SEATTLE -- Drivers should brace for a weekend of heavy traffic around downtown Seattle this weekend. That's because construction crews closed a section of State Route 520 for the entire weekend, along with other major closures.
All lanes of SR 520 are shut down for the weekend and the thousands of vehicles that normally cross the floating bridge will be diverted.
Construction crews also closed the I-5 Mercer Street ramps for the weekend. WSDOT expected the heaviest traffic midday on Saturday and Sunday on I-5 and I-90 heading into Seattle, and on I-405 approaching I-90.
"It is going to be tight," said Brian Dobbins, WSDOT construction engineer. "We have done a lot of planning to make sure we can get this done."
SR 520 - complete closure
Crews will close all lanes on SR 520 from 11 p.m. Friday, June 17, to 5 a.m. Monday, June 20, between Montlake Boulevard in Seattle and Interstate 405 in Bellevue. For details of the closure and detour maps from WSDOT, CLICK HERE.
All SR 520 ramps in the construction zone also will close, except for the 108th Avenue Northeast on-ramp to eastbound SR 520. SR 520 from I-5 to Montlake Boulevard will remain open to traffic.
I-5 Mercer Street - ramps closed
The City of Seattle is closing the I-5 on- and off-ramps at Mercer Street at 11 p.m. Friday, June 17, and reopening them at 5 a.m. Monday, June 20.
Weekend events
Saturday, June 18 - Fremont Solstice Parade, noon, Fremont
Saturday, June 18 - Mariners vs. Phillies, 7:10 p.m., Safeco Field
Sunday, June 19 - Mariners vs. Phillies, 1:10 p.m., Safeco Field
Express lane schedule changes
The I-5 and I-90 express lanes schedules will change to provide better access into and through downtown Seattle.
I-5 express lanes
Saturday, June 18 - The I-5 express lanes will remain southbound until 3 p.m. and open northbound at 4 p.m.
I-90 express lanes
Saturday, June 18 - Sunday, June 19 The I-90 express lanes will open in the westbound direction at 8 a.m. and remain open westbound until 2 p.m. Sunday. They will open eastbound at 3pm on Sunday.
For more information on the closures and links to tools and resources to plan ahead, go to the Washington Department of Transportation website.
