Memorial procession for slain officer likely to disrupt traffic

Severe congestion is expected today during a memorial procession for Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton that will begin at 9 a.m. at the University of Washington and end around noon at KeyArena. A public service is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Highway 520 east and westbound offramps to Montlake Boulevard were closed at 8:30 this morning as part of the procession.

In addition, the southbound Interstate 5 exit to Steward Street from both the mainline and express lane were closed at 8:40 this morning. Because of that closure, all HOV-only offramps in the express lanes are temporarily open to all drivers.

As many as 1,500 vehicles may be in the procession. Other vehicle traffic will not be allowed to disrupt the procession. Cross streets will be closed as the procession approaches, then reopened once the procession passes.

Bicyclists and pedestrians will not be allowed to disrupt the procession, either. But the entire procession route will not be closed for the full three hours. As soon as the procession has passed a given point, police will reopen the street.

Many Metro bus routes that operate near the parade route may be affected.

Those routes include:

• University of Washington/Husky Stadium

• Montlake and 23 Avenue East and 24th Avenue East.

• Capitol Hill, East Madison Street, Pine Street and Broadway.

• North of downtown Seattle, Denny Way and Mercer Street

• Queen Anne and First Avenue North and Seattle Center

Metro said it won't be able to tell riders when a specific bus will arrive or depart from specific a location in the parade route.

From the E-1 parking lot north of Husky Stadium, the procession will go:

• south on Montlake Boulevard Northeast and 24th and 23rd avenues east;

• west on East Madison and East Pine streets;

• north on Broadway;

• west on Denny Way;

• north on First Avenue North to KeyArena.

No parking will be allowed along the route; signs will be posted. Streets around Seattle Center will be closed. Doors at KeyArena will open to the public at 11 a.m.

No formal procession is planned after the ceremony.