plan forward as Revive I-5 mission impacts routes

SEATTLE — Some 70,000 soccer followers will pack Lumen Field on Saturday for the Seahawks vs. 49ers playoff recreation, and sure 1000’s extra will head to observe events and sports activities bars unfold throughout SODO.

Driving to and from the sport may trigger some complications, because the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) continues its largest freeway preservation mission: Revive I-5.

The freeway is diminished to 2 northbound lanes to make room for a piece zone alongside the Ship Canal Bridge.

At the identical time, all specific lanes are working northbound 24 hours a day, making for heavy congestion southbound all through many drivers’ morning commutes.

Both of those info mixed depart transit and different public transportation trying like the best choice for game-day journey, in response to WSDOT.

“For Saturday’s game, the big thing is going to be plan ahead,” mentioned Tom Pearce, a WSDOT spokesperson. “You need to allow some extra time for travel because there’s always just a normal amount of heavy travel going to a game like this.”

Sound Transit estimates roughly 10,000 followers will use the sunshine rail and Sounder Trains on recreation day, and fortunately, additional service will assist assist this.

Fans can make the most of additional “Game Trains,” or Sounder Trains, to get to and from Lumen Field.

Sound Transit will provide two extra S Line Sounder Trains and one extra N Line Sounder Train.

WSDOT mentioned followers ought to plan to see essentially the most congestion after the 5 p.m. recreation.

“We do expect to see traffic simply because I-5 northbound is reduced to two lanes up at the Ship Canal Bridge,” Pearce defined.

For folks utilizing Sounder Trains as their chosen transportation methodology, S Line trains depart King Street Station 10 minutes and 45 minutes after the sport ends. N Line trains will solely depart 45 minutes after the sport.

If Seahawks or 49ers followers strictly need to drive to the sport, Pearce prompt drivers take into account touring south earlier than getting on I-5.

He mentioned drivers can depart Lumen Field and head south towards Spokane Street to then get on the freeway and into specific lanes.

“That may be a little dicey because a lot of people may consider that option,” Pearce admitted.

Some folks could also be questioning why WSDOT did not absolutely reopen the Ship Canal Bridge for the Seahawks’ first residence playoff recreation in years, like what’s deliberate for the FIFA World Cup later this 12 months. The reply: it isn’t doable, Pearce mentioned.

“It takes us an entire weekend to set up the work zone, we need to restripe lanes,” Pearce defined. “It’s not the kind of thing that we can just pick up, and then we’ll put it back later.”

However, if followers determine to commute to Lumen Field for Saturday’s recreation, parking would be the subsequent impediment folks run into. Spots closest to Lumen Field are anticipated to value round $100.

Lumen Field Parking Garage, and its roughly 3,100 parking areas, will solely be open to season move holders on Saturday.