Truck hauling giant spools blocks Alaskan Way Viaduct; city says cleanup response passed the test



SEATTLE -- A truck carrying giant spools got stuck on the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Wednesday -- another test of Seattle's response to major crashes.

City leaders said they passed that test. Authorities cited the truck company for the accident and are trying to find out if the truck had a pilot car.

SDOT says they worked with WSDOT to get a front loader, and they had equipment from a towing company on standby to clean up the accident on the viaduct.

Last month, a truck carrying salmon overturned just South of the viaduct completely shutting down traffic for nine hours. After that mess, city leaders agreed that traffic mitigation should come first over saving property.

The latest crash involved spools weighing up to a 1,000 pounds. The semi hit the overhead structure and the spools tumbled off the truck.

“We heard a loud boom we heard the whole building shake rattled some things everyone stood up scared,” Nick Patterson said.

Buildings next to the viaduct shook from the impact.

Steve Warner with the Washington Wine Commission says it felt like an earthquake.

“Southbound lanes are completely closed off and there is no telling when it will be open back again,” he said.

SPD opened one Southbound lane of the viaduct quickly after the collision.

Crews with a forklift reloaded the two large spools, and in about two hours and the viaduct was back open.

The city made sure people knew about the progress tweeting updates and even using the Persicope app to broadcast the cleanup.

The only concern people have now is about the safety of the viaduct.

“Automatically the bridge collapse came to mind hoping that some structurally didn’t happen to the viaduct,” Warner said.

Inspectors checked the viaduct and deemed it safe before opening all lanes.

There will be further inspections Wednesday night at 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. A couple of lanes could be closed during the inspection.