520 bridge to close for boat in midst of heavy Seahawks traffic
Sep 4, 2014, 10:46 AM | Updated: 12:22 pm
While the Washington State Department of Transportation has warned drivers to plan ahead for Thursday’s Seahawks game, it’s opening the 520 bridge during peak drive times for a boat crossing.
On Wednesday, the WSDOT sent out a press release predicting traffic would be the worst from 1-6 p.m. The bridge will open to a boat at 1:30 p.m. and might stay open for up to 30 minutes.
“We’re required to open the bridges during those hours,” said Mike Allende, spokesperson with the WSDOT. “It’s a Coast Guard regulation and a federal mandate that we open the bridge. The only times that we are not required to do so is between 6:30 and 10:30 in the morning and 3 to 7 p.m. in the afternoon because those are normal peak hours.”
Allende said boat captains are required to give the WSDOT at least two hours notice before a crossing. He believes this boat captain made the request Thursday morning.
“We do try to work with captains to consolidate openings, but they’re not obligated to do that,” Allende said.
The WSDOT recommends using I-90 to cross Lake Washington. The express lanes will run westbound until 3 p.m. Allende said they’re trying to get the message out about the 520 bridge closure via highway signs and text alerts.
