Motorists Should Plan Ahead to Avoid Delays
Starting this morning and on through Sunday, August 2 – 4, Seattle motorists will likely encounter traffic delays associated with this weekend’s big annual Seafair events – the Blue Angels air show involving daring synchronized maneuvers and the hydroplane races on Lake Washington. Drivers should note that extra travel time across Lake Washington may be needed as the Blue Angels’ practice fly-overs require closures of the I-90/Lake Washington Floating Bridge for periods of time each day. In addition, Seafair will be celebrated in several communities including Magnolia, Lake City, and at Judkins Park. The fun-filled weekend will wrap up when 35,000 enthusiastic fans cheer on the Sounders against the Los Angeles Galaxy at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening.
The Seattle Department of Transportation urges drivers to help in the citywide effort to reduce pollution by leaving the car at home and trying one of the many alternate modes of transportation available – Metro Transit, the West Seattle Water Taxi, the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, car pool, bicycle or walk, if feasible. For more information about the weekend activities, please see the schedule below:
Thursday, August 2
Seafair Hydroplane Races and Air Show Practice: 10a.m. – Noon, and 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Air show practice
I-90 Floating Bridge will close to traffic twice: 9:45 a.m. to 12 Noon, and from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Friday, August 3
Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Judkins Park
500 attending
Expect congestion on surrounding streets.
Magnolia Summer Festival: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Magnolia Playfield –
2,500 attending
Streets closed from 4 p.m. Thursday, August 2 to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, August 4: W Smith from 32nd to 34thAvenue W and 33rd from Wheeler to Smith streets.
Seafair Hydroplane Races and Air Show Qualifying and Practice
On / above Lake Washington – hydroplane qualifying and air show practice
Streets closed from 6 a.m. Friday, August 3 to 9 a.m. Monday, August 6: Lake Washington Boulevard S between Mount Baker Beach and 49th Avenue S.
Blue Angels Air Show Practice will close I-90 to traffic from 12:45 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.
Saturday, August 4
Lake City Pioneer Days Festival: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
NE 125th Street between 26th Avenue NE and Lake City Way NE
5,000 attending
Streets closed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.: NE 125th between 26th and Lake City Way NE
Plan on congestion on streets adjacent those closed for the festival.
Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Judkins Park
3,000 attending
Expect congestion in the surrounding area
Magnolia Kids and Seafair Parade: Kids Parade – 10:30 a.m.; Seafair Parade –11 p.m.
Magnolia Village
4,500 attending
9 a.m.: staging on 34th Avenue W between W Raye Street and W Barrett Street
Parade route: starts at 34th and Raye; moves south on 34th to W McGraw Street; east on McGraw to 32nd Avenue W; north on 32nd to W Raye Street.
Magnolia Summer Festival: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Magnolia Playfield, on W. Smith St. between 32nd and 34th Avenue W, and on 33rd Avenue W between W Wheeler and W Smith Street
4,000 attending
Streets closed from 4 p.m. Thursday, August 2 to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 4: W Smith from 32nd to 34thAvenue W and 33rd from Wheeler to Smith.
Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival Parade: 1 p.m.
900 attending
Parade staging at 11 a.m. on 23rd Avenue between E Union Street and E Madison Street
Parade route: start at 23rd and Union; heads south on 23rd to S Norman Street; then west on Norman into Judkins Park.
Lake City Pioneer Days Grand Performance Parade: 6 p.m. – kids and 7 p.m. Grand Parade
Lake City Way NE
3,000 attending
Staging starting at 4 p.m. on Lake City Way NE between NE 137th and NE 135th Street, and side streets to the west.
Parade route: starts at Lake City Way NE and NE 135th Street; moves south on Lake City Way to NE 123rd Street; turns east on 123rd to 32nd Avenue NE.
Expect congestion on the surrounding streets.
Seafair Hydroplane Races and Air Show ( Qualifying and Practice):
Genessee Park, and on and above Lake Washington
Lake Washington Boulevard closed between Mount Baker Beach and 49th Avenue S from 6 a.m. on Friday, August 3 to 9 a.m. on Monday, August 6.
Closed: I-90 will close to traffic from 12:45p.m.to 2:40 p.m.
Sunday, August 5
Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Judkins Park
500 attending
Expect heavier traffic on streets adjacent to the park.
Seafair Hydroplane Races and Air Show:
Genessee Park and on/above Lake Washington
35,000 attending
Closed: Lake Washington Boulevard S between Mount Baker Beach and 49th Avenue S from 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3 to 9 a.m. Monday, August 6
Closed: I-90 to traffic 12:45 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.
Seattle Sounders vs. L.A. Galaxy: 6 – 8 p.m.
CenturyLink Field
35,000 attending
Expect heavier traffic in the area before and after the match.
NOTE: Details about Metro Transit Service reroutes and shuttle are on Metro Online, under the “Alerts Center” link at www.kingcounty.gov/metro. Use the online Trip Planner at www.kingcounty.gov/tripplanner, or call Metro’s Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000 for assistance. ###
contact: Peg Nielsen, 206.684.8114