TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, nothing major happening in the outbound commute. Looking ahead:

SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Exact times haven’t been announced yet, but the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for a few hours Saturday in connection with the Seafair Pirate Run (6:30 pm); that precedes the Seafair Torchlight Parade, which brings surface-street closures through downtown until late evening, particularly the parade route itself on 4th Avenue from Seattle Center to the International District.

ALKI ART FAIR SATURDAY/SUNDAY: Watch for a preview here later today. No street closures, but the beach will be busy, and there is a transportation note – free shuttle bus; details on the festival website’s home page.

7:40 AM: The bridge is “almost at a standstill,” notes one bus rider; no incidents that we’re seeing/hearing about.

MercyMoi July 22, 2015 (8:05 am)

It was the Bus Lane enforcement cop. As satisfying as it is to see scofflaws pulled over there is a serious bottleneck where the officer is stationed. What a slow commute this morning up to that point! Spokane St Viaduct opened up right after.

Twaffic July 22, 2015 (8:18 am)

Must be Thursday.

Ex-Westwood Resident July 22, 2015 (8:32 am)

As an added note:
The lower bridge will be blocked for a time Saturday morning after 8 AM while the floats in the Torchlight Parade move from Terminal 5 to the staging area on Mercer by the Seattle Center and Saturday night after the parade is over.
Not 100% positive on the route, but judging from last year, my guess would be the route is going to be across the lower bridge to 4th Ave through Downtown along the route of the parade, all the way to Queen Anne then north to Mercer.
The floats don’t move very fast and will be escorted by SPD and, iirc, Seafair Marshalls.

WSB July 22, 2015 (8:53 am)

Thanks, EWR! Did not know T-5 was used for float storage. Has that been a longterm thing? Right about this time last year, IIRC without looking into our archives, its last container ship called …

Ex-Westwood Resident July 22, 2015 (10:51 am)

TR,
As far as I know this is the first time T-5 is being used. Previous years the floats were stored on the east side of the river at the old Rainier Cold Storage site.
Also some of the floats will be headed there tonight after the Greenwood parade, so expect a closure or delays tonight around 8 PM.
I know not all the floats for the Torchlight will head there tonight, but there will be some tonight with the rest coming in on Thursday and Friday.
Some are trailered in, some are driven all set-up, esp. after tonight’s parade. When they leave Saturday morning they will be pretty much set-up for the parade. They do it that way because of the lack of parking for the trailers and trucks that haul them and the decorations near the Center.
Not sure of the route, if they are going to go down Harbor Ave. or use the truck ramp to the lower bridge, but if people want to see the floats up close, Saturday morning would be a great opportunity see them.

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