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 32^nd to 34^thAvenue W and 33^rd 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 49^th 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 125^th Street between 26^th Avenue NE and Lake City Way NE
5,000 attending
Streets closed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.:  NE 125^th between 26^th 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 34^th Avenue W between W Raye Street and W Barrett Street
Parade route: starts at 34^th and Raye; moves south on 34^th to W McGraw Street; east on McGraw to 32^nd Avenue W; north on 32^nd to W Raye Street. 

Magnolia Summer Festival: 11:00 a.m. –  10:00 p.m.
Magnolia Playfield, on W. Smith St. between 32^nd and 34^th Avenue W, and on 33^rd 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 32^nd to 34^thAvenue W and 33^rd from Wheeler to Smith. 

Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival Parade:  1 p.m.
900 attending
Parade staging at 11 a.m. on 23^rd Avenue between E Union Street and E Madison Street
Parade route: start at 23^rd and Union; heads south on 23^rd 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 137^th and NE 135^th Street, and side streets to the west.
Parade route:  starts at Lake City Way NE and NE 135^th Street; moves south on Lake City Way to NE 123^rd Street; turns east on 123^rd to 32^nd 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 49^th 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 49^th 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