The "Seattle Squeeze" is a three-week period of maximum constraint for city traffic, the length of time the viaduct is closed before the new tunnel opens under downtown Seattle.
It's not just roads that are busier during the Seattle Squeeze. Elliott Bay is also teeming with traffic, and Washington state ferry captains have some new obstacles to navigate as they keep their vessels on schedule.
“You have to be a lot more aware, we’re all squeezed in right there in about 100 yards of each other,” said Capt. Greg Sugden, as he eased the ferry Wenatchee into Colman Dock in downtown Seattle.
It's not usually this busy, but with the closure of the viaduct and the new tunnel yet to open, King County is running more water taxis, which arrive at an already tight dock, alongside Washington state ferries.
Once they leave the dock, Sugden and his crew have to keep a close eye out for cargo ships, which cross ferry lanes.
“If we’re not sure of what the other boat is going to do, pick up the radio and give them a call, communication is key for all of us out there,” Sugden said.
Even before the viaduct shutdown, Elliott Bay was a lot busier than it was 40 years ago when Sugden started his career with Washington State Ferries.
He’s seeing a lot more pleasure boats on sunny days, and more than 200 cruise ships will dock in Seattle in spring and summer, up from just a few dozen twenty years ago.
Ferries ran smoothly and on-schedule Tuesday, as problems stacked up on the roads.
Washington State Ferries says there are fewer cars on the Bainbridge Island route this week, but the same number of walk-on passengers.
Join KING 5's Seattle Tunnel Traffic Facebook group to stay up-to-date on the latest Seattle tunnel and viaduct news and get tips to battle traffic during the three-week viaduct closure in January.
