Travel Tips: Seahawks preseason opener, Lake Washington Blvd Bash, Denny Way bus lane (Aug. 13 -27)
Our Super Bowl champions are back! The Seahawks take on the Dallas Cowboys at Lumen Field this Saturday for their preseason opener. (Head’s up, Utah Ave S between S Massachusetts St and S Holgate St will close to vehicle travel at 1 PM.) Our gameday guide has tips for getting to Seattle stadiums.
Meanwhile, on Lake Washington Boulevard, a summer bash celebrating music, community and public spaces. Plus, the new bus lane on Denny Way is coming!
Summers in Seattle are packed with things to do and places to explore. That’s why every two weeks we’re sharing “Travel Tips” this summer.
Read on for a roundup of:
- Planned construction and travel impacts
- Summer tips like free shuttles and special transit services
Make sure to check the SDOT Blog and follow us on social media. For real-time traffic information and advisories visit our Traveler’s Map on seattle.gov/Travelers and follow @SDOTtraffic on X.
For travel resources like “how to” videos covering transit basics, links to our regional transit partners, and more visit FlipYourTrip.org.
Jump to:
SDOT planned construction and travel impacts
Please note: our construction projects take place throughout Seattle. Explore more projects on the SDOT Current Projects page of our website.
To stay informed about projects near you, subscribe to our email updates. Select from a list of projects and subscribe to the ones you’re most interested in.
Phase 2 of transit improvements on Denny Way, between 5th Ave N and Stewart St, is scheduled to wrap up during the weekend of August 22-23 after crews install red paint for the new eastbound Bus Only lane.
Crews will also install a new westbound bus stop between Minor Ave and Stewart St, and complete signal work to restrict the left turn from eastbound Denny Way onto Dexter Avenue N.
Following the City’s standard night work requirements, crews will be working the nights of August 22 and 23. Expect typical construction impacts like noise, dust, vibrations, and equipment on site.
This work marks the final phase of the Denny Way Bus Reliability Project, which aims to make buses more reliable and improve travel times on one of Seattle’s busiest east-west streets.
More information and updates:
We’re partnering with King County Metro to enhance transit connections and upgrade existing bus routes to Metro RapidRide service. The project upgrades the current Route 70 to a RapidRide level of service, improving transit connections to Downtown, Belltown, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District neighborhoods.
In addition to improving bus reliability with all day transit service, the project will install new bus stations, repave streets, add new protected bike lanes, and improve pedestrian accessibility.
Visit the project page for the latest traffic updates.
More information and updates:
The Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project is nearing completion. Neighbors might see crews returning to locations that previously appeared complete. This is also known as “punch list” work. This is a normal part of the final construction process as contractors address remaining items identified during final project inspections.
Get the latest update on what’s happening in your neighborhood:
We are improving sidewalks along Greenwood Ave N between N 112th St to N117th ST and N 134th St to N 137th St. We are adding new sidewalks, curbs, planting strips, pedestrian signal upgrades, and curb ramps that meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.
This project will include civil work for a future half signal installation at N 134th Street. The future half signal will provide safer and more accessible connections for the community to access transit along Greenwood Ave N.
More information and updates:
Sound Transit is opening the Pinehurst Station later this year and expects 90% of daily riders to get to the station by walking, biking, rolling, or taking the bus. We’re making it safer and easier to get to the station and around your neighborhood with improved crossings, a new street design, traffic calming, curb-protected bike lanes, and upgraded/new bus stops.
These improvements on NE 130th St, Roosevelt Way NE, and NE 125th St from 1st Ave NE to Lake City Way NE support our Vision Zero goals to prevent serious and fatal crashes.
Visit the project page for the latest traffic updates.
More information and updates:
Announcements from other agencies
Please note: This is just a brief roundup of major announcements. Make sure to check other news and alert pages for agencies like King County Metro, Sound Transit, WSDOT, Seattle Center Monorail, and Washington State Ferries.
- Northbound I-5 in Seattle is reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge until the end of 2026.
- The express lanes will remain open northbound-only 24 hours a day.
- The Harvard Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5 is closed until mid-October.
Read more on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) website.
Sound Transit: Construction near Judkins Park and Mercer Island light rail stations
According to Sound Transit, crews will perform scheduled rail grinding this August at night. Rail grinding is a regular part of light rail system maintenance. It smooths the surface of the rails to extend the track’s life and support a smoother, quieter ride over time.
During this work, nearby neighbors may notice:
- Intermittent grinding noise.
- Maintenance vehicles, work lights, and crews working along the tracks.
- Visible sparks and light smoke, from a distance.
These are normal parts of the rail grinding process and are expected while crews work safely
Visit Sound Transit’s service alerts page for service updates.
Major league home games
Whether you’re cheering on the Mariners, Storm, Sounders, Reign, Seahawks, or Kraken, transit can help you get to the stadium you need!
We have a blog post with connections to the stadiums from King Street Station, which is where Sounder and Amtrak trains stop in Seattle and near the Link light rail, Seattle Streetcar, buses and the free seasonal Waterfront Shuttle.
RELATED: Getting to games in Seattle: Skip traffic, parking with these transit tips
Seattle Storm
Upcoming games at Climate Pledge Arena
- Fri, August 14 vs Portland Fire @ 7:00 PM
- Sun, August 16 vs Chicago Sky @ 2:00 PM
- Sun, August 23 vs Dallas Wings @ 1:00 PM
- Wed, August 26 vs Toronto Temp @ 7:00 PM
More on storm.wnba.com.
Seattle Mariners
Upcoming games at T Mobile Arena
- Fri, August 21st vs Cubs @ 7:10 PM
- Sat, August 22nd vs Cubs @ 4:15 PM
- Sun, August 23rd vs Cubs @1:10 PM
- Mon, August 24th vs Phillies @ 6:40 PM
- Tues, August 25th vs Phillies @ 6:40 PM
- Wed, August 26th vs Phillies @ 1:10 PM
More on mlb.com/mariners.
Seattle Sounders FC
Upcoming matches at Lumen Field
- Sun, August 16 vs Vancouver @ 7:30 PM (Leagues Cup)
- Wed, August 19 vs Austin @ 6:30 PM (Leagues Cup)
More on soundersfc.com.
Seattle Reign FC
Upcoming matches at Lumen Field
- Fri, August 14 vs Chicago Stars FC @ 7:00 PM
More on reignfc.com.
Seahawks
Upcoming games at Lumen Field
- Sat, August 15 vs Cowboys @ 5:00 PM
- Sun, August 23 vs Titans @ 5:00 PM
More on seahawks.com.
The Seahawks first preseason game is Saturday, August 15.
For awareness: Utah Ave S between S Massachusetts St and S Holgate St will close to vehicle travel at 1 PM.
Uniformed police officers will be on-site. If you are tailgating, please celebrate responsibly. pic.twitter.com/8czvmBrAY7
— Seattle Department of Transportation (@seattledot) August 15, 2026
Community celebrations
Please note: We’ve highlighted several upcoming events that you might be interested in – but this is not intended as a comprehensive list of every event in the city.
Rainer Valley Safe Streets and other community organizations present the Lake Washington Boulevard Bash:
A celebration of music, community, and our public spaces! Enjoy a car free Saturday packed with some of the best music Seattle has to offer. Bring your own blanket, chair, paddle board, or floatie. There will be free and low-cost bicycle repair by Bike Works, food, games and more. Lake Washington Boulevard is a park for EVERYONE!
Outdoors for All will be providing free adaptive trike, tandem, and handcycle rentals for people with disabilities or mobility issues. Lime will offer free helmets and test rides on shared scooters and bikes.
Funding provided by the Neighborhood Matching Fund from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.
More events:
Good to know this summer
Golden Gardens Direct
King County Metro and the City of Seattle will offer Golden Gardens Direct, a new summer transit service providing a direct connection between downtown Ballard and Golden Gardens Park.
MAP OF THE GOLDEN GARDENS DIRECT ROUTE
- Through Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
- Buses run every 30 minutes
- Golden Gardens Direct shares stops with Route 44 along Market Street and serves new stops on Seaview Avenue and at Golden Gardens Park.
The cost to ride is the same as a regular Metro bus ride, $3, and rides are free for youth 18 and under.
This pilot service is funded through the current Seattle Transit Measure (STM).
RELATED: Ride to Seattle’s Golden Gardens on new summer transit service
Free Waterfront Shuttle
This summer, you can catch a free waterfront shuttle that stops at some of Seattle’s most popular destinations.
The Waterfront Shuttle connects to:
- Seattle Center and the Space Needle
- Olympic Sculpture Park
- Pike Place Market and Overlook Walk
- Waterfront Park and the Seattle Great Wheel
- Pioneer Square
- Seattle Stadium4
- Chinatown-International District
- Seattle Ferry Terminal and Pier 50
Service is provided by King County Metro through September 7. Check their website for schedule changes and updates.
Trailhead Direct
Trailhead Direct is operated by King County Metro in partnership with King County Parks and SDOT, with promotional support from Amazon. Read more on King County Metro’s blog.
- Take transit to Issaquah Alps and Mount Si trails, connecting Seattle to five popular hiking destinations along the I-90 corridor.
- This program receives funding from the current Seattle Transit Measure (STM).
Free adaptive cycling this summer with Outdoors for All
Come experience the joy of cycling this summer with the Outdoors for All Foundation!
A fleet of over 200 adaptive cycles is available for everyone in the community to use for free, with a focus on serving people with disabilities of all ages.
- SDOT funding helps make this program possible, using vendor permitting fees from our bike and scooter share program.
-
How to participate:
- Dates: Daily from May 1 through October 18 (closed on Memorial Day, 4th of July, & Labor Day)
- Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (all riders must be back by 6 PM)
- Location: Magnuson Park in northeast Seattle
- Address: 6344 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA 98115 (Building 406)
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Know before you go:
- Bike availability is first-come, first-served
- Helmets are required for all riders, and provided if needed
- Program serves people ages 7 and up
- To learn more, please visit the Outdoors for All website
- Click on “Cycling/Biking” for helpful information about the rental program.
If you have any questions, you can reach Outdoors for All at (206) 838-6030 or rentals@outdoorsforall.org.
Stay connected
We regularly share updates, tips, and travel information across SDOT channels so you can stay informed and plan your routes with confidence.
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