UPDATE: President Obama’s three-hour Seattle visit is over

(Added: Photo by David Hutchinson, seen from Don Armeni)

3:06 PM: As of a few minutes ago, Air Force One had left Eugene and was headed this way, so, as expected, the president should arrive at Boeing Field by 4. He’ll be headed to downtown, and then back to Boeing Field 7-ish. Updates to come.

(Added: Photo courtesy Jonathan – AF1 approaching Boeing Field)

3:43 PM: Air Force One landed a few minutes ago. Northbound I-5 is closed from Albro northward, awaiting the motorcade.

3:56 PM: Regional media at Boeing Field say the motorcade’s heading for downtown. The onramps to I-5 close for this too, so if you’re heading for the eastbound bridge, you can expect to be stopped until President Obama has passed.

4:07 PM: The onramps have reopened, so traffic on NB I-5 should get back to normal again soon. Downtown, you’ll see these restrictions and these bus reroutes until the president’s visit is over. Metro also issued a general alert about “service delays for routes heading south from downtown Seattle.”

6:34 PM: Regional-media coverage indicates the president’s speech is over and he’ll be headed back to Boeing Field momentarily. This WSDOT tweet underscores that:

If you need to get to the east side of the West Seattle Bridge, particularly Southbound I-5, we’d advise waiting a bit.

6:49 PM: The freeway has reopened; the president is at Boeing Field.

7:02 PM: Wheels up for Air Force One, now headed for San Francisco. If you like the behind-the-scenes details, here’s the “daily guidance/press schedule” for today, information routinely published by several news sites.

16 Replies to "UPDATE: President Obama's three-hour Seattle visit is over"

  • Dnice October 9, 2015 (3:38 pm)

    Yep. We watched it come in for its landing a few minutes ago.

  • Alice October 9, 2015 (3:49 pm)

    SB I-5 very very slow through downtown. FBI bomb units are on northbound side checking homeless encampments.

  • Eddie October 9, 2015 (4:24 pm)

    The VIP’s sure know how to hammer the Puget Sound Region traffic – drop in at quitting time on a Friday afternoon.

    • WSB October 9, 2015 (4:37 pm)

      In fairness – this originally (when first mentioned back in mid-September) was supposed to be a lunch fundraiser. It was moved back so he could detour to Roseburg first.

  • Michelle October 9, 2015 (5:17 pm)

    What…he’s not traveling on the viaduct? Wouldn’t we want to show him our GORGEOUS Bertha hole?

  • JJ October 9, 2015 (5:24 pm)

    What a joke! Another brilliant idea, shut down traffic Friday during Rush hour. Thanks Patty

  • Bill October 9, 2015 (5:30 pm)

    In actual fairness – he could have made the Roseburg stop AFTER the lunch stop here — after all — Roseburg is on the way to San Fran – his next stop I do believe

  • rob October 9, 2015 (6:44 pm)

    you’re using logic and common sense there, doesn’t necessarily apply when you don’t have to care what it costs or who it inconveniences.

  • ohboy October 9, 2015 (7:13 pm)

    @rob> exactly.

  • some dude October 9, 2015 (7:28 pm)

    He should have just skyped it in.

  • JayDee October 9, 2015 (7:46 pm)

    Nice pix of Air Force One. At least it is a Boeing craft. I wonder if the “bar” upstairs is still a bar. If so, that would be so cool to be at that bar, bending an elbow with the POTUS.

  • Marty October 9, 2015 (8:45 pm)

    Sadly there is no bar upstairs, just more seats. Maybe we can fit one in to the 747-8 that they’re laying out now.

  • TheKing October 10, 2015 (1:57 am)

    JanS….is that 35th Ave SW

  • Bubbasaurus October 10, 2015 (11:35 am)

    They’re my people, I love them…

  • Greystreet October 10, 2015 (1:27 pm)

    Hahaha @TheKing I hear you, I sat in bumper to bumper traffic on 35th on Thursday evening…it was super cool

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