Bellevue tackles Chick-fil-A traffic congestion
May 1, 2015, 9:07 AM | Updated: 11:34 am
Traffic around Bellevue's Chick-fil-A has remained heavy and sluggish ever since it's April 9 opening. (KIRO Radio/Chris Sullivan)
(KIRO Radio/Chris Sullivan)
It’s a grand opening that hasn’t stopped for three weeks.
The city of Bellevue is implementing a new traffic plan to accommodate the massive lines of cars traveling around the city’s new Chick-fil-A restaurant, according to a news release.
To alleviate the congestion, Bellevue is limiting the number of cars allowed into the Chick-fil-A parking lot to 10 at a time. When the fast food restaurant’s parking lot is filled, and the drive-thru is fully occupied, police will close off access to the restaurant. Once the 10 cars are gone, the parking lot will be reopened for 10 more vehicles.
Rachel Belle: Chick-fil-A opened in Bellevue but is it worth the hype?
“This should help ease congestion by moving traffic better through the Northeast Eighth and 116th Avenue Northeast intersection,” said Transportation Director David Berg. “We have found Chick-fil-A responsive in helping determine solutions to this situation.”
The fast food restaurant is located along the city’s fifth busiest intersection, 116th Avenue NE and NE 8th Street. And it’s not just the roads. Neighboring businesses’ parking lots have also been filled with Chick-fil-A customers’ cars.
“Safety continues to be our top priority as we develop our traffic plan surrounding the operation of this restaurant. We are hopeful that changes made today will result in reduced congestion at this location,” said Bellevue Deputy Police Chief Mike Johnson in a statement.
The roads around Bellevue’s Chick-fil-A have remained clogged with eager customers ever since its April 9 opening. The restaurant has even been tasked with funding an extra traffic officer to keep things running smoothly.
Still, each day from 10 a.m. through the evening, both 116th Avenue NE and NE 8th Street are jammed. The nearby I-405 northbound off-ramp to NE 8th Street is also backed up.
The city has also said it has received two other complaints, aside from traffic, that are related to Chick-fil-A. Residents have noted issues with trash and parking in the area. Trash from the restaurant’s to-go products have been discovered littered on neighboring businesses’ properties. Chick-fil-A employees will make two-rounds per day to collect litter.
