Morning traffic lighter than expected

So far, Seattle-area commuters are passing their first big test, by preventing the huge traffic jams that had been forecast for this morning on northbound Interstate 5.

"It was lighter than expected," said a surprised Paula Hammond, interim secretary of the state Department of Transportation.

Traffic jams are still possible later today, when the Seattle Mariners play a 7:05 p.m. home game against the Minnesota Twins.

Contractors are resurfacing I-5 on a one-mile stretch that normally carries 126,000 vehicles a day northbound, between South Spokane Street and Interstate 90, approaching downtown. Traffic is limited to two left-side lanes, and a merge-exit lane on the right, which also allows through-traffic. Hammond said some drivers seem confused — and are making sudden lane changes to escape that right lane. But there were no collisions as of about 8:30 a.m.

There was some congestion on Interstate 405, where drivers went around the east side of Lake Washington to avoid construction on I-5, Hammond said. She predicts that on Tuesday, some drivers will probably revert to I-5.

Thousands of employees changed their job schedules, took vacation, worked from home or tried transit. At least one Sounder commuter train from Tacoma carried more riders than usual, including many who had to stand. Washington State Ferries reported heavier use, and the Elliott Bay Water Taxi ran an extra early boat from West Seattle to downtown.

At 9 a.m., state DOT traffic maps show "green," or free-flowing traffic, in nearly all places except the Highway 520 floating bridge.

Construction work is ahead of the scheduled completion date of early Aug. 30, but the pace might be slowed by rain later this week.

Cars are moving so quickly that Hammond worries about collisions in the work zone. "I was just surprised at how people were driving at freeway speeds because they could, with little regard for a backup that may be 100 yards up the road," she said.

If a rear-end crash happens, she said, I-5 will become congested.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com