 7 PM):

  • 9th Ave N will be closed from Mercer St to Republican St
  • Republican St will be closed from 9th Ave N to Boren Ave N
  • Thomas St will be closed from 9th Ave N to Fairview Ave N

 

Sunday, September 16

Cosmo 7K run and 5K run & walk along Alki Beach in West Seattle; 9:30 AM – 11 AM

Boats Afloat Show at Chandlers Cove in South Lake Union, 901 Fairview Ave N; 10 AM – 6 PM.

Seattle Greek Festival at St. Demetrois Greek Orthodox Church, in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood; 12 PM – 7 PM.

The Susan G. Komen Seattle 3-Day, spectator/route information here; closing ceremony at Seattle Center’s Memorial Stadium; 4:30 PM. Note: public parking will NOT be available in Memorial Stadium Parking Lot.  Visit Seattle Center’s parking page for more info.

**Revive I-5 weekend | NB I-5 reduced to 2 lanes, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Olive Way; 8 PM Fri. – 5 AM Mon. See more details below. POSTPONED due to weather!

**SB SR 99 will be closed, S end of Battery St Tunnel – S Spokane St; 11:59 PM Fri. – 11:59 PM Sun.

**Mercer St will be closed for repaving, between Eastlake Ave E and Yale Ave N, and parking restricted; 7 AM – 5 PM  Local access only with up to 15-minute waits to clear equipment, along Yale Ave N between Republican St and Mercer St and Mercer St between Pontius Ave N and Yale Ave N.

**Seattle City Light Denny Substation work (7 AM – 7 PM):

  • 9th Ave N will be closed from Mercer St to Republican St
  • Republican St will be closed from 9th Ave N to Boren Ave N
  • Thomas St will be closed from 9th Ave N to Fairview Ave N

 

More construction info.

Revive I-5 weekend | details  POSTPONED due to weather!

  • Starting tonight | NB I-5 Ramp closures:
    • West Seattle Bridge on-ramp closed 10 PM Wed. – 4:30 AM Thurs.
    • Off-ramp to Columbian Way closed 9 PM to 5 AM nightly, Wed. – Fri. (morning).
  • 8 PM Fri – 5 AM Mon | NB I-5 Ramp closures:
    • S Michigan St on- and off-ramps
    • Off-ramp to South Columbian Way
    • West Seattle Bridge on- and off-ramps
    • Columbian Way on-ramp
    • Cherry Street on-ramp
    • University on-ramp
    • Off-ramp to Olive Way
    • Off-ramp to Seneca Street

Note: work is weather dependent.

 

Other construction this week (not ** above):

  • Columbia St remains closed | between 1st Ave and Post Ave.  This will continue through the end of the month, to complete an areaway project.
  • Columbia St still reduced 1 lane | between 1st Ave and 3rd Ave.  The work is set to wrap by early next week, or sooner.
  • Blanchard St remains closed | between 7th and 8th, through Friday, for simultaneous construction of 4 projects.  The 3 week full closure replaced a 3-4 month partial closure.
  • Fir St will be closed Saturday | between 9th Ave and Broadway, during tower crane removal.

 

Sneak peek @ next week…

 

On the horizon…

S portal work planned during SR 99 closure | Image by WSDOT

The reality of a 3-week SR 99 closure is on the horizon. No confirmation yet on when – but be prepared! 

 

For the data hungry…

 

Contact us!

W Seattle Lower Bridge is operational!

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Snapshot from live traffic cameras | 06.26.18

Luck favors the prepared!

In case you haven’t heard, the Lower Spokane St Bridge (a.k.a. West Seattle lower bridge) is open to all pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic! The swing bridge went into its ‘open for marine vessels’ position last Wednesday at 8 PM, with an expected week or more to get it back online.  The key to pulling it together? A spare!

 

Love the spare.

The SDOT Roadway Structures team thinks about future needs and had a spare piston assembly stored in case the swing bridge ever lost its swing. Like a spare tire, the spare hydraulic cylinder got people up and traveling again, much sooner than it might otherwise take to fix a leaking piston assembly.

The spare assembly is a lot to love, about 15 tons, and took a special heavy duty forklift to move it. Thanks to United Motor Freight, Inc, located right next to the bridge, and President Jeff Landstrom, for making the emergency response vehicle available!

 

PM commute joy!

Around lunchtime today, Roadways Structures crews completed several test openings, with the installed spare, then picked up all the traffic control and detour signage…to swing back into business! That means the bike shuttle put in place during bridge repairs, provided its unceremonious last operation during this morning’s commute.

 

Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding—and crews for your 12-hour shifts! More details to come on the originally identified problem when the damaged piston assembly is inspected later this week. Work has instead focused singularly on the efficient opening of the Spokane St Bridge, as a priority for travelers.

 

For more on what’s impacting traffic, visit…

What’s Moving Seattle This Week?

Update 5 | W Seattle Lower Bridge

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Roadway Structures crew maneuvers 15-ton cylinder | June 25, 2018

Weighty subject.

Today, the Roadway Structures crew is moving a 15-ton replacement cylinder into its exact place, inside the west shore pier house of the W Seattle Lower Bridge. The bridge was swung out to its marine vessel position last Wednesday, to further investigate a hydraulic fluid leak.

Roadway Structures crew maneuvers 15-ton cylinder | June 25, 2018

 

Rebuilding.

Photo by Casey Allen | Pexels

It’s no simple task to maneuver replacement parts as heavy as the combined weight of two elephants. The nearly 30,000-pound cylinder must be installed per specific controls, right down to cleaning it, along with reconnecting hydraulic oil lines, rewiring electrical conduit, etc.

Huge piston assembly cylinder must be clean for install.

There’s also continuous monitoring and testing along the way (not of the elephants; rather, operation of the 15-ton replacement cylinder). It all means there are several more days of hard work ahead.

 

4 x 12 effort.

On Saturday, the team worked a 4th consecutive 12-hour day, pulling the huge, damaged piston assembly out of its tightly placed spot, and delivering the new one to just inside the pier house dome. With such long hours and critical work, the team rested Sunday to ensure both a safe and successful effort kicking off again this morning.

 

The damaged piston assembly cylinder will be inspected in detail locally, to determine to cause of its hydraulic fluid leak.

 

What you can expect.

The Spokane St Swing Bridge, a.k.a. W Seattle Low-Level Bridge over the Duwamish River, remains out of commission, potentially through the end of the week. We expect to know more tomorrow, June 26, 2018.

 

Vehicles:

  • 🚙 Detour routes are marked at the following locations:
    • Chelan Ave SW
    • 1st Ave S
    • E Marginal
    • Harbor

Visit our What’s moving Seattle this week? blog for navigation tips.

 

Cyclists:

  • 🚲 Shuttle service for bike commuters is running during the week, 6 – 10 AM and 3 – 7 PM, carrying up to 15 passengers each trip.
  • 🚲 Shuttle pick-up & drop-off is at bridge approaches; arriving at each side every ~20 minutes.
  • 🚲For biking around the Duwamish River to the next crosspoint, see our Bike Detour Map and suggestions in Update 4.

 

Here’s to a successful West Seattle Lower Bridge Repair this week, coming back strong and swinging!

Update 4 | W Seattle Bridge

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Backup piston assembly on site | June 22, 2018

Primed & ready.

Today crews primed the replacement parts that will help get the W Seattle Lower Bridge back in service. The huge piston also had to be rotated to match the position of the bridge–for ‘ease’ of placement.

Crews prepping the new piston assembly for the W Seattle Lower Bridge

Pull & push.

Saturday morning the team will begin pulling the massive old hydraulic assembly out from inside the pier machine house. Today crews worked to ensure the heavy pull goes smoothly, clearing space for crane movements that include pushing the new assembly in when the time is right.

W Seattle Lower Bridge | Old piston assembly readied for 06.23.18 removal

Shuttle resumes Monday!

The bike commuter shuttle wraps up tonight, resuming Monday at 6 AM. For weekend riders, see the bike detour map. Thank you @SDOTtraffic tweeters for sharing detour experiences–with these suggestions from downtown to W Seattle:

  • Stay far right on 1st Ave S, over E Marginal Way, to signed bike route.
  • Take 1st Ave S bike route under bridges, toward S Michigan St.
  • Stay right to ride onto 1st Ave S Bridge.

 

Rider-suggested route on 1st Ave S to W Seattle | Image by Google

 

 

What you can expect:

Spokane St Swing Bridge, a.k.a. W Seattle Low-Level Bridge over the Duwamish River is out of commission through next week.

 

Vehicles:

  • 🚙 Detour routes are marked at the following locations:
    • Chelan Ave SW
    • 1st Ave S
    • E Marginal
    • Harbor

 

Cyclists:

  • 🚲 Shuttle service for bike riders will run during weekday commutes, up to 15 passengers each trip.
  • 🚲 Shuttle service is available 6 – 10 AM and 3 – 7 PM starting Monday; arriving at each side every ~20 minutes.
  • 🚲 Bike Riders: go to bridge approaches in Seattle and W Seattle for weekday shuttle pickup and drop-off.

 

Enjoy the weekend!

It’s a busy weekend with special events and construction. Have fun and stay safe while the W Seattle Low-level Bridge gets some high-level maintenance!

Update 3 | W Seattle Lower Bridge

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W Seattle Lower Bridge machine house; west side of the Duwamish River.

Pulling together.

Swing Bridge in ‘open’ position

Today, crews repairing the W Seattle Lower Bridge are pulling electrical conduit and casings from the western bridge support machine room. They need to reach and replace damaged hydraulics that move the west side of the swing bridge–work that will take several days. The bridge is in its marine access open position, closed to vehicles, since Wednesday night.

 

Electrical conduit inside the west side machine house.

Pieces pulled from machine room, to reach hydraulics.

Prepping the damaged assembly for pullout.

HUGE thanks!

Thanks to all the local businesses and our greater community for helping to ensure smooth logistics. A special shout-out to the Water Taxi to and from W Seattle for deferring its regularly scheduled maintenance so that its 278-passenger boat is running to support bike commuters! It can carry 26 bikes at a time.

 

Improving how you get around.

Our Traffic Operations is deploying additional signage to help bikes and peds find the taxi. To get around during the repair work, consider riding the bus. Buses can hold up to 3 bikes. Check out King County’s tips for loading your bike on a bus.

 

Visit our What’s moving Seattle this week? blog for navigation tips. As our crews work to gain access to the damaged hydraulics, a multitude of projects and events are getting underway–including:

 

What you can expect:

Spokane St Swing Bridge, a.k.a. W Seattle Low-Level Bridge over the Duwamish River is out of commission while under repair.

 

Vehicles:

  • 🚙 Detour routes are marked at the following locations:
    • Chelan Ave SW
    • 1st Ave S
    • E Marginal
    • Harbor

 

Cyclists:

  • 🚲 Shuttle service for bike commuters continues, up to 15 passengers each trip.
  • 🚲 Shuttle service is available 3 – 7 PM today; arriving at each side every ~20 minutes.
  • 🚲 Bike Riders: Shuttle service is available at bridge approaches in Seattle and W Seattle for pickup and drop-off.
    • For those biking around the Duwamish, see the bike detour map.

Updates made available as confirmed.

Thanks for your patience!

 

Update 2 | W Seattle Lower Bridge

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W Seattle lower bridge support dome, housing hydraulics

Prepping to swap parts.

Bicycle commuter shuttle continues at bridge approaches, during peak hours. Preparation work is underway to remove damaged hydraulic parts from inside the W Seattle lower bridge, which was shut down last night due to a small hydraulic fluid leak. To identify the cause of the leak of about 1 gallon of hydraulic fluid, inspectors must look closely at the piston, ring, and bearings.

“Right now, we’re preparing to swap out the damaged assembly with a spare assembly we must transport from storage. The parts we need to remove are behind complex electrical conduits, so, to a degree, crews have to take the bridge apart to get to and successfully replace the hydraulics.” – SDOT Roadway Structures Manager, Matthew Donahue

Donahue estimates a two-day process for SDOT crews to disassemble the large electrical cables blocking access to the hydraulic system and pull out the heavy steel parts of the swing bridge on a specially ordered emergency response vehicle.

 

What you can expect:

Spokane St Swing Bridge, a.k.a. W Seattle Low-Level Bridge over the Duwamish River is out of commission while under repair. Shuttle service for bike commuters continues, up to 15 passengers each trip. Shuttle service is available 6 – 10 AM and 3 – 7 PM; arriving at each side every ~20 minutes. Repair work is expected to take at least a week.

 

🚙 Vehicles:

Detour routes are marked at the following locations:

  • Chelan Ave SW
  • 1st Ave S
  • E Marginal
  • Harbor

 

🚲 Bike Riders: 

Shuttle service is available at bridge approaches in Seattle and W Seattle for pickup and dropoff. For those biking around the Duwamish, see the bike detour map.

Updates made available as confirmed.

Thank you for your patience!

 

Update 1 | W Seattle Lower Bridge

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Bike shuttle service extended.

Inspections are underway following last night’s emergency low-level West Seattle Bridge “closure” – essentially a forced extended opening to enable inspection and repairs. With bicyclists impacted significantly, to reach alternative routes over the Duwamish River, we will continue van service for bicycle commuters and evaluate use throughout the week. Shuttle for bicyclists will be operating during heavy commute hours: 6 to 10 AM and 3 to 7 PM.

More details to come, on bridge damage associated with hydraulic fluid leakage. The leak is contained inside a machine room that holds the huge cylinders which turn the bridge sections in for roadway traffic and out for marine traffic.

 

What you can expect:

✔ Vehicles:

Portable message signs are placed on S Spokane St, east of E Marginal, facing WB traffic; the message to vehicle drivers:

“SPOKANE | BRIDGE | CLOSED WEST OF | HARBOR | ISLAND”

Vehicle Detour Routes began at 8 PM, June 20, with signage at the following locations:

  • Chelan Ave SW
  • 1st Ave S
  • E Marginal
  • Harbor

 

✔ Bike Riders:

Van service for bike riders continues! Shuttle van pickup/drop-off is at the bridge approaches to and from Spokane St Swing Bridge. The shuttle carries up to 15 people and will run during heavy commute hours: 6 to 10 AM and 3 to 7 PM. Cyclist shuttle use will be evaluated throughout the week.  For those riding around the Duwamish:

  • From W Seattle | Detour signs are placed at the West Seattle Bridge Trail, to head south along West Marginal Way; crossing SW Michigan St onto 1st Ave S.
  • From SODO | Detour signs are placed along 1st Ave S to continue south to SW Michigan St.

Our Seattle Bike Map shows commonly advised bicycle travel paths, though this map does not carry construction impact information; however, bike detour maps will be posted asap. Stay tuned!

 

Contact us!

Have a question or want more information? Visit our Bridges page or contact our Bridges and Roadway Structures manager, Paul Jackson, by email at paul.jackson@seattle.gov or phone 206.684.8325.

 

Thanks for your patience while we conduct emergency inspections and repairs!