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Hogan's Blog: Thursday Morning Commute

Posted: 3:17 am PST December 18, 2008Updated: 1:07 pm PST December 18, 2008

What a morning! This is a good day to stay in and leave the car keys hanging on their hook inside.

The KIRO 7 traffic department has been keeping an eye on the roads all morning and placing any updates you need to know right here.

Have a question or want to tell us about your drive in? Just Ask Jenni!

Here are some of the alerts we've been tracking:

No parking tickets Downtown: If you missed it, Renee Witt with Seattle Police, told us that they will not be ticketing today for parking in Downtown Seattle. Please don't get yourself into a dangerous situation just to move your car. Having said that she did warn, if you're in the way, you will be towed. Emergency service vehicles need to be able to get through.

WSDOT crews are out in Mason County, however, motorists may encounter icy conditions or compact snow. Use caution and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you for stopping.

US 101 in Port Angeles near Lake Sutherland Road in Port Angeles is now open to traffic. Earlier, several collisions and icy conditions caused Washington State Patrol to close the roadway until conditions improved.

From SDOT: The West Seattle bridges remain open, but the on-ramp at Chelan Street to eastbound West Seattle bridges is closed at this time due to an accident. Earlier today, accidents at two locations-- the Delridge on-ramp to eastbound West Seattle Bridge, and the off-ramp to Columbia Street and northbound I-5, closed those ramps and backed up traffic.

"Heading down the hill from white center to 509 - Where Roxbury turns into Olson Pl. SW - there are 20-30 cars spun out, crashed into each other and the curb. 4 or 5 metro buses stuck. cars spun out on on-ramp to 509 heading north into seattle." Driver, White Center 7:30am

Westbound SR 520 open after multiple spin-outs and dangerous driving conditions.

Collisions throughout Pierce and Thurston County on I-5 throughout the morning.

We saw some issues on SR 161 and SR 167 at SR 410.

Three separate collisions happened at s/b I-5 just south of the Nisqually River Bridge.

We've been having a lot of problems at SR 169 at 218.

SR 410 around Bonney Lake and Sumner has bad driving conditions. Several collisions reported out that way.

SR 160 at SR 16 in Port Orchard is closed to traffic at this time due to hazardous driving conditions. WSP and WSDOT IR are on scene ... WSDOT maintenance is en route with more product to de-ice the roadway.

Olympia - Off ramps are shiny and slippery, adding they can take you by surprise. The main lines look bare and wet, but surface streets are covered with compact snow. Jack-knifed semi at Capitol blvd. earlier this morning.

Kirkland - 405 several cars on the shoulder at 85th have been cleared. You can see a ton of snow on the freeway 405 from Bellevue up to the I-5 split.

Coal Creek Parkway - 405 numerous spin outs. 405 looked at one point like a parking lot from 167 to Coal Creek Parkway.

Snohomish County - Roads covered with compact snow. Hwy 2 and SR 9 are icy but troopers say less accidents than yesterday. People handling conditions well.

Bellingham - Snow and ice on the roads

Tacoma - There was an over turned vehicle right at the interchange of I-5 and 512. It has cleared but slick conditions.

Bothell/Woodinville - SR522 on ramp to I-405 was closed last night because of numerous spin outs, it's re-opened now but be ready for icy conditions.

SR 202 - covered in compact snow

What are you seeing?

"Secondary roads around Lake Stevens: Snow with ice in places, but the ice is of rougher texture than it was earlier in the week and the snow is crumbly, not compacting. Driving conditions better than earlier in the week. 20th St SE to Hwy 2 Trestle: Sanded, some snow, but mixed up with the sand and has chewed through most of the ice that had been there. Hwy 2 and I-5: Sanded and de-iced in driving lanes, a little slush in places. Snow outside the lanes. Road temperature 20s increasing to 31 degrees south to 526 (de-icer working - couldn't clean the road spray from my windshield near 526, wipers were frozen in a shape that didn't match the contour of my windshield. Hwy 526: Increasing snow on the road westbound approaching Seaway Blvd. Sanded, traction adequate. Traffic moving at about 25 MPH approaching Seaway. Seaway Blvd: Snow covered, sanded somewhat. Snow is crumbly and not compacting." - Driver

"169 out to Maple Valley is terrible. So is the kent-kangley road through Covington out to Maple Valley." - Alex, Covington 4:00am

"I live in Federal Way and take the bus – what a nightmare! I waited 1.5 hours for the express to Seattle" - Megan, Federal Way