Full slate of events may mean Seattle traffic headaches

SEATTLE – The  three-day “Bite of Seattle” is under way, with more than 40,000 people expected through Sunday for the food fest at Seattle Center.

Seafair Triathlon

In addition to the Bite, there are numerous Seafair events on Saturday and Sunday which are expected to be attended by crowds in the thousands.  Those events include the West Seattle Grand Parade, the two-day Japanese Bon Odori Festival and the evening Chinatown Parade.

Sports events on Saturday will include the Fat Water Open Water Swim in Lake Washington, the Float Dodger 5K in West Seattle, the Seattle Sounders match against the Colorado Rapid, and the Refuse to Abuse 5K around Safeco Field.

On Sunday  morning, the Seafair Triathlon takes place in and around Lake Washington while the 2013 Seafair Swedish SummerRun and Walk gets under way on First Hill.

The Seattle Department of Transportation recommends that motorists plan ahead for possible delays associated with all the activities taking place over the next three days.

Please see the following information for more details on the coming events:

Saturday, July 20

Fat Water Open Water Swim: 7:30 a.m.

Lake Washington between Day Street Boat Launch and Madison Park Beach

450 expected

Expect congestion in the vicinity of Madison Park beach.  http://www.fatsalmonswim.org/

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Seafair Triathlon Expo:  9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Ninth Avenue (between Seneca and University streets)

1,520 attending

Streets closed from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Ninth Avenue from Seneca Street - University Street

Expect congestion in the area.  http://www.seafair.com/AnEvent.aspx?ID=5&SecID=958

 

Float Dodger 5K: 9:45 a.m.

California Avenue SW and SW Charlestown Street – Starting point

500 participants

Race route: Starts at California Avenue SW and SW Charlestown Street; heads north on California to SW Admiral Way; makes a u-turn and then moves south to SW Edmunds Street; makes another u-turn and goes north on California SW to finish at SW Hanford Street (Run is on a portion of the West Seattle Grand Parade prior to the parade)   http://www.floatdodger5k.com/Race_Details.html

 

West Seattle Grand Parade: 11 a.m.

West Seattle Junction – California Avenue SW

3,000 attending

8 a.m. Staging on California Avenue SW between SW Admiral Way and SW Hanford Street

Parade route: starts at California Avenue SW and SW Hanford Street; moves south on California to SW Edmunds Street.

Expect congestion in the neighborhood.  http://www.thewestseattleparade.com/Home.html

Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapid:   1 – 2:30 p.m.

CenturyLink Field

34,000 attending

Expect congestion on surrounding streets.

 

Bon Odori Festival:   4 – 10 p.m.

Seattle Buddhist Temple (1427 S Main Street)

3,000

Streets closed 5 p.m. Friday j July 19 – 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 21:  S Main Street between 14th Avenue S and 16th Avenue S.

Expect congestion on streets surrounding the festival area. http://seattlebetsuin.org/index.php/2013/04/save-the-dates-july-20-21/

 

Refuse to Abuse 5k at Safeco Field:  7 p.m.

On sidewalks adjacent to Safeco Field

2,000 participants

Run route using sidewalks only: starts on Safeco Field garage plaza on Occidental Avenue  S; moves north on the service road to the east of the garage and stadium to S Royal Brougham Way; then goes west on Royal Brougham to First  Avenue S; south on First to Edgar Martinez Drive S; and finally east on Edgar into Safeco Field.  Run should not impact traffic, but may be a distraction.  http://refusetoabuse5k.org/event-details/

Sunday, July 21

Seafair Triathlon:  6:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Seward Park, Lake Washington and surrounding area

2,225 participants

Streets closed from 6 – 11 a.m.:  Lake Washington Boulevard S will be closed from Seward Park to I-90

I-90 Express Lanes closed from approximately 6:30 – 10 a.m.:  Between Lake Washington Boulevard S and Mercer Island.

Expect congestion on streets adjacent to triathlon activities. http://www.seafair.com/AnEvent.aspx?ID=5&SecID=958

2013 Swedish SummeRun and Walk:  8:15 a.m.

Starts at corner of Madison and Minor / First Hill neighborhood

3,500 participants

5K run and walk route:  Begins at Minor Avenue and Madison Street; moves  north on Minor to Seneca Street;  east on Seneca to Union Street; east on Union to 12th Avenue; north on 12th to Aloha Street; west on Aloha  to 11th Avenue; south on 11th to Howell Street;  east on Howell to 12th; south on 12th to Union Street; west on Union to Seneca Street; west on Seneca to Minor Avenue; south on Minor to finish at Marion Street.  http://www.summerun.org/#raceinfo

Chinatown Seafair Parade:   7 p.m.

Chinatown /International District

9,400 attending

Staging begins at 5 p.m.  on S. King Street between Eighth Avenue S and 12th Avenue S, and  on Tenth Avenue  S between S Jackson and S Weller Street.

Parade route: start s at S King Street and Eighth Avenue S; heads west on King to Fifth Avenue S; south on Fifth to S Weller Street; east on Weller to Eighth Avenue S; south on Eighth to S Lane Street.

Expect congestion throughout the neighborhood.   http://www.seattlechinesechamber.org/chinatown-seafair-parade

 

Bruno Mars Concert:  8-11 p.m.

Key Arena, Seattle Center

10,000 attending

Expect heavy traffic around the Center as the Bite of Seattle turn-out will be starting to leave at the same time as concert – goers are arriving.




Construction notes:

July 19 - 22: Northbound and southbound I-5 ramps to Corson Ave. S. closed from Noon on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.

July 20 - 21: Broadway closed between E. Pine Street and E. Denny Way from 6 a.m. on Saturday to 10 p.m. on Sunday.