Even with the detour off Interstate 5, Metro's 161 bus managed to make it downtown with only a 20-minute delay. The bus moved quickly through South King County, but downtown Seattle was more problematic, with lines of buses clogging the roads.

There was more camaraderie than usual on Monday's commute, with passengers poring over a print-out of the bus detour, and reading it aloud to the driver, Marilyn Gary. It was Gary's first time driving the 161, which was full, but not standing-room.

Eric Chau, of Tukwila, and Tiffany Guinn, of Kent, guided her from East Marginal Way South to Fourth Avenue South until the Seattle skyline came into view.

"I think you can take it from here," said Chau, a regular on the bus, smiling.

At one point, a passenger new to town realized he was on the wrong bus. Gary called out that she was new to all this, too. Then she offered to pull over and let him off.

"They're helping me," she said, pointing to Chau and Guinn. "I'm helping you."

Intense media coverage of the construction on Monday had some passengers anticipating the worst. Keri Woolery, of Renton, brought an extra thermos of coffee, just in case.

"I was all geared up for a long commute," she said.

Gary herself imagined "bumper to bumper, back-to-back, standing traffic." But there was nothing of the sort. Not until the 161 reached Seattle, where long lines of buses clogged downtown.

"It wasn't that bad after all," said Guinn.

One by one, the passengers finished their commute. There were compliments for Gary, on how well she navigated the detour. Words of thanks went both ways.

"Thank you for your help," said Gary, to the passengers at the front of the bus. "I really appreciate it."

by Cara Solomon