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.
by Jeanne Clark
by Jeanne Clark
The National Weather Service is predicting a blustery Thursday, with sustained southerly winds (25-40 MPH) and gusts up to 60 MPH from 10 AM to 7 PM in the Seattle area. To that effect, they’ve issued a High Wind Warning for today, 7 AM – 7 PM. Stay inside as you can and take a look at our quick windy weather tips below. Please take extra care when traveling, and if possible avoid commuting, during the high wind times.
Look out for each other. It’s no fun being outside in this type of weather. If you’re driving, be extra mindful of pedestrians and people biking. If you’re walking or biking, make sure you can see and be seen. We have safety lights if you need any! Let us know. Drivers, be sure to turn your headlights on.
Metro’s Thursday AM Commute: Service delays are expected to subside as the peak commute winds down; visit the Get Ready website for SR 99 closure updates. See the latest information on their blog. They’ll keep their eye on the King County Metro Transit commute from 6-9 AM and again from 3-7 PM and will post about service disruptions. Follow their RSS feed for real-time updates, bookmark their blog, or visit the Metro Online website for additional information and services. If you take the train, find Sound Transit alerts and information here. For Ferry info, please visit Washington State Ferries’ Travel Alert Bulletins, Kitsap Transit’s Fast Ferry, and/or WSDOT’s ferries site regarding your ferry commute.
You can also follow:
If you notice a downed power line, DO NOT touch or approach it. Please report downed wires or outages to Seattle City Light at 206.684.7400. Check out City Light’s outage map and tips for what to do when your power goes out. When traffic lights are out, treat the intersection as a 4-way stop. You can also stay connected, even when the power is out by downloading Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) mobile app, to track and report power outages in your neighborhood and check status and estimated restoration times, all in the palm of your hand. Follow PSE on Twitter.
If you notice fallen trees or other debris blocking streets or sidewalks, contact our 24-hour dispatch crews at 206.386.1218.
If you see a blocked gutter, please help clear the leaves and debris to keep the 80,000 storm drains throughout our city flowing smoothly and to help prevent flooding. Please report flooding issues to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) at 206.386.1800. Follow SPU on Twitter.
Park programs and facilities may be affected. Please check the @SeattleParks Twitter channel, blog, and/or website.
For information on planning for the winter storm season, like what you should include in your emergency preparedness kit, check out Take Winter By Storm, our multi-agency preparedness site. For the latest emergency notifications, sign up for Alert Seattle to get alerts via text, tweet, and more. You can also follow the National Weather Service Seattle’s Twitter.
Check out our Winter Weather Response webpage for a winter weather response map, winter weather brochure, and snow route map. Learn about our winter environment and what to expect if it snows.
North Seattle Neighborhood Greenway progress continues, with the installation of new curb ramps and other crossing improvements on the east side of the street at the 3rd Ave NW and N 92nd St intersection: 3rd Ave NW is closed northbound with a detour via Greenwood Ave N until construction is complete in January 2019, weather permitting.
3rd Ave NW and N 92nd St – Installation of curb ramp improvements, crosswalks, and a new crossing beacon on the east side of the street.
Weekdays | 7 AM – 4 PM
Closures
General
The North Seattle Neighborhood Greenway will connect with the planned Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge at N 100th St, which crosses I-5 and connects to the future Northgate Link light rail station, bringing people to popular destinations including parks, schools, business districts, other greenways, and transit hubs.
North Seattle Neighborhood Greenway Project, 100th & Greenwood3rd Ave NW & NW 92nd St, October/November 2018 | click for project map.
Please contact the project team at northseattlegreenway@seattle.gov or 206-684-8105. There’s also more information at the project webpage.
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.
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!
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!
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.
It’s here! To help you prepare for Seattle’s new era of tough traffic that begins on January 11, 2019 with a three-week closure of SR 99 downtown as WSDOT works to #Realign99 , we have worked with our partners in the City of Seattle and across the region to bring you www.seattle.gov/traffic, your one-stop resource during what we’re calling the Seattle Squeeze.
Beginning with WSDOT’s permanent closure of the Alaska Way Viaduct on January 11 and continuing over the next five years, Seattle is entering a new era of tough traffic. Even after the new SR-99 tunnel opens, the tough times will continue. Additional private and public megaprojects will continue to reduce capacity on our City streets and contribute to gridlock. All this will be worth it. But everyone traveling to and in Seattle needs to have a plan for commuting to work or school, appointments, and/or running simple errands
This digital platform has tools, information, and resources you need to keep you moving safely to and through downtown.
At our evolving information hub you will find:
When the Viaduct closes, three solid weeks of construction begin. Crews will work around the clock to move State Route 99 off the viaduct and into the new, two-mile SR 99 tunnel beneath downtown Seattle.
During the Realign99 closure, the longest highway closure in Seattle’s history, both the viaduct and new tunnel will be closed. You can expect six weeks of impacts.
Removing the Alaskan Way Viaduct is an important safety project. WSDOT is removing an old roadway vulnerable to earthquakes and replacing it with a much safer tunnel. This regional disruption to traffic is unavoidable. Closing the highway for approximately three weeks is the only way crews can finish building the eight new ramps that will allow travelers to enter and exit the new tunnel. Check out this video to get more of the story.
In the meantime, WSDOT has completed work to provide a temporary surface Alaskan Way option, just west of the Viaduct.
Image by WSDOT | www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct
The #Realign99 closure will be a very challenging time for everyone traveling to, from or through Seattle. We will need everyone’s help to avoid gridlock. Start making your plan today – visit www.seattle.gov/traffic to get started!
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.
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 |
Assistance | A shuttle van will travel back and forth over W Seattle High Bridge, in 15-minute intervals, with the following stops:
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.
Email paul.jackson@seattle.gov to learn more.
Heads up if you’re travelling downtown during rush hour this afternoon, Thursday, November 8, especially around 5 PM. A coalition of groups will be holding a rally and march regarding the dismissal of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in coordination with a series of rallies at the 5 PM hour across the country.
Expected Impacts to Downtown Core:
We expect impacts to the downtown core during the afternoon rush hour, as the march progresses. These impacts begin at approximately 5:30 PM today.
Other Impacts:
The Sounders MLS Cup Playoffs at CenturyLink Field game is tonight! Kick-off at 7:30 PM. Estimated attendance: 40,000. If you’re planning on attending the game, please plan ahead and expect impacts to your travel time.
We are working closely with our partners at the Seattle Police Department and our other City departments to make sure safety and mobility are maintained during the event. For live updates and other helpful information, please visit:
It’s time to make the switch – Friday PM to Monday AM – to #realign99 from under the Alaskan Way Viaduct to just west of it. The traffic switch is an important step towards viaduct demolition, which starts after the new tunnel opens in early 2019.
Also, this weekend, is SR 99 and I-5 work, making it important to plan ahead for any travel!
Closure: 9 PM Oct. 12 to 5 AM Oct. 15
South end of Battery St Tunnel to Spokane St to complete paving near Atlantic St – critical preparation for next year’s SR 99 tunnel opening.
Closure: 8 PM Oct. 13 to 10 AM Oct. 14
Alaskan Way along the waterfront, between Railroad Way S and Wall St to finish striping a new four-lane alignment and begin striping almost 250 new, temporary parking spots underneath the viaduct. Washington State Ferries’ Colman Dock will remain accessible.
Reduced to 2 lanes: 8 PM Oct. 13 to 10 AM Oct. 14
Martin Luther King Jr Way to Olive Way, plus several ramps to replace pavement and expansion joints.
To limit congestion, consider:
How you get around downtown is changing. The Alaskan Way Viaduct will permanently close January 11, 2109, for three weeks of work to #realign99 into the new SR 99 tunnel. WSDOT encourages everyone to plan ahead for this closure – the longest highway closure ever in the Seattle area!
The intersection of Beacon Ave S and S Columbian Way will be under construction this weekend, while crews demo and rebuild ADA curb ramps and improve drainage.
This work is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled if necessary.
October 13 & 14 | 7 AM – 7 PM daily
Closures |
Detours |
General |
Please contact the construction outreach team at (206) 256-5112 or ColumbianAlaska@seattle.gov. There’s also more project information at www.seattle.gov/transportation/paving-columbian.
This week started off with the Sounders whooping the Dynamos, 4 to 1. Beginning Thursday, Aurora Borealis comes to town; the Huskies host Colorado; the UW Dawgs dash; a Snails Shell Tour is scheduled; and….the Alaskan Way traffic switch is planned!
Image by MOHAI | borealisfestivaloflight.com/
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
Featured image courtesy of CenturyLink Field | Snails – Shell Tour 2
Puget Sound Heart and Stroke Walk: Walk from Seattle Center to Downtown and back in this fundraiser to help fight heart disease and stroke! Walk begins at 2nd Ave N and Mercer St; to E on Mercer; S on 5th ; W on Cedar; S on 4th; a U-Turn at University; N on 4th; W on Denny; N on 2nd; to the Seattle Center campus. RapidRide C Line to be rerouted. Event Hours: 9 AM – 11 AM; 6,000 attendees expected.
SODO Flea: Monthly flea market on Utah Ave S between S Stacy and Holgate streets. Event Hours: 10 AM – 4 PM; 1,000 attendees expected.
Women Build Nations Banner Parade: This march from the Washington State Convention Center (7th Ave and Pike St), with Seattle Police escort, travels along 7th Ave, to Pine St, to Westlake Park. Event Hours: 1:15 PM – up to 3:30 PM. 1,000 attendees expected.
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
Snails – Shell Tour 2.0 Tour concert at WaMu Theater: Event Hours: 7 PM – 11:59 PM. 7,000 attendees expected.
Image courtesy of Alaska Airlines Dawg Dash | www.washington.edu/alumni/dawgdash/
University of Washington Dawg Dash: Run in support of student scholarships! Route uses UW campus roadways, and roads/trails north and south 10K begins at 9 AM; 5K at 9:20 AM; 4,700 attendees expected.
BOREALIS – a festival of lights: Inaugural, annual event creating a kaleidoscope of light, color, and illusion on the exterior of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); plus, art installations in South Lake Union; music; food trucks; and a beer garden during this international competition. Four nights, 6:30 PM – 10 PM; 10,000 to 15,000 attendees expected.
October 28: Westlake Ave N SB lanes closed at Mercer St and SLU Streetcar will not operate. Seattle Public Utilities is installing a water service connection for the 201 Westlake Ave N development (future 7-story Citizen M hotel). Vehicles will be detoured to Dexter and Fairview.
Image from WSDOT Video | One Smart Tunnel
January of 2019 will be a significant traffic transition month, culminating with the opening of the new SR 99 tunnel. To prepare for what’s coming, plan now for options to deal with the necessary 3-week SR 99 closure.
Know before you go. Use the map controls to see real-time traffic, travel times, camera footage, if a bridge is up or down, and if a railroad crossing is open or closed – select by neighborhood if you choose.
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King County’s Get Ready website
There’s no way around it—getting around Seattle is going to be tricky during the SR 99 closure. Expect traffic delays and be prepared for full buses during peak travel times. Check out the travel options below that can help you get around in anticipation of the new SR 99 tunnel opening.
Commute Seattle’s Employer Resources
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