MYNORTHWEST NEWS

What to expect for delays, closures, reroutes with Biden speaking in Seattle-area for Earth Day

Apr 21, 2022, 5:07 PM | Updated: Apr 22, 2022, 11:29 am

With President Joe Biden speaking in Seattle and Auburn for Earth Day on Friday, drivers and commuters are being told to expect delays from freeway closures and transit reroutes.

That will have King County Metro closing a number of bus routes during President Joe Biden’s visit to the Seattle area. The Seattle Department of Transportation is asking travelers to anticipate delays as the U.S. Secret Service has the authority to shut down freeways and surface streets. President Biden’s exact travel routes are not published ahead of time.

“Starting Thursday morning, Metro routes 7, 40, 62, 64, 70, 216, 218, 257, 268, 311, 320 and the RapidRide C Line, and Sound Transit Express Routes 545 and 554 are operating on reroutes, and are affected by closures of portions of Westlake Avenue North, Denny Way, Fourth Avenue, and Lenora, Virginia and Pine streets,” according to SDOT and KC Metro.

Sound Transit also has reroutes for ST Express routes 510, 545, 554, 577, 578, 590, 592 and 594, while the Seattle Streetcar South Lake Union line will not serve the Westlake Hub.

The City of Seattle is coordinating street closures and signal timing for the president’s visit.

Biden participated in a fundraiser at a Laurelhurst home on Thursday. On Friday, he will deliver remarks Earth Day regarding his climate change agenda in Seattle’s Seward Park at 10:30 a.m., before speaking at Green River College in Auburn two hours later. Biden is then scheduled to depart Auburn at 2:15 a.m., before taking off out of Sea-Tac Airport at 2:35 p.m. Travelers at Sea-Tac can expect delays as well, with all air traffic being halted for 30 minutes before and after the president’s departure.

Joe Biden to arrive in Seattle Thursday, will speak at Green River College in Auburn for Earth Day

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What to expect for delays, closures, reroutes with Biden speaking in Seattle-area for Earth Day