Welcome to Seattle Center
Welcome to our Transportation Update, where you'll find the latest on road work and other lane/road closures affecting access to Seattle Center. This page is updated weekly.
Please note that 1st Ave N Garage is now closed. Mercer Street Garage, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues North, and 5th Ave N Garage, between Republican and Harrison streets, remain open for public use. Arena construction will start soon. For more information on this transformational project, visit: New Arena at Seattle Center.
To avoid traffic slowdowns, consider all transportation options as you route your way to and from Seattle Center. Several Metro bus routes serve the Center, and Seattle Center Monorail provides a speedy connection between Seattle Center and the Sound Transit/Metro Station at Westlake, and with the new Harrison St connection to South lake Union, Seattle Streetcar is also a walkable option. To learn more about traffic and road work in Seattle, visit: Seattle Traffic.
The SR-99 Tunnel is now open. Downtown entrances/exits at Seneca St and Western Ave no longer exist. Drivers enter the tunnel southbound from 6th Ave N (just north of Harrison St) and exit northbound SR-99 at Republican St. Harrison St is open across Aurora Ave N connecting Seattle Center and South Lake Union.
Beginning Jan. 4, light rail service will be reduced for 10 weeks. Beginning with a full closure of downtown light rail station Saturday, Jan. 4 through Sunday, Jan. 5. Shuttle buses will make stops at the closed stations between Capitol Hill and SODO.
From Jan. 6 to March 13, construction crews will close one Link track at a time at the Pioneer Square station, and so passengers traveling through downtown will need to make a center platform transfer at Pioneer Square. Trains will run at a reduced frequency of every 12 minutes (commute and other times). For safety, bikes will not be allowed at the Pioneer Square station. Passengers with bikes must exit at University Street or International District/Chinatown.
There will be three weekend closures of most stations through downtown Seattle (beginning with the Jan. 4 closure). Sound Transit will provide free bus shuttles between SODO and Capitol Hill. New signs in the stations will direct passengers on where to go. Sound Transit staff will be at impacted stations to help riders during peak times.
Learn about where to catch shuttles, how to change trains, alternative bike routes and more at: Connect 2020.
Colman Dock is open, and the passenger-only ferry facility has been temporarily relocated to its north side. Pickup/ drop-off access remains in front of the terminal building. All drive-on customers arrive from S Jackson St. The west side trail is closed between Lenora and Pike streets until Memorial Day. Road restoration work on Alaskan Way near Pike St has been completed. Four lanes of Alaskan Way, the Pike St crosswalk and the Pike Place Market Garage driveway are now open.
The Fairview Ave N Bridge is closed for approximately 18 months for reconstruction. Traffic, transit, bicycle and pedestrian detour routes will be on Eastlake Ave E, Aloha St and Fairview Ave N.
The Pike Street express ramp to the northbound I-5 express lanes will be closed.
The Howell Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close.
The right lane and shoulder of southbound I-5 between Denny Way and Union St will close.
Expect lane reductions on Denny Way between Minor and Yale avenues.
Expect lane reductions on SR-99 over the Aurora Bridge, along with a closure of the Fremont Way N ramp to SB SR-99.
The SR-99 Tunnel northbound is closed for monthly maintenance.
Denny Way is reduced to one lane in each direction between Minor and Yale avenues. The reductions are repeated on Feb. 1, 8 and 15.
Expect lane reductions on the SR-99 Aurora Bridge, along with a closure of the Fremont Way N ramp to SB SR-99.
The Pike Street express ramp to the northbound I-5 express lanes will be closed.
Denny Way is fully closed in both directions between 6th and Dexter avenues.
Southbound SR-99 Tunnel is closed for monthly maintenance.
