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1. beaglenut
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   I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning and would like to be at the airport by 9:10. I live on 41st fairly close to the bridge... Can anyone tell me how much time I should allot for getting there with our ongoing traffic nightmare? Thanks.

   Posted 10 months ago #         

2. WSB
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   You should take "the back way" (which is closer for those of us in the south end of WS, always). Go to Roxbury, go from there to Highway 509, take 509 to Burien and head east on that highway (516 I *think*) to Sea-Tac. MUCH easier than dealing with bridge to I-5.

   Posted 10 months ago #         

3. squareeyes
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   It depends on if you're intent on taking the bridge to I-5 or if you'd consider taking West Marginal Way to 509 to 518 (which is what I'd probably do but through Highland Park based on where I live). Don't know how traffic is under the bridge to get to W Marginal Way.
   If bridge to I-5 I think I'd allot 20 minutes just for the bridge alone as a worst-case scenario, then another - I don't know - 15-20 minutes on I-5 to get to the airport.
   Confused? Me too.

   Posted 10 months ago #         

4. MrsL
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   I agree with WSB and squareeyes. Take the 509/518 route to SEA. I once took a taxi to SEA for a morning flight (I live in High Point) and they took the WS Bridge and I got a bit nervous because of the traffic. It took a lot longer than I would have liked but I made my flight. Our GPS recommends I5 to SEA but we never go that route. The 509/518 route is faster since there's never any traffic (typ. takes us 20 minutes max).

   Posted 10 months ago #         

5. beaglenut
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   509/518 it is then! Thanks everyone!

   Posted 10 months ago #         

6. metrognome
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   I'd offer a little different path ... 35th south to Morgan, left on Morgan. Wind through High Point, etc., cross Delridge. At the T-intersection at the top of the hill, go right and then take an immediate left at the light (the old location for Zippy's is on that corner.) At the T-intersection with Highland Park Way, turn left. Just keep on that road which will become SR-99 / W Marginal Way S which connects with I-5. The merge lane becomes the off-ramp for the airport.

   I've not taken the route recommended by the others, but use this one all the time to get to I-5 southbound; it is easier than it sounds. It's all freeway once you get past the last stoplight where it connects to 599 (about the only chokepoint at that time of the morning with all the semis; stay in the far left lane to bypass as many as you can before the lane merges over.)

   To go home, take the W Marginal Way S / Interurban / Tukwila offramp and reverse the directions.

   Posted 10 months ago #         

7. redblack
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   [edit: sorry for so many edits. the OP is coming from around the junction. all of the alternate routes suggested have "reverse commute" going for them - i.e. against the grain of traffic flowing into downtown seattle - so the whole spokane street/viaduct things should be of no consequence. especially if it's before 7 a.m.]

   or, from roxbury, you can take 4th ave SW all the way to SW 146th, turn east around burien town square, and get right on 518.

   if 518 is backed up, you can exit 509 at - or take 1st ave S to - SW 160th, circumnavigate the third runway, and get on air cargo road, which will drop you onto the approach to the terminals near the cell phone waiting lot.

   then there's int'l blvd. sea-tac has an entrance there, too. that is, if the terror scare hasn't changed it all.

   there are about 1,000 ways to get to sea-tac from west seattle. and they're all better than I-5 to 518.

   personally, west marginal to 509 is my favorite. fast! (once you get through spokane/chelan.) and with the fewest stop lights. if i have to hire a car, i demand that they take that route.

   [edit: my last suggestion is the most direct route from north west seattle - except for delridge to ambaum blvd. but ambaum has a qu'zillion stop lights.]

   Posted 10 months ago #         

8. jmks
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   1000 ways?!

   Hey, redblack! You sound like the secret route person I was looking for back when I commuted to Renton mid-morning! Pray tell, do you have any secrets for those heading north? All I've got is 'take the bridge', and I can't say it's always pleasant!

   Posted 10 months ago #         

9. redblack
   Member Profile

   

   renton? few people know about/remember renton avenue. best back way into renton.

   northbound? how about a submarine? you gotta take one of three bridges to drive north out of west seattle (without going south first.)

   seriously, what part of north? if you're headed anywhere east of downtown within the city, forget the freeways. arterial speed limits are usually faster than freeway gridlock is moving during rush hour.

   and eventually they'll reopen alaskan way - until 2016, that is, when they drop the viaduct, start rebuilding the seawall, and cut that arterial again.

   and, you know, if you concentrate on doing a steady 25-28 mph, the lights on 4th ave are timed all the way through downtown until you get to belltown.

   Posted 10 months ago #         

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