Motorists should Plan Ahead to Avoid Delays
Ready for a fun weekend? A wide array of activities lies ahead over the weekend coming up – Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 12. Ever think about rappelling down the side of a skyscraper? Well, now’s your chance to rappel 40 stories, or 490 feet, and raise the funds for a year of sports for two Special Olympics athletes. If you’re afraid of heights, you can join in on the Phinneywood SummerStreets and Artwalk Party on Friday night, or on Saturday head to a Seattle Police Precinct picnic to “talk shop with Cops.” If you’re a history buff, you can learn about Belltown at the FoundersDay celebration, or discover the history and stories behind old Japantown at the Nihonmachi Nite celebration. Foodies won’t want to miss out on the 12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival that features favorites from the community restaurants. If you consider yourself a gourmet griller, you can compete in a burger grilling contest and help “raise money for a good cause” at the South Lake Union Block Party. Saturday night you can cheer on the Seahawks in their pre-season game against the Tennessee Titans. On Sunday you can join The Flower March to honor U.S. Catholic Sisters.
Drivers are reminded to plan ahead as not only will there be traffic congestion associated with the weekend activities mentioned above, but in addition, the SR520 floating bridge will be closed from Friday night until Monday morning and the southbound I-5 ramp to 85th Street will be closed for 17 days starting at 11 p.m. Friday night. The Mercer Street Corridor project will close Fairview Avenue N between Mercer and Republican streets from 7:30 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.
The Seattle Department of Transportation suggests motorists cut their stress and give their cars a rest by heading to the weekend activities via 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:
Friday, August 10
Special Olympics Washington Over the Edge (Practice): 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m.
1000 2nd Avenue
Preparation day – no activities planned
Left lane closed from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Second Avenue between spring and Madison streets
There may be minor congestion on Second Avenue during the lane closures.
Vietnamese Martyr’s Parish Summer Festival: 4 – 10 p.m.
Baily Gatzert School playground (1302 E Yesler Way)
530 attending
No street closures; however, expect congestion on surrounding streets.
South Lake Union Block Party: 12 Noon to 11 p.m.
Private lot bounded by Ninth Avenue, John Street, Westlake Avenue, and Denny Way
3,125 attending
Street closed from 6 a.m. Thursday, August 9 to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 11: John Street between Ninth Avenue N and Westlake Avenue N.
PhinneyWood Summer Streets and Artwalk Party: 6 –10 p.m.
Phinney/Greenwood Avenue from N 65th – N 87th streets
4,000
Streets closed from 6 – 10 p.m.: Phinney Avenue N/Greenwood Avenue N between N 65th and N 87th streets (N 65th, N 80th, and N 85th streets will remain open).
Saturday, August 11
Vietnamese Martyr’s Parish Summer Festival: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Baily Gatzert School playground (1302 E Yesler Way);
225 expected
No street closures; expect congestion on surrounding streets
Nihonmachi Nite: 4 – 9 p.m.
S Main Street between Sixth Avenue S and Maynard Avenue S;
230 expected
Streets closed from 1 – 11 p.m.: S Main Street between Sixth Avenue S and Main Avenue S
Seattle Founders Day Festival: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Belltown
2,000 expected
Streets closed from 7 a.m. Saturday – 11:59 p.m. Sunday: Second Avenue between Battery and Blanchard streets, and Bell Street between First and Second avenues
Plan for congestion in the area.
Seattle Police West Precinct Community Picnic: 1 – 4 p.m.
Virginia Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues;
320 expected
The street closed 11a.m. – 5 p.m. (except for Metro buses)
Plan for possible congestion in the area.
Seattle Police East Precinct Community Picnic: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
12th Avenue between E Pike and E Pine streets
1,000 attending
Street closed 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.: 12th Avenue between E Pike and E Pine streets
Special Olympics Washington Over the Edge: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m.
1000 Second Avenue
600 attending
Two left hand lanes of traffic will be closed on Second Avenue between Spring and Madison streets from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Expect congestion and slow traffic on Second Avenue during the lane closures.
Seattle Seahawks vs Tennessee Titans Pre-season Game: 7 – 10 p.m.
CenturyLink Field
50,000 attending
Expect considerably heavier traffic in the surrounding area before and after the match.
Sunday, August 12
Special Olympics Washington Over the Edge: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m.
1000 Second Avenue
600 attending
Two left hand lanes of traffic will be closed on Second Avenue between Spring and Madison streets from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Expect congestion and slow traffic on Second Avenue during the lane closures.
Vietnamese Martyr’s Parish Summer Festival: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Baily Gatzert School playground (1302 E Yesler Way)
225 expected
No street closures; however, expect congestion on surrounding streets
Seattle Founders Day Festival: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Belltown
2,500 attending
Streets closed from 7 a.m. Saturday – 11:59 p.m. Sunday: Second Avenue between Battery and Blanchard streets, and Bell Street between First and Second avenues
Expect congestion throughout the area.
12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
12th Avenue between E Pike and E Madison streets
3,000 expected
Streets closed from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.: 12th Avenue from E Pike to E Madison streets
Traffic will likely be congested on adjacent streets.
I stand With the Sisters March: 12:30 p.m.
Assemble at Louisa Boren Park on 15th E and E Garfield Street
1,000 participants
March leaves Louisa Boren Park heading south on 15th to E Pike Street; turns right on Pike Street heading west to Broadway E; turns left on Broadway moving south to E Madison; turns right and goes west on Madison to Ninth Avenue; then left/south on Ninth to Marion Street to the Archdiocese of Seattle. There will be a rolling slowdown as participants move along the march route; Seattle Police will escort.
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Contact: Peg Nielsen, 206-684-8114
