Close the 520 bridge when? | Getting your signals straight

Q: Whose bright idea was it to close the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge across Lake Washington on a weekend when the Mariners played two sold-out day games, Fremont's annual Solstice fair was in full swing, and it was Father's Day weekend, to boot?

That's what Adam Stein, of Sammamish, wants to know. "I bet there was more traffic into the city last weekend than any weekend of the year other than Bumbershoot," he said. "I realize the [520] bridge requires regular checks and maintenance, but why not this [past] weekend when the Mariners are on the road ... and not a holiday where people go out to eat?"

A: The perfect weekend in this corner of the world can be elusive, says state Department of Transportation (DOT) spokeswoman Jamie Holter. The goal was to schedule a weekend for bridge work that was dry and windless. There are about 14 of those here each year, and they're most likely to be between June 1 and Sept. 4.

But right off the bat, the Fourth of July holiday weekend and the Labor Day weekend were eliminated. DOT officials also gave a thumbs-down to the weekend before the June 16-19 bridge closure because the University of Washington had commencement at Husky Stadium, and Seattle University's commencement was at Qwest Field.

And this past weekend was nixed because I-405 was shut down northbound in the Kirkland area, and the DOT expected some of that traffic to back up onto Highway 520. And the past weekend had Kenny Chesney and other country-music artists in concert at Qwest Field, in addition to Seattle's annual gay-pride festivities.

The DOT also ruled out every weekend in July because of scheduled events, including more Mariners games, the Bite of Seattle and the Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair. And, weekends with heavily attended Seattle Seafair activities like the Torchlight Parade were passed over.

Holter said the department does try to pick a weekend with the least impact to traffic. "While it may seem like that weekend had a lot of activities, our analysis of previous traffic data shows it had the least number of travelers on Highway 520, Interstates 5, 405 and 90," she said. "Traffic on other roads is just as important as traffic on the key roadway because drivers take alternate routes.

"We begin planning our summer road closures six months in advance. It's a careful juggling act to balance necessary work and keep traffic moving."

Holter said the department tries to do projects at night and on weekends when traffic volumes are at their lowest. "The challenge with bridge work is that much of it has to be done during the day inside a straight 55-hour period."

The bottom line is, the DOT still feels that that weekend was the best choice.

Yearly inspection and maintenance closed the bridge the entire weekend, from 11 p.m. June 16 through 5 a.m. June 19, and that closure included all of Highway 520 between Montlake Boulevard Northeast in Seattle and 92nd Avenue Northeast on the Eastside. Drivers crossing Lake Washington were left with I-90's floating bridge or a choice of taking I-405 or Highway 522 to drive around the lake.

Q: Now that Seattle is starting to use automated red-light cameras at some intersections to nab drivers running red lights, Kent resident Richard Saunders wants to make sure he has his signals straight.

What's considered running a red light? Is it entering an intersection on red? Is it entering an intersection on yellow, or is entering on yellow permissible unless the light turns red before you clear the intersection?

"I don't want to be slamming on my brakes at the change to yellow," he said. "A little clarification would be helpful."

A: Red means red, says Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb. If you are already in the intersection to make a left turn and the light turns red, you are in the clear. If you enter the intersection on a yellow light, you will not be ticketed for running a red light.

But if you enter the intersection by driving past the crosswalk or stop line on a red light, that's when you're in trouble.

"That said," Whitcomb added, "we recommend that drivers prepare to stop on yellow, rather than speed up trying to beat the red."

Cameras have been installed at four Seattle intersections to photograph the license plates of cars running red lights. They've been in use since Thursday. Owners of vehicles caught on camera running red lights will be sent a warning in the mail. After the first month, the city will start sending bills for the $101 fine. The notices will be mailed to the vehicle's owner.

Here's where the cameras are: Roosevelt Way Northeast and Northeast 45th Street, Denny Way at Fairview Avenue North, Fifth Avenue and Spring Street, and Rainier Avenue South and South Orcas Street.

Bumper note

Drivers who take the Broadway Avenue exit off northbound Interstate 5 in Everett will have to get it right, starting early Tuesday. That's when the existing left-hand exit at Broadway will be closed and the new right-hand exit opened. The switch will take place about 2 a.m. The DOT says the switch will cut down on traffic congestion in that area by keeping through traffic on the left and exiting vehicles on the right.

But until drivers get used to the switch, the DOT expects some will be making last-minute lane changes.