If you ride a Metro bus between Eastlake and downtown, you noticed a change starting a week ago: Buses now stay on Eastlake rather than going down Fairview after they pass the Eastlake and Fairview intersection.

The change is temporary and is related to the construction on Mercer Street in south Lake Union. Mercer is now a two-way street and Fairview is temporarily restricted to one lane northbound. This temporary reroute is expected to last for four to six months, according to Metro.

The following routes are affected by the reroute: 70, 71, 72, 73, 83 and 309. Those routes will stop on Eastlake at Aloha, Mercer, John and Howell streets.

For more information, check out the reroute map PDF attached to this post. Metro also has more details on the reroute and how to get to the temporary Eastlake bus stops on their blog.

The Fourth of July is Wednesday and many Eastlake businesses will be open for the holiday. Our list is below.

The weather forecast looks promising. It won’t be the hottest Fourth ever but the clouds should part for the Lake Union fireworks and your backyard barbecue.

If you’re trying to get in or out of Eastlake during the day or during the fireworks show in the evening, check out our previous post for all the details on where to drive and park, and what to tell your guests.

Details on all the events going on around the lake can be found in our previous post and also at the websites for the Family 4th (they do the fireworks) and the Wooden Boat Show (it ends on Wednesday).

One of the best ways to get in and out of Eastlake is on a Metro bus. Metro will be running on a holiday schedule, which is the same as their Sunday schedule. Get more details at Metro's website.

And Seattle Public Utilities reports that there will be normal garbage collection on Wednesday. The North Transfer Station will be... (more)

It's that time! The annual Fourth of July fireworks show at Lake Union is almost here.

Eastlake is bracing, as we always do, to receive our share of the expected 100,000 people who will be somewhere around the lake to see the holiday show.

The main question everyone always wants answered is: When should I tell my guests to arrive? When Seattle Police Officer Chris Kelley spoke at an Eastlake Community Council public meeting in June, his advice was that the best time to arrive is 6 to 7 p.m. (unless they're coming for the day) and the best time to leave is after 11 p.m. 

Printable map of parking/traffic restrictions

The area in the neighborhood with the tightest access and parking restrictions is from Eastlake west to the houseboats. If you live in that area, your guests won't need a written invite but they will need to know where they're going and where they're going to park. Officers will start to shut off vehicular access to that area around 8:30 p.m. 

Parking is always very tight on the Fourth. Parking along Eastlake Avenue is mostly prohibited on the Fourth. Several other streets have parking prohibitions. If you or your guests block driveways or fire hydrants or park in areas marked "no parking" for the day, you will be towed. Some residents and businesses will be renting parking in their lots. The best bet is probably to take a Metro bus.

After the fireworks are over, SPD concentrates on getting people out of the area. Some streets (Lynn and Harvard) become one-way heading away from Eastlake. Check the map attached to this story for more information. A downloadable PDF of the map is here.

For complete details on parking and access, check our previous post.

Other links that you may find useful on the Fourth:

• Our list of businesses that are open in Eastlake is here. 
• Information on the Family Fourth at Lake Union and the fireworks can be found on their website.
• Metro will be running on a Sunday schedule on the Fourth. To see if your route has trips that are canceled, check the Metro website.
• Starbucks will be hosting a clean-up day around Lake Union on Tuesday, July 5. Eastlake's Rogers Playfield will be one of the staging areas. If you'd like to take part, information and registration is here.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

UPDATE: This post has been changed since it was first published. Jaxx Boutique is open today and has been added to the list.

The Fourth of July is Monday and many businesses in Eastlake will be open. Check our list below to see which stores and restaurants will be operating.

Getting in and out of the neighborhood, particularly late in the day and in the evening before and after the fireworks can be tricky. You may find much of what you need right here in the neighborhood.

For information on where to drive and park in Eastlake on the Fourth, see our previous post complete with a downloadable map. Information on Metro transit is at the end of the list.

Information on the Family Fourth at Lake Union and the fireworks show (which usually begins around 10 p.m.) can be found on the event's website.

If I missed your Eastlake business, please let me know what hours you'll be open on the Fourth and if you have anything special planned for the holiday. Email me at curtmilton@comcast.net.

Here's what's open on the... (more)

Brace yourselves for another weekend of I-5 ramp closures at Mercer Street.

The closures are to allow work on the Mercer Corridor Project that will, once it's complete, untangle the decades-old Mercer Mess.

The ramps will be closed from 11 p.m. Friday (May 6) through 5 a.m. Monday (May 9). The ramps opened 36 hours early during a similar closure last month, so keep your fingers crossed.

The closures affect not just the ramps but also a stretch of Fairview where it approaches and crosses Mercer.

During last month's closure Metro redirected Routes 70, 71, 72, 73 and 83 off of Fairview and onto Eastlake Ave. E. between Mercer and Galer northbound and between Galer and Thomas southbound. I haven't received officlal word of their plans this weekend but presumably will be something similar. Buses will only stop at posted stops on Eastlake Ave. E. For more information on Metro service go to www.kingcounty.gov/metro or call 206-553-5000.

The Seattle Department of Transportation says they have... (more)

The first big effect of the Mercer Mess untangling project will be felt this weekend with the closure of the Mercer Street I-5 on-ramps.

The closure will begin at 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, and end at 1 a.m. Monday, April 18. During the closure period, Fairview Ave. N. will be totally closed between Mercer and Fairview and partially closed between Mercer and Republican.

What will the closure mean for Eastlake residents trying to get to downtown or onto I-5 at Mercer? Here's how to get around and avoid the closures:

Metro will be redirecting Routes 70, 71, 72, 73 and 83 off of Fairview and onto Eastlake Ave. E. between Mercer and Galer northbound and between Galer and Thomas southbound. Buses will only stop at posted stops on Eastlake Ave. E. For more information on Metro service go to www.kingcounty.gov/metro or call 206-553-5000.

The city's Department of Transportation has links to maps of alternate routes for drivers, bikers and pedestrians on its closure web page.

Similar closures will happen... (more)

UPDATE at 4:09 p.m.: Bob Payne from the Seattle Times says traffic is gridlocked on Fairview Ave. at the Mercer I-5 on-ramps. Expect Route 70 delays unless it clears up, he says.

UPDATE at 3:43 p.m.: Metro says that all buses will stay on snow routes through Monday evening. Metro will evaluate this evening to determine if snow routes will be continued on Tuesday.

UPDATE: This post has been updated since it was first published. Photos of the snow have been added.

Cool panorama photo of Eastlake snow has been posted on Intersect by local resident Kristi Waite. Check it out here.

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It's snowing! Snow was falling this morning in Eastlake with more expected as the day goes on. Buses may be running late and it's cold so bundle up.

If you have information about the snow or just want to tell us what it looks like at your place, add to the comments. If you have snow photos you'd like to see on the blog, send them to me and I'll publish them: curtmilton (at) comcast.net.

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ORIGINAL POST: There's snow in the forecast for tonight and Monday morning. Metro has announced they won't be taking any chances with bus service. They're going to start service Monday morning with buses in all areas on snow routes.

Snow routes remove buses from hilly streets and put them out onto arterials "that are more likely to be plowed," according to a Metro brochure.

Eastlake Avenue E. is a snow route for the buses that go along it. What happens after those buses leave Eastlake may be another story.

You can look to see what the snow routes are for any Metro route by going to their snow web page. You can also see transit alerts on this page and you can sign up for transit alerts via e-mail.

Metro will be using a new color-coded map to indicate the status of service on a route: Green means buses are running normally; yellow means some but not all routes in an area are on snow routes; and red means all routes in an area are on snow routes.

Metro's rationale for going to snow routes early is explained in an e-mail:

While the accumulations are not expected to be deep, Metro managers want to be prepared and not have to change to snow routing during the middle of the busiest travel times.

"We decided Sunday night to be proactive, even though we know how unpredictable snowfall can be in King County,” said Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond. “We would rather be over prepared than have buses stuck on regular routes during the middle of a snowy commute in the morning or afternoon."

A few brave snowflakes fell in Eastlake in the late morning and early afternoon, but nothing has come down since. Still, it's cold out there (the sandwich board in front of Louisa's this morning said simply: "BRRRR!") and the forecast is calling for a low of 28 tonight and possible snow showers in the morning. Metro advises you to be patient if there is snow and dress warmly, which is good advice.

Be prepared!

UPDATE: This post has been updated since it was first published. Details on street closures have been added.

The UW Huskies will be playing a rare weekday evening game when they take to the field during the height of rush hour on Thursday. Kickoff for the game against UCLA is at 5 p.m.

Traffic impacts are expected in the University District, Montlake and beyond. We'll probably be feeling some of it in Eastlake. 

Montlake Boulevard will be closed from NE Pacific to NE 44th from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Montlake Bridge will be closed to marine traffic (it won't open to let boats through) from 3 to 7 p.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. The University Bridge will also be closed to marine traffic from 3 to 7 p.m.

Metro will be rerouting some buses that go through the UDistrict and Montlake, starting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. To find out more details or check what's up with your bus route, go to Metro's website.

Metro will also be running a temporary shuttle from 2:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday that will loop through the UW campus and... (more)