Editor's Note: The following is a press release sent out by SDOT, chocked full of information on all the traffic craziness you might run into this weekend.
Several significant roadway closures will occur this weekend in Seattle. Drivers are advised to plan ahead and also consider special event traffic when selecting their routes.
I-5 On and Off-ramps at Mercer Street:
The I-5 on and off-ramps will be closed at Mercer Street from 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 24. The I-5 on-ramp at University Street will also be closed to provide more efficient traffic flow around the closed Mercer Street exit lane. Drivers are advised to consider alternate routes such as SR 99, or alternate I-5 exits and entrances. Detour routes may be heavily used, especially Denny Way. For more on detour routes, see SDOT’s Web site, http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_mercer.htm
Aurora and N 85th Street Intersection:
The intersection of Aurora Avenue N and N 85th Street will be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 to 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 24. One westbound lane on N 85th Street will remain open through the intersection. Lanes on Aurora will begin closing at 8 p.m. on Friday with all lanes closed by 10 p.m. Traffic will be detoured on Aurora from the north at N 105th Street and from the south at Green Lake Way North. The eastbound closure on N 85th Street between Aurora Avenue N and Wallingford Avenue N will remain in effect. The eastbound lanes on 85th between Greenwood and Aurora will also be closed with traffic detoured to N 80th Street from Greenwood to I-5. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_85th.htm
State Route 520 floating bridge:
The Washington State Department of Transportation is closing both directions of the SR 520 floating bridge from 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 24. SR 520 will be closed from Montlake Boulevard in Seattle to Interstate 405 in Bellevue. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/MedinaTo202
Coinciding with this closure, Lake Washington Boulevard East through the Arboretum will also be closed. (See below.)
Lake Washington Boulevard East in the Arboretum:
The third and final full closure of Lake Washington Boulevard East through the Washington Park Arboretum will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22 and 23, from 6 a.m. to no later than 5 p.m. each day. The closure will extend from Foster Island Road on the north to East Madison Street on the south. After 10 a.m. the Arboretum entrance will be accessible from the north, and the Seattle Japanese Garden will be accessible from the south. Crews are installing new streetlights and performing other tasks along the roadway. http://onthemove.seattle.gov/2012/09/19/work-on-lake-washington-blvd-in…
Pike Street at Broadway:
Traffic on Pike Street will be detoured at Broadway from 5 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 and until 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 24 to facilitate construction of the First Hill Streetcar. Traffic will be maintained on Broadway but no left turns will be allowed at Pike Street. East and west traffic on Pike will be required to turn right at Broadway.
Sounders Schedule at Century Link Field:
Saturday, Sept. 22nd, vs. San Jose Earthquakes; 7:30 p.m.
Mariners Games at Safeco Field:
Friday, Sept. 21, vs. Texas Rangers; 7:10 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 22, vs. Texas Rangers; 6:10 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. Texas Rangers; 1:10 p.m.
October Fest in Fremont:
Thursday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 23
This Fremont Neighborhood event will close streets from Thursday, Sept. 20 to Sunday, Sept. 23. The fest will be located on N Canal Street and on N 35th Street between Phinney Avenue N and 1st Avenue NW. The streets will be closed from 6 a.m. on Thursday through 11 p.m. on Sunday. http://www.fremontoktoberfest.com/
Seattle AIDS Walk and 5K Run on Capitol Hill:
The walk and run on Saturday, Sept. 22 will start and finish in Volunteer Park starting at 10 a.m. with a route on Capitol Hill streets. http://www.seattleaidswalk.org/