Seattle weekend traffic: The 520 bridge will be closed

Another weekend, another whole list of things that could disrupt getting around. Some of these events might be things you’re doing, too: Various neighborhood festivals, including two in the International District and another in Belltown, should draw some people, and the Sounders, Storm, and Seahawks all have games this weekend.

Plus: The 520 bridge is closed all weekend long, so watch out for that.

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 and the stadium district

Seattle Seahawks preseason continues with a game against Kansas City at 5 p.m. Friday. Then on Sunday, the Sounders play the Portland Timbers—both games are at CenturyLink.

The Mariners are in New York all weekend.

Link Light Rail goes to the stadium, as does the Seattle Streetcar and a ton of bus routes from Metro, Community Transit, and Sound Transit.

Sunday evening, the Storm take on the Phoenix Mercury starting at 6 p.m. The buses that get closest to KeyArena are Metro route 1, 2, 8, 13, 32, and RapidRide D.

Road work

There’s some other stuff happening too, but here’s the big one: The State Route 520 bridge is closed all weekend long from 11 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday. That means no traffic between 92nd Avenue Northeast and Montlake Boulevard westbound and none between Interstate 5 and 92nd Avenue eastbound. None. Zero.

This also means that if you have a bus that crosses 520—255, 271, 545—it’ll be rerouted, so check service alerts before you leave.

The good news: Starting Monday, 520 will have three new westbound lanes and a new transit stop.

Interstate 5 also continues to be gunked up, with lane reductions between Interstate 405 and the Duwamish River Bridge.

Other stuff happening: Trucks are going to start staging around Seattle Center for Bumbershoot this weekend—that’s going on for the next week. Lane closures for construction in Belltown around both Vine and Virginia Streets.

Neighborhood festivals and other weekend events

On Sunday, a march against hate and racism will start at Westlake Park with a to-be-determined route. Link Light Rail goes straight to Westlake, as do most buses that go downtown.

Neighborhood events

On Saturday, the South Lake Union Market will close Ninth Avenue North between Denny Way and John Street. The 8, 40, C Line, and the South Lake Union Streetcar will all get you there.

Also on Saturday, Hai! Japantown celebrates in various locations around the neighborhood. Any bus that goes to the International District station will get you into the vicinity, including Link Light Rail—plus the First Hill Streetcar.

SoDo’s having a party on Saturday too, this one at the Living Computers Museum. SoDo Summer Session features bands, foods, activities—including “Roomba beer pong,” which seems to be what it sounds like—even a film lineup. The 21, 37, 50, and 116 all go there, or take Link Light Rail and walk a few blocks.

On Sunday, the Belltown Crush Block Party features music, food, wine, and beer—and raises money for Plymouth Housing Group. Bell Street will be closed between Second and Fourth Avenues, but traffic will still flow north to south. Any bus that serves the extremely well-trafficked bus stop at Third and Bell will get you close.

Also on Sunday, Friends of Little Saigon’s banh mi festival, Celebrate Little Saigon, “brings together Vietnamese-American food, culture, and entertainment.” That’s running from noon to 7 p.m. on King Street between 10th and 12th Avenues. Metro routes 1, 7, 14, 36, 49, 60, and 70 all get there, plus the First Hill Streetcar.

There’s always a 5K somewhere

In this case, a 5K plus two: The Cosmo 7K will close one lane of Alki Avenue Southwest from 63^rd Ave Southwest to Don Armeni Park between 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sunday. To get to the start/finish line near Alki Beach Bath House, take Metro route 37 from downtown or the Junction.

• Seattle Area Construction Lookahead [SDOT]
• I-5 construction [WSDOT]