University Bridge | Slog | The Stranger | Seattle's Only Newspaper

1

It was the greatest Wallingford to South Lake Union bicycle commute in the history of mankind!

Posted by DOUG. | May 3, 2007 9:05 AM

2

Traffice on 23rd was actually much lighter than normal, so I'm guessing a lot of people who use the U. Bridge from CapHill/Madrona/CD to get north took I-5 instead. Even going over the Montlake Bridge & up Pacific only added maybe five minutes at the most to my commute to Wallingford.

Granted the U. Bridge doesn't see a tremendous amount of traffic volume compared to, oh say, the viaduct, but if today was any indication, people do seem quite capable of finding ways around obstructions.

Posted by COMTE | May 3, 2007 9:10 AM

3

I wish I could post a picture of my brownish, murky tap water. A pox on you, sinkhole.

Posted by jackie treehorn | May 3, 2007 9:23 AM

4

Getting out of the U-District leading up to rush hour yesterday was pretty darn slow. I-5 southbound was hurtin for certain, but the Aurora Bridge route wasn't all that bad.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | May 3, 2007 9:26 AM

5

Indeed, Lloyd. Coming back on the 73, we got off the Express Lanes and just passed lines of cars, backed up as far as you could tell. Even the Ave was a bit crowded. Some people didn't plan ahead.

Posted by Gomez | May 3, 2007 9:37 AM

6

Hundred year old pipe. Too bad we laid down NEW pipe in the countless subdivisions surrounding seattle instead. Burn the suburbs to the ground!

Posted by Mattro | May 3, 2007 9:42 AM

7

Taking the day off of work so I don't have to deal with the headaches this afternoon! It's nice to be at home.

Posted by gameboy | May 3, 2007 9:43 AM

8

You mean we should put money aside to keep up the cities infrastructure? Gee, I though pipes would last forever.....

Posted by Andrew | May 3, 2007 9:50 AM

9

we're too busy building iraq's infrastructure (and rebuilding it after its blown to shit) to maintain our own.

priorities, loyal citizens!

Posted by maxsolomon | May 3, 2007 10:05 AM

10

well, atleast it's a sink hole, and not a K-hole.

Posted by orangekrush | May 3, 2007 11:00 AM

11

According to SDOT, the bridge carried 27,735 vehicles a day in 1983. I find it hard to believe that they don't have more recent counts, but then maybe they spent all their money on those big video screens or something.

Posted by Fnarf | May 3, 2007 11:26 AM

12

@8 - I know, let's build more roads!

Posted by Will in Seattle | May 3, 2007 12:02 PM

13

Fnarf - 2005 numbers around 31,400 though hard to read the U Bridge

Handy link to traffic counts in Seattle

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/tfdmaps.htm

direct link to U bridge section
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/images/05tfdgrid4.gif

Posted by Kush | May 3, 2007 12:17 PM

14

@6,

I think I heard something on KUOW this a.m. saying these cast-iron water pipes have a functional lifetime of about 150 years, so really this breakage is more of an exception than a harbinger or doom.

And I'd be surprised to learn those "new" PVC water pipes out in the 'burbs were designed to last that long, seeing as many of the houses they connect to start falling apart about the same time the ink is dry on the first mortgage note.

Posted by COMTE | May 3, 2007 4:07 PM

15

Posted by sada | May 10, 2007 3:51 AM

16

Posted by sada | May 10, 2007 3:51 AM

17

Posted by sada | May 10, 2007 3:51 AM

18

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 6:05 AM

19

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 6:06 AM

20

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 6:06 AM

21

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 5:42 PM

22

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 5:42 PM

23

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | May 12, 2007 5:47 PM

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