Daily news for Seattle's Ballard neighborhood

My Ballard header image 2
 

Traffic moving in Ballard, side streets very icy

Posted by Geeky Swedes on December 19th, 2008

9 a.m. update: One of the trouble spots in addition to those mentioned below is 85th Ave. near Aurora. Adds Megan in comments:

85th is good except eastbound just before 99–that small hill there is VERY icy!! When I drove that way about a half hour ago, the car infront of me slid down the hill, a semi behind me started sliding and had to go into the westbound lanes to get traction, and there was a work truck pulled over to the right side putting on chains. I made it through, but be careful!!

You can see a traffic camera of the intersection right here. Meanwhile, traffic on the sanded and de-iced routes has been moving surprisingly well.

Along 15th Ave. (pictured here at Market St.), some drivers were even going 30 mph. Others were sticking with a safer 20 mph.

Traffic is moving smoothly up Market St. over the hill. We also drove 85th St. and 8th Ave., which are clear, but drivers were moving a little slower.

While the routes maintained by SDOT are moving well, the side streets are iced over and treacherous. In four-wheel drive, we slipped a bit as we took the turns, driving very slowly. Any hill on a side steet is dangerous, and you should avoid it. We didn’t see anyone try to drive down the steep portion of 65th St.

Another hazard to point out is this Metro bus sitting in the middle of 15th in the northbound lanes at 70th St. It’s been stranded since late yesterday.

Speaking of Metro, we noticed more people than usual at bus stops around Ballard. (Please be careful walking on the sidewalks because they’re very slippery.) Buses are running at approximately half the average service levels, focusing on the main arterials. You can check the changes on Metro’s website.

Have any observations or hazards to share? Please post in comments…

Tags: Ballard   Facebook

  • j
    side roads are very slippery and icy. I slid partway into 15th trying to stop at on 75th headed east this morning.

    99 is fine, as is i-90.

    My commute to Mercer Island took 10 minutes longer because of side street ice.
  • Nidwaldner
    Anyone know how 85th and 24th are?
  • Geeky Swedes
    Nidwaldner, we're heading to 85th now. Check back soon.
  • puggles
    I just stood at the bus stop at 87th and Holman (or is it 15th there? by WAMU?) Anyhoodle - my warning would be, please don't run across the streets! use a crosswalk. I saw a guy doing that this morning and he slipped and fell in the median on 15th...
  • PhinneyLiving
    Thanks for the update! I'll stay home today.
  • Megan
    85th is good except eastbound just before 99--that small hill there is VERY icy!! When I drove that way about a half hour ago, the car infront of me slid down the hill, a semi behind me started sliding and had to go into the westbound lanes to get traction, and there was a work truck pulled over to the right side putting on chains. I made it through, but be careful!!
  • mike
    I work in Marysville, and the I-5 commute north was fine. I was driving between 45-55mph without any problems. The southbound commute also looked good.
  • mike
    oh, and I got to the freeway via Market to 15th/Holman/105th without a problem, just drove slower than usual.
  • chelsea!
    Anyone know how buses are running in Ballard? I'd like to go into work if I can, but am worried about standing out for an hour, and even more worried about getting home.
  • Cristin
    I waited at the Ballard Ave & Market bus stop for an hour and only two downtown bus came by and they were both full. I finally gave up and went home.
  • boardbrown
    Sidewalks everywhere are solid ice. Walking to work may be the more dangerous method today. My sore ass can tell you all about it!
  • nicole
    My husband has been waiting for the 18 bus for 2.5 hours (since 7:30AM). He just called to say he was on the 18 bus on 24th and 61st but then said, "oh no, we're stuck". They all bailed out and now he's back on another 18 bus and hoping to make it into downtown at some point this morning...
    He has much more resolve then I do! I would have given up a long time ago.
  • chelsea!
    Nicole, your husband has about 1000x more patience than I do with Metro. ;)
  • BlackSheep
    Bummer 'bout the booty, Boardbrown.

    I was planning on bussing it to the night job tonight, so not great to hear about the long wait.
  • Evan
    The bus service today has been terrible! 15th is completely clear- but I still waiting an hour for the first bus headed downtown. That bus was so full - that we skipped stops the whole way - each full of folks.

    The drivers are doing a great job - but the scheduling and staffing seems to be breaking down - even on an OK day.
  • boardbrown
    I suspect it will impove throughout the day. The sun is starting to melt the ice.
  • Jeff
    How is Market up the hill to 46th?
  • Geeky Swedes
    I just took Market all the way down to I-5 via 50th St., and all went well. The only place you have to be very careful is that last little hill down 50th to connect to the I-5 on-ramp.
  • Jennifer
    Hey Ballard : Buy a shovel and shovel your walks BEFORE it tunrs to compacted ice.
  • Zippy
    Does anyone know how the roads are to the airport are like from Fremont/Ballard? I have to get there tomorrow morning and was wondering about drive times, icy roads and all that biz...
  • Te
    Hi Zippy, I drove out to the airport yesterday and it was OK getting there, but getting out on 518 was a nightmare - icy icy road & stupid stupid drivers. Maybe Int'l blvd is the way to go. Also, visit the restroom in the terminal before you head out just in case.
  • Zippy
    Thanks Te, I'll check out our options.

    It's going to be a long day...
  • Denise
    I like to take Ballard Bridge to Nickerson to Westlake to get to I-5... it's a flatter route via. the Mercer Street onramp.
  • nicole
    My hubby just sent me an IM from downtown: 2 buses are hanging off of 1-5.... all passengers are off but they have closed at least 2 lanes. (he says they are not metro buses, maybe tour buses). I would avoid that area at all costs. He can see the traffic backing up from his window.
  • MaryWit
    Not exactly a post on road conditions, but I finally gathered courage to venture out to Fred Meyers from my icy sidestreet (NW 57th). Just want to let everyone know that they are OUT OF TIRE CABLES and SALT. There was a crowd of folks in the car dept., employees were great, calling to all other stores, including Shucks, (they're all out, too!) trying to find car chains or cables before tomorrow's weather. They did have about three sets of chains for pickups, but none for cars. I bought kitty litter for my sidewalks.
  • MaryWit
    Also--I LOVE LOW GEAR!!!
  • mike
    Check out some pics of the buses hanging over I-5. Crazy.

    http://www.king5.com/perl/common/slideshow/sspo...
  • gordy
    Be very careful while out walking too. I saw a couple of people nearly tumble because of the icy sidewalk on 15th between 56th and Market. Not all of the sidewalks "downtown" have been cleared and there are icy areas where you least expect them
  • rusty
    I love not hearing 15th's traffic pollution. although there were a handful of startling honks, can't wait for Sunday.
  • lauren
    Does anyone know how 15th and Leary are this afternoon?
  • JessicaSeattle
    Yes, please -- afternoon commute insights needed :-) I LOVE the MyBallard traffic cams, some roads look like bare pavement. A little worried for the side streets, though.

    Thanks, Lauren & Ballard buddies, if you can provide any tips. Yours in Lutefisk, YSYB (ya-sure-you-betcha :-)
  • Nubbee
    The 57th and 58th near the post office are slick. Be careful.

    We're stocked up and ready for the impending snow...

    MaryWit we are neighbors... Im glad you got home safe, our little streets are a mess!
  • MaryWit
    I was on Leary earlier this afternoon...it was pretty clear at that time. 15th looked fine, too. It's the side streets that are still treacherous.
  • JessicaSeattle
    Thanks everyone!! Here's hoping!! :-)
  • lauren
    Yes, thanks everyone! I have to work tonight at 9...wish me luck! =)
  • MaryWit
    Thanks, Neighbor Nubbee! :~) I saw an elderly man take a spill on the sidewalk in front of my place. I don't have a snow shovel (or anyplace to keep one in my teeny apt.)...tried to sweep the snow from the walks before it was packed. Didn't do much good, though. Freddy's is out of salt and de-icer...ended up "sanding" the walk with kitty litter to at least provide some traction. It works. Also, had to squirt rubbing alcohol in my car door key hole--it was frozen, too. Here's to hunkering down--Cheers!
  • boardbrown
    Rumplemintz works really good for hunkering down...but I guess that's a whole other subject.
  • MaryWit
    mmmmm....Rumplemintz. Also, hot cocoa and Kalua...mmmm.
  • Nubbee
    I have hot cocoa and marshmallows, but sadly no Kalhua!
  • MaryWit
    Me, too...sigh. If I had golf shoes, I could walk across the icy Ballard tundra to the liquor store. But alas, no golf shoes...sigh.
  • Nubbee
    We would consider a drive to the liquor store MaryWit.
  • MaryWit
    Thanks, Nubbee. That's very sweet. Think I'll just curl up with a Mike's Light Hard Lemonade...nectar of the Goddesses.

    Stay in and stay safe!
  • Nubbee
    Mmm. Mikes.... nectar of the Goddesses indeed.
  • BlackSheep
    I have Kalhua. AND Rumplemintz.

    But I have to go to work. Tomorrow, I settle in!

READ MY BALLARD'S COMMENT TIPS AND RULES

blog comments powered by Disqus