Traffic Lab | The Seattle Times

The I-5 Ship Canal Bridge is one of the most important spans on the West Coast. The bridge is rated in “fair” condition and needs $315 million in maintenance and preservation work, including painting and repaving. (Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times) — The I-5 Ship Canal Bridge is one of the most important spans on the West Coast. The bridge is rated in "fair" condition and needs $315 million in maintenance and preservation work, including painting and repaving. (Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times)

Delayed repairs threaten Washington state bridges and highways. Will lawmakers act this year?

After years of chasing megaprojects, Washington state lawmakers face a reckoning as bridges and highways wear out, including the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge. Will they spend a few billion on maintenance this year? VIEW

Don't Miss

A cyclist is seen on the Burke-Gilman Trail, about to pass under the Fremont Bridge, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 in Seattle. Some want to repeal the King County helmet law, which also applies to Seattle, because of its inequitable enforcement. 216416

Racial disparities prompt calls to repeal King County’s bicycle helmet law

The West Seattle Bridge, far left, connecting West Seattle to Seattle, was closed in March 2020 after cracks were discovered underneath and along the sides of the high-rise making travel across the structure unsafe. The bridge is 36-years-old. The low bridge at right is reserved for transit, freight, emergency response, Harbor Island access and bicycles.

Photographed on April 29, 2020. 213802

Camera enforcement starts Jan. 11 on lower West Seattle Bridge

A man crosses Rainier Ave. S. at the intersection with S. Rose St. Tuesday, January 26, 2021. There are traffic lights only on Rainier Ave. S. and traffic from S. Rose has to deal with traffic going in both directions. Pedestrians do get a light to cross Rainier.

SDOT is announcing an update on Vision Zero. Despite the pandemic that led to less commuter traffic, a high number of people were still killed on the streets in 2020. The department highlighted Rainier Ave S, between Hillman City and Rainier Beach, as a section where safety improvements were made. Those included restriping crosswalks, adding bus lanes and left turn lanes. Soon, SDOT will install a new traffic signal at Rainier Ave S and S. Rose St. 216222

Why are there so many traffic fatalities when so few people are commuting?

Commuters crawl along the US 2 Hewitt Avenue Trestle that feeds into Interstate 5 at Everett on February 2, 2018. 205132205132

Gas taxes and fees could reach $1 per gallon under new Washington state transportation proposal

About Traffic Lab

Traffic Lab is a Seattle Times project that digs into the region’s thorny transportation issues, spotlights promising approaches to easing gridlock, and helps readers find the best ways to get around.

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Transit

A single scull heads west as they passes underneath the University Bridge in Seattle Monday, March 15, 2021.
Drawspan equipment, such as lift motors, needs replacing at University, Fremont, Ballard and lower West Seattle bridges, for about $8 million. 216607

How Seattle might turn a $20 car-tab fee into $100 million, largely to fix bridges

Roads

How Seattle might turn a $20 car-tab fee into $100 million, largely to fix bridges

Getting Around

Lars Sveum-Hanson,74, crosses the new crosswalk at NE 125th and 29th Ave. NE were a woman was hit by a car and killed two years ago.. He wears the orange vest for disability. 216659

Why the ‘walk’ signals at some Seattle crosswalks seem a little longer now

Technology

An artist rendering of a BETA Technologies eVTOL aircraft in UPS livery. (UPS/TNS) 13131991W