Expect Traffic Delays With 70,000 People Expected Tomorrow At UW Husky Game Against USC

WSDOT would like to notify Seattle area travelers to plan ahead for delays on Saturday as 70,000 fans be travelling to Husky Stadium for the UW football game against USC.

The game starts at 4:30pm. WSDOT advises to ake sure to plan ahead and check travel times before leaving.  

Husky Game And Trick Or Treating Both Tomorrow Evening and SDOT Traveler Safety Tips for Darker, Rainy Months

A Laurelhurst Blog reader sent in email saying:

Dear Laurelhurst Blog,

It occurred to me that a UW home football game is scheduled for tomorrow, Halloween evening, at 8pm. This will create huge safety issues for neighborhoods around Husky Stadium.  

Can you imaging UW fans driving up and down neighborhood streets while families and kids are trying cross?  Or kids not paying attention to traffic?  I can see fans driving around neighborhoods looking for parking, just as the sun is setting, around 6-6:30pm as streets are getting darker.

What can SDOT do to make the streets safer? How did SDOT allowed this to happen?

 

SDOT responded to the neighbor's concern saying:

Halloween and UW football games are both traditions that impact our communities. SDOT doesn’t have influence over the timing of either.   

We will communicate with the UW and suggest that they reach out to ticket holders to help remind drivers that they need to be extra alert when they are traveling to the game.   

We are currently reminding all travelers to be mindful of travel safety tips as fall has arrived and with it shorter days and rainy weather.  Reminders such as visibility, following speed limits and paying attention to vehicles and people around us are critical for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.

 

Here are the reminders SDOT is referring to recently published in an SDOT News Release:
 

Traveler Safety Tips for Darker, Rainy Months

City reminds people driving, biking, and walking to practice extra safety this fall and winter; longer nights and wet weather mean extra risks for travelers

 

 

SEATTLE – Fall has arrived in the northwest bringing rainy weather and shorter days. Statistically, there are more collisions during the darker and wetter months of the year. Seattle is actively working to raise safety awareness and improve safety on our streets through Vision Zero, the citywide plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. The Seattle Department of Transportation is sharing some important safety tips for everyone as they travel the streets of Seattle this fall and winter.

 

“Safety is all about simple steps and choices we make every day. Driving the speed limit, making sure you’re being seen, and putting your phone away are critical for everyone’s safety,” said SDOT Director Scott Kubly. “With Halloween and the Daylight Savings coming up, we want to remind people driving, biking, and walking to use extra caution out on the roadways.”

 

TOP TIPS FOR SAFER TRAVELING

 

Focus on the Road

Distracted driving incidents have more than tripled since 2011. People driving need to pay attention and put the phone away when they get in the car. That call or text can wait.

 

Make Smart Choices

Taking personal responsibility on our streets means not driving impaired—which remains the single biggest contributing factor to fatalities. If you’ve had too much to drink, park it, cab it, take transit or use a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.

 

Slow Down

• The laws of physics tell us that higher speeds result in more crashes, injuries, and deaths: When a person who is walking is hit by a car traveling 40 miles per hour, that person has a 10 percent chance of survival. Those are not good odds.

• The good news is that, if we slow traffic down a little, something remarkable happens: When a person who is walking is hit by a car travelling 20 miles per hour, the survival rate jumps to 90 percent.

 

See and Be Seen

People driving need to pay extra attention. People walking and biking need to make sure they are visible. The best way to do this is to wear reflectors or bright colored clothing. If you’re riding a bike, use lights and reflective stickers. And remember, drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk, whether it is marked or unmarked.

 

Please be aware of each other as you’re getting around and travel safely. For more information on Vision Zero, visit www.seattle.gov/visionzero. #VisionZeroSEA    

 

 

House Robbed During Husky Game As Well As Portables Broken Into At Laurelhurst School

We received this email from a reader:

Our house was robbed Saturday night (the 5th) sometime between 4pm and midnight.

We live in the 5100 block o 48th Avenue NE. They took jewelry and all computers, money.

This is so awful, I hope people are on the look out.  Husky games seem like a good time for robbers.

We also learned that two portables at Laurelhurst Elementary School were broken into that evening as well.

Heavy Traffic Expected For Tomorrow's Husky Game

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) warns people to expect heavy traffic for the University of Washington Huskies game against Eastern Washington on Saturday afternoon.

70,000 attendees are expected resulting in extra heavy traffic between 4-7pm on SR 520, I-5, and streets surrounding the stadium. 

Seattle Police will have the usual game day lane revisions in place before and after the game on arterials near the stadium.

Metro bus routes 44, 65, 68, 75 and 271 will be rerouted near Husky Stadium from 1:30pm until traffc clears due to traffic congestion. Metro suggests taking he bus as all buses that serve Husky Stadium, including the rerouted ones and some that serve the University District and University Village areas are within walking distance of the stadium.

Major Major Husky Game Traffic Today

Just a reminder that  this afternoon there will be an extremely high level of traffic and congestion with the Huskys only weekday game this season starting at 5pm today against UCLA. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.


SDOT expects the highest peak traffic between 2-5pm, though it could continue throughoutt the evening, with the most congestion on  I-5, SR 520, NE 45th Street, and Montlake Boulevard which will be closed from 6:30-10:30pm to accomodate bus traffic. Also the usual Northeast way pre and post game pattern on 25th Avenue NE from the E-1 parking lot up to NE 75th Street will not be in effect for this game.


Metro buses will be on normal pm peak weekday servce, though riders should expect delays, with reroutes starting at 2:30pm. for many of the bus routes that serve that area including both pre-game and post-game reroutes that start during the third quarter. Check Transit Alerts for re-routes. 
 
Metro will operate a temporary shuttle today from 2:30-8pm that will loop through the UW campus to help students and staff connect to regular Metro service on 15th Avenue Northeast. And the University is offering complimentary shuttle service on privately owned buses at nine park-and-ride locations throughout the region to bring fans to and from the game. 
 
Also the Montlake Bridge will be closed to boat traffic from 3 -7pm and 8 -10pn. The University Bridge will be closed from 3 - 7pm. 
 
(photo provided by Auto Clip Art)

Traffic Advisory Tomorrow Evening

Another Husky football game at the University of Washington tomorrow from 7:15 ­– 10 p.m.

70,000 attending are expected to attend at Husky Stadium in the game against the Oregon State University Beavers.

SDOT advises to expect congestion on 520, I-5 and in the vicinity of the University District as well as on all arterials surrounding the stadium before and after the game.

Traffic Advisory: Husky Game Saturday Night

If you haven't heard, Saturday evening between 7-10pm,  there will again be about 70,000 people at Husky Stadium for the UW versus Arizona State game.


SDOT advises to plan on congestion on streets, especially arterials, surrounding the stadium and on 520 and I-5 in the vicinity of the University District.

Traffic Alert Tonight and Tomorrow for Husky Game and Pre-Game Festivities

Tomorrow at 12:30pm the Huskies will be playing against the Nebraska Huskers, who are making their first trip to the area since 1997, having also visited in 1992 and 1967.

Tonight pre-game festivities include a Husky Band Friday Night Rally and Procession from 8:55–10pm which will draw about
600 participants. The Husky Band and supporters will follow a procession through Greek Row escorted by the Seattle Police.
 
About 70,000 are expected for the game tomorrow. SDOT advises to plan on congestion on I-5 and SR520 approaching the University District and on arterials surrounding the stadium.
 
(graphic courtsey of Husky website)