SEATTLE – Friday kicked off one of the worst weeks of traffic in the Seattle area. Three major highway closures and Seafair could make it tough on the road.
Road closures
Drivers are warned to plan ahead for closures of Interstate 5 in Seattle and Interstate 90 between Seattle and Mercer Island this weekend.
Washington State Dept. of Transportation crews will close all lanes of south I-5 under the Washington State Convention Center Friday night to test the fire suppression system under the center. The closure begins at 11:30 p.m. Friday and is scheduled to end at 4 a.m. Saturday.
The on-ramps from Howell/Yale Street and Mercer Street to southbound I-5 will also close. Drivers will be detoured off I-5 at Stewart Street and re-enter I-5 south of the convention center.
The I-5 express lanes will open in the southbound direction at 11:30 p.m., Friday. They will remain southbound until noon Saturday.
I-90 will be closed eastbound Saturday morning and westbound Sunday morning between Rainier Avenue and East Mercer Way to inspect more than a dozen sign bridges.
- On Saturday, crews will close the eastbound I-90 mainline from 12:01 a.m to 10 a.m. The Rainier Avenue and Island Crest Way on-ramps to eastbound I-90 will also be closed. All drivers will be diverted onto the express lanes.
- On Sunday, crews will close the westbound I-90 mainline from 12:01 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Island Crest Way and 77th Ave. SE ramps to the express lanes will remain open; all other westbound ramps on Mercer Island will close. All drivers will be diverted onto the express lanes.
Huge crowds expected for Seafair weekend events
On Saturday, bicyclists will be celebrating Tour de Fat at Gas Works Park and downtown Seattle will be hopping with street closures beginning and people lining up to watch the two big Seafair Torchlight evening events – the Run followed by the parade.
On Sunday, thousands will gather at Seward Park for the Pista sa Nayon festival for the Filipino - American community.
The Seattle Department of Transportation warns motorists to anticipate traffic congestion accompanying the events and to plan accordingly. Drivers are encouraged to consider taking alternate modes of transportation – Metro Transit and Sound Transit buses, Sound Transit Link light rail the West Seattle Water Taxi, carpool, bicycle, or walk, if feasible.
Saturday, July 31
Tour de Fat: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bike exchange at Gas Works Park, 4,150 expected
Expect congestion on streets adjacent to the park
Seafair Torchlight Run: 6:30 p.m.
4,800 participants
Closed from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 7 p.m.: Northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct /SR-99 from just south of the West Seattle Bridge to Roy Street.
5K walk and run route starts at Ninth Avenue N and Republican Street; south on Ninth to Denny Way; west on Denny to Wall Street; west on Wall to Fourth Avenue; south on Fourth to Union Street; u-turn and then north on Fourth to Wall Street; east on Wall to Denny Way; east on Denny to Aurora Avenue N; north on Aurora to Mercer Street off-ramp; east on Mercer to Ninth Avenue N; south on Ninth to finish at Republican Street.
8K run route starts at Ninth Avenue N and Republican Street; south on Ninth to Denny Way; west on Denny to Wall Street; west on Wall to Fourth Avenue; south on Fourth to Seneca Street; west on Seneca onto the Alaskan Way Viaduct SR 99; south on the viaduct to approximately S Jackson Street; u-turn and north on SR 99 to the Broad Street off-ramp; east on Mercer to Ninth Avenue N; south on Ninth to finish at Republican Street.
Expect heavy congestion in the vicinity of the route.
Seafair Torchlight Parade: 7:30 – 11 p.m.
300,000 estimated attendance
Parade route starts at Fourth Avenue N and Broad Street; south on Fourth to S Washington Street; west on Washington to Second Avenue S; south on Second to King Street; disperses in the north lot of Qwest Field;
No on-street parking will be allowed starting at 8 a.m. to accommodate parade staging on streets around the Seattle Center. Streets will be closed at 3 p.m. in the staging area on the east side of the Seattle Center.
No on-street parking will be permitted along the parade route and on some adjacent streets beginning at 4 p.m.
The parade route closes from 5:30 to 12 Midnight: Starts at Fourth Avenue N and Broad Street; heads south on Fourth Avenue to S Washington Street; west on Washington to Second Avenue S; south on Second into the north lot of Qwest Field.
Expect heavy congestion in the Downtown area.
Metro buses will be rerouted away from the parade as early as mid-afternoon. A good option is traveling to downtown via the transit tunnel; but plan your trip home before the last bus or light rail train leaves the tunnel that night.
After the parade is over, there will be a special boarding location, mid-block on Third Avenue between Union and Pike streets, for three Metro routes – the 7, 36 and 124 headed southbound out of downtown.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is a good alternative for people coming from West Seattle; the last return sailing leaves Pier 50 in Seattle at 10:30 p.m. Visit Metro Online at www.kingcounty.gov/metro to access the online Trip Planner to figure out the routes that work best for you. Also, check the Alerts Center under "Construction & Events" for information about service disruptions and bus reroutes. Or, call Metro's Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000 for assistance.
There will be no Sounder train service, but Sound Transit’s Link will run at 10 minute headways till the end of service at 1 a.m.
Sunday, August 1
Pista sa Nayon: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Seward Park, 12,000 expected
Expect heavy congestion around the park and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Motorists should plan to park a distance away and walk to the park.
