Chokepoints: Here’s how to avoid weekend traffic nightmares
Feb 21, 2025, 4:30 AM | Updated: 5:49 am
There will be some planned projects that will impact traffic this weekend. (Image: Washington Department of Transportation)
(Image: Washington Department of Transportation)
STATE ROUTE 99 TUNNEL:
Both directions of Seattle’s State Route 99 (SR 99) Downtown Tunnel will close Friday overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., Saturday. Crews working with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will be conducting regular maintenance that includes testing fire suppression systems, cleaning drainage, and repairing lights.
This shuts down a major route through downtown Seattle sending drivers to Interstate 5 (I-5), the downtown corridor, and along the waterfront.
STATE ROUTE 520/MONTLAKE:
Beginning 11 p.m. on Friday, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close the Montlake Boulevard on-ramp to westbound State Route 520. WSDOT crews will be installing utilities along the ramp with work completed by 5 a.m., Monday. Drivers will still be able to exit at Montlake from westbound SR520. Eastbound SR520 will not have any closures.
On Saturday and Sunday, WSDOT crews will close the right lane across the Portage Bay Viaduct in both directions of SR520 while crews conduct impact piledriving on the new viaduct. The daytime closure last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
SOUND TRANSIT 1-LINE DISRUPTION:
Unlike past weekends, this weekend Sound Transit (ST) will disrupt service for one day only. Sunday February 23rd, service between Capitol Hill and SODO will shut down to allow ST crews to move forward on the connectivity of the 1-Line along Interstate 5, and the 2-Line on the eastside of Lake Washington.
Link Shuttle buses will provide transportation between the closed routes running every 10-15 minutes. The 1-Line will continue to operate normally between Capitol Hill and Lynnwood to the north and SODO to Angle Lake to the south.
Passengers are encouraged to seek alternative service options and plan ahead for additional travel time.
Affected Stops:
Capitol Hill
– To Angle Lake: Broadway & E Denny Ave
Westlake
– to Lynnwood: 3rd Ave & Pine St
– to Angle Lake: Pine St & 5th Ave
Symphony
– to Lynnwood: 3rd Ave & Union St
– to Angle Lake: 3rd Ave & Union St
Pioneer Square
– to Lynnwood: 3rd Ave & James St
– to Angle Lake: 3rd Ave & James St
Int’l Dist./Chinatown
– to Lynnwood: 4th Ave S & S Jackson St
– to Angle Lake: 5th Ave S & S Weller St
Stadium
– to Lynnwood: SODO Busway & S Royal Brougham Way
– to Angle Lake: 6th Ave S & S Royal Brougham Way
SODO
– to Lynnwood: SODO Busway & S Lander St
Sound Transit plans to rinse and repeat this disruption next weekend.
