Seattle weekend traffic: Another December weekend, another bunch of holiday stuff

Another weekend, another whole list of things that could disrupt getting around. Some of these events might be things you’re doing, too.

We’ve combed through the alerts and advisories from both the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to deliver transit-friendly solutions for your weekend outings.

Some of this weekend’s advisories—and transit-oriented alternate routes to events—are listed below.

Sports: What sports?

The Seahawks are in Jacksonville on Sunday and while it’s a really big weekend for the Seattle Sounders, Saturday’s MLS cup is in Toronto. So while there might be some extra revelry around your sports bars, there’s no physical game to worry about.

Other events: Ballets, markets, and other yuletide stuff

Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker starts Friday and runs all weekend (and beyond), with showtimes throughout the day. The 2, 3, 4, 13, and 19 will all get you close to McCaw Hall.

On Friday, Urban Craft Uprising’s South Lake Union Winter Market takes over Amazon’s Van Vorst Plaza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The South Lake Union Streetcar or Metro route 70 will get you there.

On Saturday, monthly pop-up shop the Sodo Flea is having their special holiday market. That takes over—and closes—Occidental Avenue South and Forest Avenue South in an L-shape bounded by First Avenue South and South Hanford Street. It’s also set up at Sodo’s Rejuvenation. Get there directly on Metro routes 21 or 50, or get a few blocks away on Link light rail from the Sodo station.

On Sunday—because there’s always a 5K somewhere in Seattle—prepare for the Jingle Bell Run to take over downtown Seattle on in the morning, including the Interstate 5 express lanes. The run goes south on 5th Avenue from Westlake Park then enters express lanes at Columbia Street and heads north, then moves south to exit at Pike Street. It then goes west on 9th and south on Pine before finishing at 6th Avenue. It’s a whole lot of downtown, so if you’re not participating, maybe avoid the area starting at 8 a.m. or so. (But it benefits the Arthritis Foundation.)

Westlake Park is one of the most transit-accessible places in the city—any bus or train that stops downtown on Pike or Pine, or that stops at the Westlake tunnel station, will get you there.

Road work

Cyclists, take note: the Burke Gilman Trail will be closed between Phinney and Stone on Saturday and Sunday, with cyclists and pedestrians being detoured onto 34th.

In Georgetown, lanes will be reduced on Corson Avenue South between Michigan and Airport Way, with a detour northbound, starting Friday night and running through Sunday. SDOT is completing paving work.

• Weekly travel planner [WSDOT]
• Seattle Area Construction Lookahead [SDOT]
• Events Traffic Advisory [SDOT]