WSDOT has 400 or so embedded traffic sensors, and a number of video cameras, which make it incredibly easy to telecommute in Seattle.

"Live Cam" Series of Traffic through Downtown

el Norte Downtown - north (toward Vancouver)

el Camino Real Downtown - south (toward Vancouver)

I-5 along Boeing Field

Les Isle de Mercer Downtown to Issaquah (without downtown)

Best viewed with Microsoft Explorer Downtown to Redmond, via 520

Renton to Redmond via 405

Suggested Alternate Routes through Seattle

Other Items

WSDOT's Official Site WSDOT has 50 or so embedded traffic sensors... (They link their camera images separately, which speeds retrieval of their map.)

WSDOT map only (no index buttons; no camera images)

"Live Cam" Series of Traffic through Downtown, using WSDOT's cameras. - (our original traffic page)

"Live Cam" Series of Traffic past Boeing Field south of Downtown Seattle

Archived images (camera directions)

Downtown - north

Downtown - south

Downtown to Redmond, via 520

Interesting Facts

• These cameras refresh web images every minute or so. They provide realtime images to WSDOT and I believe to the media.
• Seattle weather often is affected by the "Puget Sound Convergence Zone". You may be able to see rainy sections of roadway within a short distance of dry, sunny spots. This is the result of airflow from the north and south of the Olympic Mountain Range converging prior to passing through the Cascade Mountain Range. The Convergence Zone usually occurs in stable air and results in turbulent air (often in IFR flying conditions) with nearby smooth, clear air. It's kinda fun to fly through, but most Seattlites are only vaguely familiar with this and don't know it by name.
• Seattle's roadways cross Lake Washington (to Redmond and Mercer Island) with floating bridges. See I-90 and Redmond via 520 for the floating bridges.
• A downtown intersection is constructed above I-5. This is usually visible on the pages which show the Pine St. images, if the camera is facing south.
• The triple roadway thingies on the maps (not on this page) are reversable express lanes. They are a separate, divided roadway, which crosses the Washington Ship Canal on the bridge's lower level.

For information about WSDOT tours, etc., call (206) 440-4790

The Official Page:

Here's A Somewhat Different Approach to Traffic Reporting

This website (Seattle Traffic) was first posted in the fall of 1996. This was at a time when 28.8 modems were most commonly used. I decided that with simple timing of the images, I could provide a near-realtime display of both the traffic map and the images along the route. The format was essentially what you see on these pages, with the sensor map on top, followed by the camera images.

original site first posted approx. 10-96; first posted at SCN 1997; last rev. 6-Jan-03
Page by Stan Protigal - Comments about this site: email me