In Seattle, major road repairs are paralyzing streets, a driver fled after a crash that sparked a fire, and the sale of the Seahawks and a millionaire tax made headlines this week.
Tough weekend for Seattle drivers: major repairs clog key corridors
Residents and visitors in Seattle should seriously consider their routes this weekend, as large-scale road work will create major disruptions on several of the city’s key arteries. The situation is complicated by the fact that these are not short, planned closures but urgent repairs and major projects that will close lanes and entire stretches of roadway.
According to KOMO News, the main problem centers on the First Avenue South Bridge on State Route 99. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was forced to close the two northbound lanes for urgent repairs to the bridge’s steel deck. This isn’t work that can be completed quickly overnight or over a weekend. As WSDOT spokesperson RB McKeon explained, the damage is significant, and there won’t be a precise plan for fixing it until at least March 6. On Thursday the situation already produced a 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) backup, and drivers heading downtown should prepare for major delays. One local resident, Shirley Gomez, told the TV station she fears everyone will divert to I-5, so it may be better to look for alternate routes.
Meanwhile, in Bothell this weekend westbound traffic on State Route 522 at the Interstate 405 interchange will be fully closed. The shutdown starts Friday evening and runs until Saturday morning. The work involves removing the first section of an overpass that crosses over the westbound lanes of SR 522. The demolition begins at 8:00 p.m. Friday, which will add pressure to alternate routes.
A third trouble spot is the Revive I-5 project on the Ship Canal Bridge. Work there has left two northbound lanes on I-5 closed, which is causing congestion. Combined with the problems on SR 99, northbound travel through Seattle from the south will be slow and stressful over the next days. Officials and traffic experts urge drivers to plan trips in advance, consider public transit, or postpone nonessential travel to avoid being stuck in multi-mile backups.
Crash and fire in Seattle: car plows into townhouse, driver flees
Early Sunday morning in South Seattle, a disturbing incident occurred when a vehicle left the road, crashed into a residential townhouse and sparked a fire. Fortunately there were no injuries: the home’s occupants were unharmed. The people who had been in the car left the scene, making the incident a hit-and-run.
According to an article on KING5, Seattle police responded to a call around 5:45 a.m. in the 1700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way South. The preliminary account indicates a southbound driver lost control while attempting to turn right onto South Massachusetts Street. The car drove across a front yard and struck the corner of the building. The impact was strong enough to ignite a fire. After the collision, occupants of the damaged vehicle got into another car and fled before emergency crews arrived. That aspect is particularly troubling, because leaving the scene of a crash—especially one that caused extensive damage and a fire and could have endangered others—is a serious offense. It’s important to note that despite the destruction and blaze, no one in the townhouse was injured, which in this case can be considered a real miracle.
The incident highlights several key issues. First, there is the matter of safety on roads in residential neighborhoods. Second, hit-and-run incidents remain a common problem, complicating investigations and leaving victims without immediate accountability. Authorities are now searching for the driver and passengers as well as the second vehicle they used to flee. The building likely suffered significant damage — structural assessments will be needed to determine the effects of both the impact and the fire. For residents this was undoubtedly a traumatic event that disrupted their safety and peace. Local authorities will likely investigate thoroughly, including possible factors behind the loss of control — whether speed, the driver’s condition, or a mechanical failure.
Who will buy the Seattle Seahawks: the millionaire tax and the culture of lines
On the latest episode of the Seattle News Weekly podcast, hosts Bill Wixey and Matthew Smith discuss the week’s top Seattle stories, with the prospective sale of the Seattle Seahawks taking center stage. After a Super Bowl win, the team — owned by the estate of the late Paul Allen — is officially up for sale. The deal is estimated at an astronomical $7–11 billion, implying an incredible return on the original purchase: as Bill Wixey noted on the FOX 13 Seattle podcast, Allen bought the team for $200 million, and the potential profit could be roughly 6,000%. Potential bidders mentioned include billionaires such as Jeff Bezos, Steve Ballmer and Larry Ellison. The hosts note nuances: Ballmer, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is under NBA investigation, which could concern NFL owners, while Bezos has reportedly been eyeing the Seahawks for years and even passed on other teams.
The episode also addresses the recently-passed “millionaires tax” in the Washington state Senate. The proposed law would impose a 9.9% tax on personal income over $1 million. Governor Jay Inslee supports the idea but disputes how funds should be allocated, pushing for more assistance to small businesses and families. The hosts consider how such a tax might affect Seattle’s attractiveness to athletes. For instance, if the average NBA salary is $11 million a year, the additional tax could be a significant financial burden and might discourage free agents from joining the Seahawks or a potential new basketball team if the SuperSonics were to return. Wixey predicts that if the bill passes the House, it will trigger lawsuits and a referendum.
The tone lightens afterward as they talk about the opening of Washington’s first Raising Cane’s restaurant in the University District. Fans lined up for more than ten hours for a chance to win “free Cane’s for a year.” Matthew Smith nostalgically notes that in the digital era the culture of in-person lines—once common on Black Friday or for concert tickets—is fading, and this event reminded listeners of shared excitement and community. The hosts close with playful discussion about other fast-food chains they’d like to see in the state, such as In-N-Out Burger or Whataburger, adding a casual, everyday connection to residents’ interests.
