Viadoom updates: Malfunction on Spokane St. bridge snarls evening commute
Jan 30, 2019, 6:33 AM | Updated: 6:40 pm

(Michael Simeona, 成人X站 Radio)
(Michael Simeona, 成人X站 Radio)
A Wednesday evening technical difficulty on the Lower Spokane Street Bridge had traffic snarled getting into West Seattle.
A malfunction of a mechanical arm started causing backups around 5:30 p.m. during the evening commute. Shortly after, passengers stuck on the bridge left buses to hoofed it across instead.
Welp, the West Seattle bridge 鈥渂roke鈥 so half of our bus had to get off and walk across the bridge since traffic is at a standstill. This must be what they meant by !
— Shirtless Pundit 馃嚭馃嚫 (@zachhaller)
As a result, bus routes and commutes in the area were delayed across the board, as mechanics on-site worked on a fix. The malfunctioning arm was finally repaired around 6:20 p.m.
Stay tuned for updates below from 成人X站 Radio Traffic Report Tracy Taylor and others.
—
6:40 p.m.
Current Traffic Sitch
馃槨Heavy Traffic NB I-5 to Dwntwn
馃槨Heavy SB I-5 to Dwntwn
馃槨Heavy EB and WB W Seattle Br b/t I-5 & Dexter
馃槨Heavy SB on 1st Ave S in SODO
And no surprise 馃槨on all major Dwntwn roads. that drives downtown— seattledot (@seattledot)
—
6:20 p.m.
The Lower Spokane Street Bridge is now reopened in both directions.
UPDATE: The Lower Spokane St bridge is back open in both directions.
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic)
—
6:15 p.m.聽
SDOT is currently assessing the situation, and says they’ll have a better idea on a fix by around 7 p.m.
We're waiting for staff to arrive and assess the situation. By 7 PM, we'll have a better idea of when the bridge is expecting to re-open. For now, continue to use alternate routes and expect delays in the area. Thank you for your patience.
— seattledot (@seattledot)
—
6:00 p.m.
SPD is arriving on scene at the Lower Spokane Street Bridge to manage people getting of buses and walking in intersections.
Sounds like staff will be arriving soon to monitor. Thanks for the heads up.
— seattledot (@seattledot)
—
5:35 p.m.
A technical issue has closed the Lower Spokane Street Bridge. There’s no ETA on a fix, but the issue is being addressed.
No ETA for reopening the Lower Spokane St Bridge due to a technical issue with the bridge's arms. A mechanic is addressing the issue. We're expecting some backups – please avoid this route if possible and expect delays. Thanks for your patience.
— seattledot (@seattledot)
—
5:30 p.m.
Travel times are looking good throughout Seattle and Bellevue. Details:
To paraphrase Gordon Gecko, green is good. The first number is the normal travel time, the second the current and the third the current ETL/HOV times.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)
Lots more green leaving Seattle too.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)
—
5:10 p.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (5 PM):
馃敶Heavy NB/SB I-5 into Downtown
馃敶Heavy EB West Seattle Bridge btwn I-5 & Dexter
馃敶Heavy Mercer St btwn I-5 & Dexter
馃敶Heavy SB 1st Ave S in SODO
馃敶Heavy on major roads in Downtown
馃敹Moderate on city bridges
鉁匧ight SB on 4th Ave S in SODO— seattledot (@seattledot)
—
4:45 p.m.
Cleared 4:34 PM : On the I-90 eastbound off-ramp to Bellevue Way there is an incident blocking the ramp and the right lane.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)
—
4:15 p.m.
Travel times Seattle to:
Bellevue via 520 11 min, HOV 12; via 90 12/12
Everett 44/33
Issaquah 18/18
Renton 19/16
FedWay 29/27— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)
Travel times Bellevue to:
Everett 56min/ETL 30
FedWay 55/HOV 40
Issaquah 15/14
Renton 34/21
Seattle via 520 18/17, via 90 18/18— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)
—
4:00 p.m.
With this wknd, keep in mind if 馃殫 to terminal this Saturday, 2/2:
馃毇5-11a: SB lanes of 1st Ave S closed btwn Royal Brougham & Columbia St.
馃毇4a-8p: Alaskan Way closed south of S King St.
鉁匓ypass closures by taking Madison St. 鉃★笍Alaskan Way鉃★笍— Washington State Ferries (@wsferries)
—
3:45 p.m.
All roads in Bothell are now clear following a bus crash.
UPDATE: Collision on 228th at 35th SE has been cleared and roadway is open both directions.
— Bothell Police (@BothellPolice)
—
3:30 p.m.
Streets are still closed in Bothell from the three-car bus crash, while lineups start to build across the major commute areas on freeways.
Meanwhile, a few closure updates regarding Viadoom:
When this closure happens, we will no longer have the SR 99 off- and on-ramps at Western Avenue to use if driving to/from our !
— Washington State Ferries (@wsferries)
—
3:00 p.m.
A three car crash involving a school bus has streets closed in Bothell. Expect the roadway to be closed for “a little awhile” says Tracy.
Three car blocking collision has E/B 228th ST SE closed between 35th SE and 31st SE. School bus was involved in the collision, however no children were on the bus at the time. No significant injuries being reported.
— Bothell Police (@BothellPolice)
—
9:18 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (9 AM):
馃敶Heavy NB/SB I-5 into Downtown
馃敶Heavy EB W Seattle Bridge
馃敶Heavy SB SR 99 into Downtown
馃敶Heavy NB 1st Ave S in SODO
馃敶Heavy on Downtown roads
馃敹Moderate on Mercer St
馃敹Moderate NB 4th Ave S in SODO
鉁匧ight NB 1st Ave Bridge鈥 seattledot (@seattledot)
9:10 a.m.
The multiple-car collision near the convention center in Seattle involved eight vehicles. That scene has already cleared, but not after causing a massive backup. Sullivan still recommends avoiding northbound I-5 into Seattle.
9 a.m.
“Avoid northbound I-5 into downtown if you can,” Sullivan said.
A nine mile backup has formed behind a multiple-car collision near the convention center. Four lanes are blocked. The drive from Southcenter into Seattle is about 20 minutes longer that usual — 55 minutes
“Bail at Boeing Access Road,” Sullivan says. “Take Airport Way or take MLK to get into the city. You want no part of I-5 right now.”
8:45 a.m.
: A multi-vehicle crash is blocking the 4 left lanes of NB I-5 @ Olive Way. Only the right lane is getting by. Expect this to cause delays through the area! Crews are in route now.
鈥 WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)
8:35 a.m.
If you want to bail from I5 NB, there is still a decent option on Airport Way. A little slowing near Lucille but ok. MLK is also good.
鈥 成人X站 Radio Traffic (@成人X站Traffic)
8:30 a.m.
Traffic around Seattle is getting better, but Sullivan points out that the worst drive this morning is the northbound I-5 drive into Seattle. Slowing starts in the middle of Boeing Field. It’s 41 minutes to travel from Southcenter into downtown Seattle.
The exit around Boeing Access Road is an option. Drivers would then take MLK.
The West Seattle Bridge is still a crawl feeding into I-5.
It’s an hour traveling from Everett to Seattle on southbound I-5.
8:10 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (8 AM):
馃敶Heavy NB/SB I-5 into Downtown
馃敶Heavy EB W Seattle Bridge
馃敶Heavy SB SR 99 into Downtown
馃敶Heavy NB 1st Ave S in SODO
馃敹Moderate on Mercer St
馃敹Moderate NB 4th Ave S in SODO
馃敹Moderate NB 1st Ave Bridge
馃敹Moderate on Downtown roads鈥 seattledot (@seattledot)
7:50 a.m.
It’s a solid eight miles backed up behind a collision on southbound I-5 near 145th near Shoreline. The scene is off to the right shoulder. It is an hour to travel from Lynnwood to downtown Seattle.
The drive from Federal Way to Seattle takes about an hour. Traffic from the middle of Boeing Field into downtown is a crawl.
7:38 a.m.
Travel times continue to rise.
There is a collision on southbound I-5 near 145th near Shoreline. It’s off to the shoulder, but it has snarled traffic. It’s an hour and 10 minutes to drive from Everett to Seattle.
Driving northbound from Federal Way to Seattle is an hour.
The slow backup on the West Seattle Bridge has extended to Admiral Way.
7:30 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (7 AM):
馃敶Heavy NB/SB I-5 into Downtown
馃敶Heavy EB W Seattle Bridge
馃敶Heavy NB 1st/4th Ave S in SODO
馃敹Moderate Mercer St btwn I-5 & Dexter
馃敹Moderate NB on the 1st Ave Bridge
鉁匧ight NB/SB on SR 99 north of Downtown
鉁匧ight on major roads in Downtown鈥 seattledot (@seattledot)
7:13 a.m.
Metro鈥檚 Wednesday AM Commute: Transit delays are continuing due to traffic congestion on surface streets south of downtown Seattle
鈥 King County Metro馃殢馃殠鉀 (@kcmetrobus)
Looks like our friends are working the EB West Seattle Bridge. Hanging on right shoulder.
鈥 成人X站 Radio Traffic (@成人X站Traffic)
7 a.m.
There was a collision on westbound I-90, just after the lid on Mercer Island. This has caused a backup across Mercer Island. The scene is now moved off to the side of the road, but it is slowing down traffic.
: A crash is blocking the left g.p. lane of WB I-90 on the floating bridge.
鈥 WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)
Driving Everett to Seattle takes about 55 minutes.
Federal Way to Seattle is an hour.
“If you want to eject from I-5 at Boeing Access Road onto Airport Way, it’s a little slow at the north end of the airport, but you will get through it OK,” Sullivan said.
6:40 a.m.
Sullivan says it looks normal, but not too great on the roads.
“The slowing we have from the middle of Boeing Field into downtown, those are the early commuters because of the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure,” Sullivan said. “The window has officially closed on the West Seattle Bridge as being a good way to get over to I-5. It’s backed up to Delridge.”
It’s about 30 minutes driving north from Southcenter into Seattle. It’s 50 minutes driving south from Everett to Seattle.
6:30 a.m.
THIS MORNING!!! will close the Hood Canal Bridge to traffic 2 times btwn 8:45 and 11a for maintenance work.
Each closure is anticipated to last less than 60 min. Crews will open the bridge to traffic after the first closure to clear traffic before closing it again.鈥 成人X站 Radio Traffic (@成人X站Traffic)
6:20 a.m.
Current Traffic Conditions (6 AM):
馃敶Heavy NB I-5 into Downtown
馃敹Moderate SB I-5 into Downtown
馃敹Moderate EB W Seattle Bridge
馃敹Moderate NB 1st Ave Bridge
鉁匧ight Mercer St
鉁匧ight NB 1st Ave S in SODO
鉁匧ight NB 4th Ave S in SODO
鉁匧ight NB/SB SR 99 into Downtown鈥 seattledot (@seattledot)
6 a.m.
Window closing to use West Seattle Bridge eb without a backup.
鈥 成人X站 Radio Traffic (@成人X站Traffic)
5:45 a.m.
Traffic is already building in some areas on this chilly Wednesday morning. Bundle up, grab that warm cup of 鈽曪笍 or 馃嵉 & make sure you check travel times before you go – .
鈥 WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic)