Weekend Gridlock Alert: Seattle and Pierce County Brace for Major Traffic Disruptions
SEATTLE – Drivers across King and Pierce counties are urged to brace for significant traffic delays this weekend as a confluence of extensive construction projects and major events is set to create widespread congestion, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Several ongoing construction initiatives are expected to cause considerable gridlock. The Revive I-5 project continues to impact Seattle, wiht lane restrictions in place. Compounding this,the Ship Canal Bridge will remain reduced to two lanes of northbound traffic around the clock until August 15th.
Further south, southbound State Route 167 in kent will be completely closed all weekend, from State Route 516/Willis Street to South 277th Street, reopening at 5 a.m. Monday. This closure is necessary for crews to update toll systems.In Auburn, eastbound State Route 18 is already experiencing a closure between the C Street off-ramp and Auburn Way due to bridge work. Meanwhile, in pierce County, northbound I-5 near DuPont will be subject to overnight closures as crews work on removing structures used in the construction of the new overpass at Steilacoom-DuPont Road.
Adding to the anticipated traffic woes are several high-profile events. Back-to-back concerts by Morgan Wallen at Lumen Field, the popular food festival A Bite of Seattle, and the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade are all scheduled to draw large crowds.
WSDOT is strongly advising motorists to seek alternate routes or utilize public transportation to mitigate the impact of these disruptions.The Seafair Torchlight Run and Parade will traverse the Seattle waterfront on Saturday. Notably, this marks the first time since 2022 that both events will be held at night. The 5K run is slated to commence at 6 p.m.,followed by the Torchlight Parade at 7:30 p.m., proceeding along Alaskan Way from Pier 70 to Yesler Way.
in an effort to assist commuters navigating the complex traffic landscape in Seattle,a nonprofit institution has launched a dedicated hotline. The Commute Seattle call center, operating from a downtown Seattle office, aims to connect individuals with essential tools for commute planning. These resources include popular navigation apps like Google Maps,the One Bus away app for real-time transit data,and the Transit Go ticket app.
For more detailed information on specific closures and recommended detours, commuters can find additional resources online.