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Seattle weekend traffic and transit: Mother’s Day edition

What’s blocking up getting around this weekend—and how to ride transit to it (or around it)

Jose Luis Stephens/Shutterstock

Another weekend, another whole list of things that could disrupt getting around. Some of these events might be things you’re doing, too—maybe you’re going out for Mother’s Day, shopping the Sodo Flea, or participating in the Color Run. Plus, there’s a big Interstate 5 closure compounding everything.

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.

Weekend events: Mayfair, Sodo Flea, and the Color Run

On Saturday, Madrona neighborhood is having its annual Mayfair parade and celebration starting at 9:30 a.m. at Alvin Larkins Park and running to Madrona Playground—just a quick walk down 34th Avenue. The event should run until about 1 p.m. Both parks are served by Metro routes 2 and 3.

Monthly market Sodo Flea returns from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Utah Avenue S between Walker and Stacy, right behind the Living Computers Museum. Metro route 21 will get you right there, or walk a few blocks from the Link Light Rail Sodo station.

Seven Lions perform at Wamu Theater on Saturday night at 6 p.m. Follow stadium instructions to get there: Take Link Light Rail (the stadium station is what it says on the label) the First Hill Streetcar, or one of a ton of bus routes from Metro, Community Transit, and Sound Transit.

Sunday, the Color Run 5K starts at Seattle Center and will close a number of streets as around 10,000 people get sprayed with color once a kilometer. Starting at 8 a.m. from the center, it heads east on Mercer Street from Third to Fourth, then south to Republican, east to Fifth, south to Cedar, and south to Fourth, then turns around and heads north on Fourth and west on Denny before heading north on Second back to Seattle Center. SDOT expected streets to be back open by noon.

A bunch of buses hit various sides of the Seattle Center, including the 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, 32, and RapidRide D.

Also at Seattle Center on Sunday: P!nk performs at Key Arena. To get to that side of the center, take the 1, 2, 8, 13, 32, or Rapidride D.

Road work and bus service changes: Revive I-5 returns

WSDOT is doing a whole lot of work on I-5 this weekend—to the point where the department advises avoiding northbound I-5 altogether. The freeway will be reduced to two panes near Michigan Street and again between the West Seattle Bridge and downtown from Friday night through early Monday morning.

As a result, the following northbound ramps will be totally closed: the offramp to the express lanes, the offramp to Seneca, the onramp from westbound I-90, the onramp from eastbound I-90 and Edgar Martinez Drive, the Dearborn Street onramp, and the University Street onramp.

Whew—that’s a lot. If your bus takes northbound I-5, plan for delays.

Additionally, if you’re planning on taking Metro routes 3, 4, or 13, those will be rerouted near Seattle Pacific University.

Note: We put immediate and new closures in this section, but not every single planned street closure appears here. Explore all 98 active SDOT projects, many of which involve street and lane closures, here. Here are Sound Transit rider alerts; here are King County Metro rider alerts.

Sports: Husky baseball

The UW Huskies are hosting a series at the UCLA Bruins all weekend long: 6:05 p.m. on Friday, 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. Take Link Light Rail to Husky Stadium or ride Metro routes 44, 45, 71, or 73.

Seattle Center

305 Harrison Street, , WA 98109 Visit Website

Seattle Pacific University

3307 3rd Ave W., Seattle, WA 98119

Husky Stadium

3800 Montlake Boulevard Northeast, , WA 98195 Visit Website