Traffic

I-90 closures for Blue Angels

The Blue Angels make their entrance for this year's Seafair celebration, arriving at Boeing Field.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will close all lanes of Interstate 90 across Lake Washington several times from Thurs., Aug. 2 -Sun., Aug. 5, to accommodate air show practices and performances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels for this year’s Seafair festivities.

The closure times are listed below.  They include all mainline I-90 lanes between Interstate 5 in Seattle and Island Crest Way on Mercer Island, and the entire length of the I-90 Express Lanes.  Also, the bridge will be closed to all pedestrians and bicyclists up to 30 minutes prior to posted closure times.

WSDOT reminds pedestrians that the on-ramps from East Mercer Way and West Mercer Way are currently construction zones. Pedestrians accessing viewing areas from these locations should use extreme caution and not enter areas protected by barricades or traffic barrels.

The exits from westbound I-90 to Island Crest Way and East Mercer Way on Mercer Island will remain open, although drivers should note that heavy congestion during these closures restricts access to the exits.

The listed times are for mainline I-90 closures.  Drivers are reminded that the I-90 Express Lanes will close at 9 a.m. on Thurs. On Fri., Sat. and Sun. the express lanes will close at 10:45 a.m.. On all four days the lanes will reopen by 3:30 p.m.  The following ramps can be expected to close 30 minutes prior to posted closures depending on congestion: East Mercer Way to West I-90, 76th Ave. SE to West I-90, West Mercer Way to West I-90, East I-90 to West Mercer Way, I-5 north and southbound to eastbound I-90, the Rainier Avenue ramps to eastbound I-90, Island Crest Way to westbound I-90.

Thurs., Aug. 2

(Two separate bridge closures, during which pilots will practice maneuvers and become familiar with area geography)

First Closure:  9:45 a.m.-12 p.m., Second Closure:  1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Fri., Aug. 3- 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. (practice show)

Sat., Aug. 4- 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. (full show)

Sun., Aug. 5- 12:45 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. (full show)

Drivers who want to ensure they can cross the lake using I-90 should drive across Lake Washington at least one hour before the announced closure times.  No stopping or parking is allowed on the floating bridges.

KIRO

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