I-90 bridge closures come with Blue Angels

Interstate 90 across Lake Washington will be closed to vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists twice today while the Navy's Blue Angels practice maneuvers over the city. The closures comply with Federal Aviation Administration rules.

Two separate bridge closures are scheduled: noon to 12:45 p.m., and 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The closures include all mainline I-90 lanes between Interstate 5 in Seattle and Island Crest Way on Mercer Island, and the entire length of the I-90 express lanes. The bridge will be closed to pedestrians and bicyclists up to 30 minutes before closure times.

The closures will cause delays for all bridge traffic, including Metro Transit and Sound Transit bus service.

I-90's reversible lanes will close up to two hours before closure of the other lanes. Exits from westbound I-90 to Island Crest Way and East Mercer Way on Mercer Island will remain open, but motorists should anticipate congestion during the bridge closures, and access to those two exits might not be possible.

Motorists wishing to cross the lake should plan their trip at least an hour before scheduled closings.

The bridge also will be closed tomorrow from 11:20 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. for Blue Angels practice, and from 11:20 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for the aerial team's full shows.

As an alternative route during the I-90 closures, motorists can get from one side of the lake to the other via Highway 520's Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, which will remain open.

The elite aerial-performing squadron of F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets will be circling the city from 10:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. today. Tomorrow, they'll have a practice show over the area from noon to 12:45 p.m. Their full shows are scheduled at the same time Saturday and Sunday.

Safety restrictions

Boats must stay outside a designated safety zone, which is marked by buoys and is about three-quarters of a mile north of the I-90 bridge and south of the northern point of Seattle's Seward Park.

All boats must limit their speed to 7 mph on Lake Washington between Mercer Island and the Seattle shoreline, south of the I-90 bridge to Seward Park, until 8 p.m. Sunday.

Also, all swimmers must remain within 10 feet of their boat, and swimmers are not to be in the water west of the log boom when hydroplanes are racing. Swimmers must remain within 10 feet of the log boom at other times.

The Coast Guard will be out patrolling the area.