UPDATE, Sunday, 10 a.m.: Paving on the University Bridge has been completed early. The bridge is now open. 

ORIGINAL POST: The University Bridge will be closed to vehicles this weekend for a repaving project.

The bridge will be closed both days from 4 a.m. to midnight. Pedestrians and bicycles will still be able to cross and the bridge will still open for boat traffic, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation.

SDOT crews will be repaving 400 feet of the roadway north of the drawspan. Crews will also be doing spot repairs on the sidewalks, inspecting the concrete portion of the bridge deck and doing minor maintenance on the section south of the drawspan.

Signs and police officers will indicate detour routes during the closures. Metro will be rerouting buses that use Eastlake Avenue. See their website for more information.

Eastlake residents may find two events that will have an impact on traffic this weekend:

520 bridge closed: The 520 floating bridge will close at 11 p.m. tonight (Friday, July 13) and will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, July 16, at the latest. This latest closure will allow work on the Eastside that is part of the project to replace the bridge. More information on the closure, as well as maps of alternate routes, are on the Washington State Department of Transportation's website.

STP riders: If you're up early on Saturday morning you might catch sight of 10,000 participants in the annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic as they ride through the north end of the neighborhood starting at little after 5 a.m. Riders will cross the University Bridge, then head down Fuhrman Avenue E. on their way out of town. More information is at the Cascade Bicycle Club's website.

See Jane Run Half Marathon: A women's half marathon runs through Eastlake on Sunday morning following the route of the Cheshiahud Loop down Fairview Ave.... (more)

Notes from around Eastlake:

I-5 ramp closures cancelled: The I-5 on- and off-ramps at Mercer Street had been scheduled for closure this weekend (Oct. 15-16), but that has been cancelled due to high-traffic events in the area and a forecast of rain. 

Husky football on Saturday: The Huskies will be playing Colorado at Husky Stadium starting at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 15). The usual closures and congestion will apply.

520 bridge closure: After the Huskies are done playing football, the state Department of Transportation will close the 520 bridge in both directions between Montlake and 405 in Bellevue. The closure begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, and ends by 5 a.m. on Monday morning. SR 520 will remain open between I-5 and Montlake. The bridge will be closed to allow for installation of 24 concrete beams on a new overpass in Medina that is part of the project to replace the 520 bridge.

Little Water Cantina begins lunch: Little Water Cantina, 2865 Eastlake Ave. E., has begun serving lunch from 11... (more)

SUNDAY UPDATE: The state DOT reports the I-5 ramps at Mercer reopened Sunday evening at 7.

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Original post: Two traffic situations to take note of this weekend if you live in Eastlake:

Husky Football on Saturday: The Huskies will be playing Hawaii at Husky Stadium starting at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Expect traffic in Montlake and around the stadium to be snarled from late morning to late afternoon. Metro advises that bus routes 44, 65, 68, 75 and 271 will be rerouted around the stadium starting at 10 a.m. until traffic clears up after the game. You can get more information on the Metro routes at the bus alert page.

I-5 ramps closed at Mercer: The I-5 on-ramps at Mercer Street are closed until 5 a.m. Monday as work continues on the Mercer Corridor Project. Fairview is closed between Mercer and Valley streets and Mercer is closed between Westlake and Fairview. Metro bus routes that normally go down Fairview will be rerouted onto Eastlake Avenue. Get more information on the closure and detour routes at the... (more)

SUNDAY UPDATE: The University Bridge has reopened to vehicular traffic.

Original Post: Two events will impact traffic in and through Eastlake this weekend:

University Bridge closed: The bridge will be closed to vehicles from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, while paving crews resurface the south approach to the bridge. Access to the bridge will remain open for pedestrians and bicyclists. If more extensive repairs are needed, the bridge may remain closed until Sunday.

During the closure, Metro routes 66, 71, 72 and 73 will be rerouted via Montlake and NE Pacific Street.

Lake Union 10K: This race begins at Westlake and North Aloha Street at 7:30 a.m. Sunday and proceeds clockwise around the lake. Runners will follow the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Trail on sidewalks, bike trails and streets. The race ends where it began. No streets will be closed for the race. Go to the race's website for more information.

Eastlake residents needing to get downtown this weekend should be aware that the I-5 ramps at Mercer will close at 11 p.m. Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday. The closure is part of the ongoing work on the Mercer Corridor project.

Fairview Avenue N. will be closed as well between Mercer and Valley streets. Mercer will be closed to traffic between Westlake and Fairview Avenue N. 

Metro bus routes 70, 71, 72, 73 and 83 will be rerouted off of Fairview during the closure and onto Eastlake Avenue.

More information on the project, as well as detour maps, can be found on the Seattle Department of Transportation's website.

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: The I-5 ramps at Mercer and 520 bridge have both reopened to traffic. The next ramp closures will be July 22-25 and 520 will be closed again on Aug. 26-29.
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Two weekend road closures are having an impact on Eastlake this weekend. The closures are expected to cause more than the usual congestion on I-5 and I-90 at midday on Saturday and Sunday:

I-5 Mercer Street ramps: The Ramps getting on to I-5 at Mercer are closed again as work continues on the project to untangle the Mercer Mess. The ramps will be closed until 5 a.m. Monday.

During the closure, Mercer is shut to traffic from Westlake to Fairview and Fairview is closed between Mercer and Valley. The I-5 on-ramp at University is also closed to improve traffic flow during the closure. Detour routes will be marked and police will be directing traffic at some intersections.

If you're riding Metro to or from downtown, be aware that all routes are moved off of Fairview and on to Eastlake during the closure. 

For more... (more)

MONDAY UPDATE: The WSDOT reports that the I-5 ramps at Mercer reopened at 5 a.m. Monday as planned.
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ORIGINAL POST: Eastlake residents may find their path getting into and out of the neighborhood complicated by several events this weekend:

I-5 ramp closures at Mercer: The latest round of I-5 ramp closures at Mercer will run from Friday (June 17) at 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday morning (June 20). The closures are part of the ongoing work on the Mercer Corridor Project.

If you're trying to get from Eastlake to downtown during the closure, you need to know that Fairview Avenue N. will be closed between Mercer and Valley streets. Mercer will be closed from Westlake to Fairview. You can find maps of detour routes at the Seattle Department of Transportation's website. There will be signage marking alternate routes and police officers directing traffic at key intersections.

While the ramps are closed, Metro will reroute buses off Fairview and onto Eastlake through the Cascade neighborhood. The Metro reroutes... (more)

UPDATE at 10:15 p.m.: The SDOT reports that the Mercer Street I-5 ramps reopened just before 10 p.m. Saturday. The Seattle Times has more here.

ORIGINAL POST:

The Seattle Department of Transportation says in an email that the Mercer I-5 on- and off-ramps will reopen on Sunday at 5 a.m. instead of Monday morning as originally planned. The northbound I-5 on-ramp at University Street and Fairview Avenue N. will also reopen then.

Crews finished saw-cutting of pavement at Fairview and Mercer early for future utility installations, the email says, "as well as surveying the ramps in preparation for re-alignment with future westbound lanes of Mercer Street."

There are numerous police on duty in South Lake Union this evening, directing traffic around the closed ramps. Traffic was heavier than usual on cross streets in South Lake Union earlier today. Things seem to be moving fairly well despite the closures.

Here's a quick video showing what the Mercer on-ramps look like this while they are closed for construction. They are empty, empty, empty. The ramps will reopen at 1 a.m. Monday morning.

The Seattle Department of Transportation says the University Bridge will have lanes closed on Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 19 and 20) for maintenance work:

• Wednesday, the right-hand northbound lane will be closed. Bike path also closed in the same direction.
• Thursday, the right-hand southbound lane will be closed. Bike path also closed in the same direction.
• If work isn't finished on one of the sides, the unfinished side will close on Jan. 21.

Seattle Department of Transportation crews will be installing curb ramps at Eastlake and Furhman on Saturday. SDOT says they'll be closing the southbound, right-hand lane from 9 a.m. until no later than 5 p.m.

It's a busy weekend in Eastlake. Here are a few items to take note of:

• 10th Avenue East construction closure: 10th Avenue East on Capitol Hill is closed again this weekend for the on-going repaving project. Seattle Department of Transportation hopes to have it reopened by Sunday evening. Broadway traffic is being detoured down Roy, Belmont and Lakeview to Boylston and Roanoke, so you may see increased congestion in that area.
• Eastlake Zoo Chili Cook-Off: The Zoo's 33rd Annual Chili Cook-off starts at 5 p.m. It costs $15 to enter (you'll need to bring at least a gallon of chili) and $8 to taste and judge. Bring a hot plate to keep your chili warm. Vegetarian chili is welcome. Check-in is between 4 and 5:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Northwest Harvest. Check the Zoo's website for more rules. Check out our coverage from last year to see photos and winners of the 2009 event. We'll have coverage and winners on the blog later this evening.
• Metro makes Route 70 change: All buses on Route 70, which runs through Eastlake,...

Here are three traffic-related items that will affect Eastlake on Friday and Saturday:

• SDOT reports that the southbound, curb lane of the University Bridge will be closed on Friday (Sept. 10) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Repair crews will be fixing an expansion joint. The sidewalk and bike lane will remain open.
• Also on Friday, the NE 45th Street viaduct will reopen. The new west approach will open at 8:45 a.m. The new approach replaced a timber structure built in 1939. Having the viaduct open again should help relieve traffic congestion in Montlake.
• The UW Huskies football team will be town this Saturday, so be ready for traffic snarls in Montlake and other areas around the stadium and the University District. Game time is 4 p.m. For the rest of the season's football schedule, check the Huskie's website.

Work continues on 10th Avenue E. on Capitol Hill this weekend which will result in some traffic detouring on Boylston in the Eastlake neighborhood.

Work begins Saturday at 10 a.m. and should be done by 10 p.m. on Sunday.

The northbound lane of 10th E. will be closed to all traffic but transit. Northbound traffic will again be detoured at Broadway to Roy, then Belmont, then Lakeview and onto Boylston E. in the Eastlake neighborhood before heading to Roanoke and 10th Avenue E.

The detour route should be clearly posted.

The Seattle Department of Transportation continues its work on 10th Avenue E. on Capitol Hill this weekend. The detour will send some traffic from Broadway down to our neighborhood.

Starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, the contractor will be building a concrete lane between the 520 overpass and E. Lynn. Northbound traffic will again be detoured at Broadway to Roy, then Belmont, then Lakeview and onto Boylston E. in the Eastlake neighborhood before heading to Roanoke and 10th Avenue E.

The work is expected to be finished by Sunday evening.

If you're planning on driving from Eastlake to the Eastside this weekend, don't plan on taking 520.

The bridge will be closed for its annual maintenance from 11 p.m. on Friday until 5 a.m. on Monday. The closure runs from Montlake Blvd. in Seattle to 92nd Avenue NE on the Eastside.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation's website:

During the closure, WSDOT bridge engineers will conduct in-depth mechanical and electrical inspections on the main power supply to the bridge and the mechanical systems. Bridge engineers also will perform ultrasonic testing to analyze the condition of the drawspan’s steel vertical guide rollers. The guide rollers are a key part of the drawspan and are used to open and close the bridge for vessels or to relieve pressure on the bridge during heavy winds.

If it's a summer weekend, it must be time for road repairs. This weekend's roadwork isn't exactly in Eastlake but its impacts may be felt here:

• 10th Avenue E. partial closure: The delayed paving on 10th Avenue E. is now scheduled for this weekend. 10th E. will be closed to northbound traffic between E. Boston Street and E. Roanoke from 7 a.m. on Saturday until about noon on Sunday. Northbound traffic will head to the eastern fringe of Eastlake. It will be detoured to E. Roy, then Belmont E., Lakeview E. to Boylston E. and then onto E. Roanoke.
• I-5 paving: State paving crews will be working on I-5 again this weekend, from 4 to 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings. They'll be patching the northbound lanes just north of the 520 exits. Lanes will be closed and they'll be using concrete saws, jackhammers, air compressors and "other noisy equipment," WSDOT says in an e-mail. The good news is that they say drivers will notice a smoother ride once the work is done. If you live close to the freeway, wear your earplugs...

UPDATE: This post has been changed since it was first published. No lanes will be paved or closed this weekend.

This just in from SDOT: The contractor's plans on this have changed. They won't be paving this weekend but will be doing work on underground utlities on 10th between Roanoke and Miller. Two lanes will be open. No traffic will be detoured.

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ORIGINAL POST:

Weekend paving on a portion of 10th Avenue E. will bring some detour traffic from Capitol Hill down onto Boylston Avenue E. and make travel from Capitol Hill to Eastlake more complicated.

During the work, 10th Avenue E. will be closed northbound between a location just south of E. Miller to E. Roanoke.

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will close a lane on the west side of 10th Avenue E. at 7 a.m. Saturday and begin digging up pavement about 8 a.m. They hope to reopen the lanes by noon on Sunday, if not sooner.

During the closure, northbound traffic will detour from Broadway to E. Roy, then to Belmont... (more)

I'll be posting later this week about traffic restrictions in Eastlake on the Fourth of July. One development that might send a few more folks our way on Sunday: Lake Union Park at the south end of the lake will be closed on the Fourth.

The Parks Department sent out a press release today saying that the park will be closed because it's "under construction, and not suitable for crowds." A small portion of the park will be open to provide access to the Wooden Boat Show.

Lake Union Park has been undergoing a multi-year, $30 million renovation and is scheduled to have a grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Our report in April on Fourth of July restrictions is here.

Two closures will snarl traffic in the Montlake area this weekend. If you're headed to University Village or trying to get onto 520, be aware:

• Montlake Boulevard will be closed from 8 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday in front of Hec Edmundson Pavilion for "duct bank construction and surface restoration," according to a press release from the Seattle Department of Transportation.
• Washington Department of Transportation crews will close the northbound, right-hand lane on Montlake Bridge on Saturday for an inspection. On Sunday, they'll close the right-hand soundbound lane for the same reason.

It looks like road work continues today on the stretch of E. Roanoke between Franklin and Eastlake. The street is closed and you'll have to take detour routes. Make allowances if you use that stretch to get to Seward School or down to Eastlake.

The Seattle Department of Transportation  will be doing road repairs on Eastlake Ave. between E. Galer and E. Garfield streets on Saturday. One lane will be closed in each direction.

Crews are planning to work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The Seattle Marathon is still under way and is having an impact on traffic on two Eastlake neighborhood streets: E. Roanoke and Boylston E. Both streets will be affected until around 4 p.m. when the course closes.

Roanoke is limited to a single lane for cars westbound past Roanoke Park and over the freeway. Boylston is limited to a single lane southbound from Roanoke to the freeway.

The route continues on Lakeview Drive where it connects with Eastlake Avenue. Warning signs advise motorists to not travel down the stretch of Eastlake between Lakeview and the area around REI.

If you'd like to know who won, check the Marathon results page.

Early warning: The Seattle Marathon is Sunday and two streets in the Eastlake area will be affected. The marathon starts at Seattle Center at 8:15 a.m.

One lane will be closed on E. Roanoke, Boylston Avenue E. and Lakeview from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you're driving, it's best to avoid those streets.

The route eventually goes down Harrison in South Lake Union on its way to the finish at Seattle Center. Driving through South Lake Union can be complicated during the marathon.

For more information on the marathon, check the official Web site. To see streets that will be closed by the race, check the PDF accompanying this post.