Traffic will likely be extra heavy in the SODO and Downtown areas tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, May 26.  The Mariners will be playing the Detroit Tigers at 12:40 p.m. with a crowd of 18,000 ticket holders in attendance emptying out of Safeco Field around the start of the afternoon commute.  The Sounders take on the Boca Juniors of Argentina at 7:30 p.m. at Qwest Field with an estimated crowd of 40,000 on hand for the match.  With the baseball fans dispersing around 3 – 3:30 p.m. during the afternoon peak traffic, Seattle Police will alleviate the impact on the commute by closing the First Avenue S off-ramp from the southbound SR-99 Alaskan Way Viaduct at the end of the game.  The closure of the ramp will be from approximately 3 to 6 p.m.  During that time, motorists wishing to connect to the east with southbound I-5 from the Alaskan Way Viaduct will follow a signed detour to S Michigan Street.

The Seattle Department of Transportation advises commuters to make their plans accordingly and encourages everyone headed for SODO and Downtown to consider taking one of the many alternate modes of transportation available – the Sounder, Link Rail, Metro Transit, car pool, bicycle or walk, if feasible.