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Travel tips for July 18-30: construction, sports, and community events

by on July 18, 2024
View from near Fritz Hedges Waterway Park looking west towards the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge and University Bridge. Photo credit: SDOT

Blog stats: 2,000 words | 10-minute read

At-a-glance:

SDOT construction, street closures, and travel impacts

Please note: our construction projects take place throughout Seattle. To stay informed about projects near you, subscribe to our email updates. You can select from a list of projects and subscribe to the ones you’re most interested in. Thank you.

  • 15th Ave NW & Ballard Bridge Paving & Safety Project:
    • Overnight southbound closures of the Ballard Bridge after 10 PM on Mondays through Thursdays began on July 8, continuing for approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
    • Read our recent blog post for the full details or visit the project web page.
  • Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project:
    • Neighbors should expect to see construction and temporary lane reductions while crews work to improve bus zones, sidewalks, drainage, and future crossing improvements.
    • Work is taking place on Aurora Ave N (SR 99) around N 105th St/N Northgate Way, and in downtown Ballard at NW Market St and 22nd Ave NW as well as at NW Leary Way and 20th Ave NW.
    • While heavy civil work in Fremont – like utilities, pavement upgrades, and sidewalks – won’t begin until 2025, community members may continue to see crews doing some short-term prep work before major construction occurs. You can also expect to see some preliminary work along Westlake Ave N. There may be temporary traffic impacts during this construction.To learn more, visit the project web page.

Regional transportation agency work

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

WSDOT is continuing work on several projects affecting travel on I-5 and SR 520. Below is a summary of the closures with the largest travel impacts. Visit the WSDOT website for the latest information and resources to stay informed. Please note: this work is weather-dependent.

I-5 area work:

  • Major Overnight Closure: Southbound I-5 through downtown Seattle | From 11 PM Friday, July 19 (lanes closures start at 9 PM, all lanes closed by 11 PM) through 6 AM Saturday, July 20, all lanes of southbound I-5 will be closed through downtown Seattle from Stewart St and Spring St for maintenance and fire systems testing under the Seattle Convention Center.
    • The I-5 express lanes in downtown Seattle will stay open overnight for southbound traffic through downtown Seattle (see map of I-5 express lane entrances and exits here).
    • Southbound drivers on I-5 will need to exit at Stewart St.
    • The Mercer St and Yale Ave/Howell St on-ramps, and the Union and James St off-ramps will be closed, at 10 PM.
  • Northbound I-5 collector/distributor lanes | Closed nightly from Monday, July 22 through Thursday, July 25, from 11 PM to 4 AM for lighting wire repairs.
    • This closure also includes the westbound and eastbound I-90 off-ramps to northbound I-5, the northbound I-5 off-ramps to Dearborn, James, and Madison streets, and the Dearborn St on-ramp to northbound I-5 (closing at 9 PM each night).
    • Northbound I-5 will remain open during this work.
  • Northbound I-5 in downtown Seattle | From 11 PM Thursday, July 25, through 5 AM Friday, July 26, northbound I-5 lanes in downtown Seattle will close and drivers will shift into the collector/distributor lanes for scheduled maintenance and fire systems testing under the Seattle Convention Center.
    • The I-5 express lanes will remain open in the northbound direction overnight.
    • The northbound I-5 off-ramps to Edgar Martinez Dr and Seneca St, and the University St on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed.
    • Then, from 11 PM Friday, July 26 to 6 AM Saturday, July 27, the two right lanes of northbound I-5 near the Seattle Convention Center, as well as the Cherry St on-ramp to northbound I-5, will be closed.
  • S Boeing Access Rd on- and off-ramps to/from northbound I-5 | Closed nightly from Monday, July 15 through Wednesday morning, July 17 for the pavement work and other activities.
  • Northbound I-5 at mid-Boeing Field | Up to three lanes will be closed at a time from 10 PM Friday, July 19 through 4 AM Monday, July 22, for expansion joint work. 
  • Northbound I-5 between Olive Way and Lakeview Dr | Two lanes will be closed from 9 PM Thursday, July 25 to 5 AM Friday, July 26, including the University St northbound I-5 on-ramp. Crews will be completing wiring work near the freeway. This is part of the I-5 – NB Seneca to SR 520 – Mobility Improvements project.
  • Mercer St on-ramps to northbound I-5 | Closed from 10 PM Thursday, July 25 to 5 AM Friday, July 26 for work part of the SR 520/I-5 Express Lanes Connection Project.
  • Bailey Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 | Closed from 9 PM Thursday, July 25 to 4:30 AM Friday, July 26 for maintenance work and pavement repairs in the area.
  • I-5 between Corson Ave and SR 599/Interurban Ave interchange | Lane reductions on both directions of I-5 in this area between just north of the Corson Ave interchange and the SR 599/Interurban Ave interchange. Travelers in both directions of I-5 should expect multiple lanes and ramps to be closed during overnight hours from Sunday nights through Friday mornings for the next few weeks. This is part of the I-5 Duwamish River to South Lucile Street Concrete Rehabilitation Project.

SR 520 / Montlake Blvd area work:

  • Montlake Blvd near SR 520 | Montlake Blvd will close in both directions between E Louisa St and E Hamlin St from 10 PM Friday, July 19 until 5 AM on Monday, July 22. Additionally, Lake Washington Blvd is closed at Montlake Blvd and E Foster Island Rd. All Montlake Blvd ramps and Lake Washington Blvd ramps to and from SR 520 will be closed. There will be a signed detour for pedestrians and bicyclists through the work area. Crews will be working to install permanent pavement and utilities as part of the SR 520 Montlake Project.
  • Eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Blvd | Closed from 9 PM Tuesday, July 23 to 5 AM Wednesday, July 24 for maintenance work and pavement repairs in the area.
  • SR 520 | Closed from 11 PM Friday, July 26 through 5 AM Monday, July 29, in both directions between I-5 in Seattle and 92nd Ave NE in Clyde Hill for crews to install permanent pavement, utilities, and sign bridge components. This is part SR 520 Montlake Project construction.

Major league sports home games

Seattle Mariners

Upcoming games at T-Mobile Park

  • Friday, July 19 at 7:10 PM: Houston Astros
  • Saturday, July 20 at 6:40 PM: Houston Astros
  • Sunday, July 21 at 1:10 PM: Houston Astros
  • Monday, July 22 at 6:40 PM: Los Angeles Angels
  • Tuesday, July 23 at 6:40 PM: Los Angeles Angels

To learn more:

If you’re riding the Link light rail, get off at the Stadium Station and walk a short two blocks over to the ballpark. If taking rideshare, there is a designated rideshare lot southeast of the stadium. If driving, the Mariners Garage opens 3 hours before first pitch. Biking, scooting, walking, or rolling to the game may also be great options, depending on your trip specifics. Find more information on navigating to T-Mobile Park here.

Seattle Storm

No Upcoming games at Climate Pledge Arena in this blog post’s timeframe.

Seattle Sounders FC

Upcoming games at Lumen Field

  • Saturday, July 20 at 7:30 PM: Los Angeles FC
  • Friday, July 26 at 7:00 PM: Minnesota United FC

To learn more:

Seattle Reign FC

Upcoming games at Lumen Field

  • Friday, July 19 at 6:00 PM: Utah Royals FC
  • Sunday, July 28 at 3:00 PM: Club Tijuana

To learn more:

If you’re riding the Link light rail, get off at the International District/Chinatown station and walk a short three blocks over to the field. If taking rideshare, get off on the north side by S King St & Occidental Ave S or on the south side by S Royal Brougham Way & Occidental Ave S. If driving, the Lumen Field Parking Garage is located south of the stadium and a North Lot is also nearby. Both open at 6 AM on event days and close 2 hours post-event. Biking, scooting, walking, or rolling to the game may also be great options, depending on your trip specifics. Find more information on navigating to Lumen Field here.

Community Celebrations

July 19-21: Capitol Hill Block Party

Arial view of a crowd of people between two blocks in Capitol Hill. A stage covered in red lights sits at the top of the street. The sky is in a orange-yellow sunset hue.
Crowd of attendees at a previous Capitol Hill Block Party. Photo credit: Alex Garland from Capitol Hill Seattle

Enjoy three days of delicious food, festival games, and over 60 touring and local artists in the heart of the city. You can find more information about the event here.

The Capitol Hill Block Party can be reached by Sound Transit light rail (the Capitol Hill station is closest) or King County Metro bus. Or, depending on your trip, walking, biking, or rolling might be great ways for you to get to the festival.

July 26: Pier Party – Pier 62 at Waterfront Park

Arial view of the pier with a ferris wheel in the background. The pier has a crowd of people in generally colorful clothing and white tents set up along the edge of the pier close to the water. Light blue skies and some whtie clouds enter through the right. A building is in the distance on the left side of the image
A previous summer celebration along the Seattle waterfront on a sunny day. Photo credit: Friends of Waterfront Park

This 21+ event invites guests to interact with interactive art and retro-futuristic art installations created by students from the Gage Academy of Art. Admission also includes dinner, dessert, drink, music, and live entertainment. Find more information about the Pier Party here.

The Pier Party can be reached by King County Metro bus or Sound Transit light rail (the University Street Station is closest). You can also find a handful of nearby parking garages. Or, depending on your trip, walking, biking, or rolling might be great ways for you to get to the pier.

July 27: Alaska Airlines Torchlight Parade – Downtown Seattle along 4th Ave

Parade of individuals in light blue tops walking down the road holding an inflatable Alaska Airline Airplane floaty. People watching the parade from the sidewalks take a picture of the parade with their phones.
People walk an Alaska Airlines floating plane down 4th Ave in a previous parade. Photo credit: Dongmin Son from Seafair

From dragon dancers to marching bands and prancing horses, immerse in the cultural diversity and traditions of the Pacific Northwest at the annual Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade. Find more information about the event here.

Downtown can be reached by King County Metro bus or by taking the Seattle Center Monorail from Westlake or Sound Transit Light rail (the Westlake station is closest). You can find a map to navigate the parade here.

More community events

We hope you found this post helpful in navigating Seattle during upcoming construction and community events. Stay tuned for more updates and tips like this throughout the summer. Thank you!

Filed Under: Community Involvement, SDOT, Traffic and Construction, Travel Advisory Tagged With: , , , ,