What’s blocking up traffic this weekend—and how to ride transit to it (or around it)
Another weekend, another whole list of things that could disrupt getting around. Some of these events might be things you’re doing, too—for example, it’s Pride Weekend. But some other stuff is factoring in, too, like the closure of the lower West Seattle Bridge
Interested in not getting stuck behind the wheel? Our weekend traffic report is here for you.
We’ve combed through the alerts and advisories from both the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to deliver transit-friendly solutions for your weekend outings.
Some of this weekend’s advisories—and transit-oriented alternate routes to events—are listed below.
Road work and bus service changes: SR 99 and the lower West Seattle Bridge
Southbound State Route 99 is going to be closed all weekend as road crews work on a new concrete roadway in preparation for the tunnel:
Crews will close southbound SR 99 between the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge from 9 p.m. Friday, June 22 through 6 a.m. Sunday, June 24.
When the highway reopens, drivers will move to a new, short stretch of highway just south of the viaduct.
The Southwest Spokane Street Bridge—aka the lower West Seattle Bridge—had to close for emergency repairs last night, and will remain closed through next week, with a reopening date to be determined.
Unfortunately, that bridge is the main way out of West Seattle for cyclists and pedestrians. Here’s information from SDOT on getting around it—there’s both a shuttle bus and a detour depending on when you’re going and what you’re up to:
Van service for bike riders continues! Shuttle van pick up/drop-off is at the bridge approaches to and from Spokane Street Swing Bridge. The shuttle carries up to 15 people and will run during heavy commute hours: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cyclist shuttle use will be evaluated throughout the week. For those riding around the Duwamish:
From West Seattle: Detour signs are placed at the West Seattle Bridge Trail, to head south along West Marginal Way; crossing SW Michigan St onto 1st Ave S.
From SODO: Detour signs are placed along 1st Avenue S to continue south to SW Michigan Street.
“The shuttle is picking up people at each bridge approach and driving to the other approach for drop offs there and to pick up people going the opposite way,” an SDOT spokesperson clarified to Curbed Seattle. “Expect about 20 minutes between shuttle arrivals. We’re monitoring shuttle use to determine need, so the plan is evolving.”
Weekend events: Pride and more
First off: The biggest thing going on this weekend is Pride. Rather than embed that all here, we have a whole breakdown right over here.
Besides that, Jimmy Buffett is playing Key Arena on Saturday night at 8 p.m. Drink as many margaritas as you want, because Metro routes 1, 2, 8, 13, 32, and RapidRide D all go right there.
Note: We put immediate and new closures in this section, but not every single planned street closure appears here. Explore all 98 active SDOT projects, many of which involve street and lane closures, here. Here are Sound Transit rider alerts; here are King County Metro rider alerts.
Sports: Storm and Sounders
The Seattle Storm play the Indiana Fever at 7 p.m. on Friday. That’s Key Arena again—or Metro routes 1, 2, 8, 13, 32, and RapidRide D.
Seattle Sounders FC play Chicago at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Link Light Rail goes to the stadium (get off at, intuitively, the Stadium stop), as do the Seattle Streetcar and a ton of bus routes from Metro, Community Transit, and Sound Transit.
This article has been updated with more information about the Spokane St Bridge shuttle.