Roads closed for art fairs July 28-30

Several streets downtown will close for the weekend-long Bellevue Arts Museum ARTSfair, Bellevue Festival of the Arts and the 6th Street Fair. The three events are expected to draw in more than 300,000 people over the weekend.

Although downtown businesses will be open, the following streets will close for vehicular traffic starting Friday:

Starting Thursday, July 27:

• 100th Avenue Northeast – Northeast Fourth Street to Northeast Eighth Street – 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 108th Avenue Northeast at Northeast 10th Street – 5-9 p.m.
• Northeast Sixth Street – Bellevue Way to 106th Avenue Northeast – 6 p.m. through 9 p.m. on Sunday July 30
• 106th Avenue Northeast – Northeast Fourth Street to Northeast Eighth Street – 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. Sunday July 30
• (local access to business only south/north of hard barrier location points)

Starting Friday, July 28:

• 102nd Avenue Northeast at Northeast Eigth Street – 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. Sunday July 30
• Bellevue Way – Southbound lane closure – Northeast Fourth Street to Northeast Eigth Street – 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. Sunday, July 30

Starting Sunday, July 29:

• 100th Ave NE – Northeast Eighth Street to Northeast 10th Street – 5 p.m. through 9 p.m. Sunday, July 30

Transportation alternatives to driving are available through Choose Your Way Bellevue. Metro Transit and Sound Transit have bus route information and schedules. Paid parking, available at many downtown buildings, is affordable and convenient. Prices vary by location.

Temporary parking for Mercer Slough Park users opens July 31

On July 31, the parking lots at the Winters House and Blueberry Farm will close for East Link light rail construction. Access to Mercer Slough Park and the trail system will remain open. During the closure, parking will be available at a new temporary parking lot located near the South Bellevue Station site. The new lot is for Mercer Slough Park users only; not commuters.

Other East Link construction updates:

No weekend closures are planned for Bellevue Way Southeast for the weekend of July 29-30 nor anticipated for Aug. 5-6.

For the week of July 31 through Aug. 4, expect day and nighttime lane closures on Bellevue Way and Interstate 90 west HOV ramp.

Starting July 31, the northbound lanes of 112th Avenue Southeast between Bellevue Way Southeast and Southeast 15th will be closed and traffic will be diverted to the two southbound lanes (one lane in each direction will remain open).

Starting July 31, Southeast 15th Street will be closed for approximately three years, as crews begin preparing the area for construction of the road-over-rail crossing. Workers and visitors wishing to access Bellefield Office Park will use 114th Avenue Southeast from Southeast 8th Street.

Starting July 31, the speed limit between Bellevue Way Southeast and Main Street will be reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph through the duration of the East Link project.

A full weekend closure of Bellevue Way Southeast is planned for Aug. 12-13.

Changes coming to Overlake Transit Center

To make room for the future Redmond Technology Center light rail station and parking garage, Sound Transit’s contractor needs to shift the Overlake Transit Center services to the southeast part of the site. The changes will occur over the weekend of July 29-30. Details, including a map, are contained in a July 26 Construction Alert.