Drivers should adjust for the start of boating season and continuing work on I-90.
Opening Day of boating season will bring extra congestion to Seattle arterials Saturday, while retrofits on Interstate 90 force drivers crossing Lake Washington to detour.
Eastbound I-90 traffic will be diverted into the express lanes near Rainier Avenue, from 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday. That could cause delays and potential overflows onto both directions of Interstate 5 at Sodo. Previously, traffic has increased on the Highway 520 toll bridge during these I-90 delays.
The I-90 mainline eastbound is being blocked so workers can continue to retrofit lighting, fire-suppression and other safety systems, in preparation for future light-rail construction. This is one of about 30 weekend partial shutdowns, during 2015 and 2016.
Boating season means crew races on the Montlake Cut, as well as a closure of the Montlake Bridge to vehicle traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, says the Seattle Department of Transporation (SDOT).
Chances are, there will be many drawspan openings to let tall yachts through, all weekend. The races are expected to attract 4,500 spectators. Bicycling is a good option for people wanting to see the Huskies compete with powerhouse New Zealand in the Windermere Cup Crew Races.
Speaking of bikes, the SDOT says its long-awaited Mercer Street green bike lane will open Friday morning, to allow safe east-west passage beneath Aurora Avenue North.