SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is inviting the community to celebrate the grand opening of the new bike and pedestrian bridge over SR 520 in Montlake.
Festivities will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday with the inaugural bike, walk, and roll across the bridge kicking off at 11:30 a.m.
The event will be held on the north side of the bridge, near the University of Washington. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the festivities before the ceremonial first crossing. With limited street parking available, participants are urged to consider alternative transportation methods, including walking, biking, rolling, or taking public transit.
The schedule includes welcoming remarks at 11:30 a.m., followed by the inaugural crossing of the bridge. At 12:30 p.m., attendees can join guided tours of the Montlake Lid and Washington Park Arboretum, hosted by The Arboretum Foundation and UW Botanic Gardens.
For those riding their bikes, Gary from Montlake Bicycle Shop will be offering free bike repairs on the Montlake Lid, next to the start of the lid tours.
For more information and to plan your route, visit King County Metro’s Trip Planner.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024
- Time: Festivities start at 11:00 a.m.; inaugural bike/walk/roll at 11:30 a.m.
- Location: North side of the bridge, near the University of Washington
- Parking: Limited street parking; carpooling, walking, biking, and transit encouraged
- Additional Activities: Guided tours at 12:30 p.m. and free bike repairs on the Montlake Lid
The SR 520 Montlake Project construction began in 2019 and included a new bridge over Union Bay, a three-acre lid covering the highway and the new bike and pedestrian bridge.
The Montlake Project is a key part of the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program. It’s the first phase of the “Rest of the West” – the final improvements to the SR 520 corridor in Seattle.
Another key part of the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program is the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project, which began construction last month and is expected to last until 2031. That project will replace the aging Portage Bay Bridge and construct a lid connecting Roanoke Park and the North Capitol Hill neighborhoods.
