3 May Day marches likely to slow traffic

Three separate May Day marches Thursday are expected to cause traffic disruptions in downtown Seattle. Metro Transit expects all bus service will be affected from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with delays of up to an hour. Passengers are encouraged to use bus lines that serve downtown via the Seattle transit tunnel.

Two coordinated parades will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will march to Pier 66. The first group will depart from Jack Perry Park and march north on East Marginal Way to Alaskan Way. The other group will start at Seattle Central Community College on Broadway at Pine Street and travel south on Broadway to Madison Street; west on Madison to Alaskan Way; and north on Alaskan Way. Alaskan Way could be blocked at Pier 66.

The Thursday afternoon commute will be affected by the "9th Annual May Day Rally & March" from 4 to 5:30 p.m. This march will move from Judkins Park, west on South Nye Place, north on 20th Avenue South, west on South Jackson Street, and north on Fourth Avenue South to Seattle Center.