Motorists should still expect possible traffic delays 

 Saturday, January 8, will be a big day for 67,000 Seattle Seahawks fans attending the team’s wild card playoff game against the defending Super Bowl Champion, the New Orleans Saints. Football enthusiasts are expected to start arriving at Qwest Field as early as 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning for the 1:30 p.m. game.

Both the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have major construction projects underway in the SODO area. SDOT is widening the Spokane Street Viaduct and WSDOT is replacing the southern mile of the SR 99 /Alaskan Way Viaduct between S King and S Holgate streets.  

To keep traffic moving, SDOT will re-open all lanes on Sixth Avenue S at S Spokane Street and also provide traffic control at the intersection of Fourth Avenue S and S Spokane Street. WSDOT is opening up a temporary crosswalk at First Avenue S and Railroad Way S and adding police officers to assist pedestrians. Motorists should, however, anticipate delays on First Avenue S between S King Street (on the north side of Qwest) and Royal Brougham Way (on the south side of Qwest) where the street is reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction to accommodate pile driving in the SR 99 construction zone.

Even with the combined efforts of SDOT and WSDOT to minimize congestion associated with the construction projects, motorists should plan for extra travel time in the SODO area, especially on First Avenue S.

SDOT encourages those attending the game to consider alternate modes of travel, including taking the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, Metro Transit, a car pool, or bicycling or walking, if feasible.

Motorists can check for current traffic conditions on the SDOT Traveler’s Map at: http://web5.seattle.gov/travelers/

Contact: Peg Nielsen, 206.684.8114