Blue Angels arrive; I-90 to close for aerial maneuvers

Motorists would do well to plan ahead for this week's closures of Interstate 90 across Lake Washington for the Blue Angels' Seafair visit.

All lanes of I-90 between Interstate 5 and Island Crest Way will be closed to traffic at times Thursday through Sunday while the Navy aerial team takes to the sky for practices or air shows, an annual highlight of summer Seafair festivities.

On Thursday, the bridge will be closed from 9:45 a.m. to noon, and again from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for practice sessions. I-90's center roadway will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

On Friday, the bridge will be closed from 12:45 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. for practice sessions, and the center roadway will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, the bridge will be closed from 12:45 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. for air shows. The center roadway those days will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Besides vehicle closures, the bridge will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists up to 30 minutes before scheduled closure times.

Express lanes and freeway ramps also will be affected: I-5's northbound ramp to eastbound I-90, I-5 southbound to eastbound I-90, and southbound and northbound Rainier Avenue South ramps in Seattle will be closed during scheduled bridge closures.

Across the lake, 76th Avenue Southeast on Mercer Island to westbound I-90 will be closed up to 30 minutes before practices and shows, as will Island Crest Way to westbound I-90. I-90 eastbound to West Mercer Way will be closed up to 30 minutes before shows.

East Mercer Way to westbound I-90 also will be closed up to 30 minutes before shows. West Mercer Way to westbound I-90 will be closed up to one hour before practices and shows.

The exits from westbound I-90 to Island Crest Way and East Mercer Way on Mercer Island will remain open, but motorists should expect heavy congestion when closures restrict access to the exits.

Drivers determined to take I-90 across the lake should cross at least an hour before scheduled closure times.

The Seattle Mariners have a 1:10 p.m. game scheduled on Sunday, so drivers should plan ahead to get to the game on time.

Highway 520's Evergreen Point bridge will remain open to traffic during the I-90 closures, and 520 bridge openings for marine traffic will be restricted while I-90 is closed.

No stopping or parking will be allowed on either of the floating bridges to watch the shows or practices.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com