Alert 1/19-2/2: 520 Bridge Trail will be closed for two weeks

Closure map from WSDOT.

The trail across the 520 Bridge will be fully closed for two weeks starting January 19 as crews work move the walking and biking route in Montlake into its permanent alignment and install an overhead sign.

The closure begins alongside a weekend of major work that will also close Montlake and Lake Washington Boulevards to motor vehicles. There will be a walking and biking path through the Montlake Blvd. work zone, but not across Lake Washington. Or at least, maybe not. WSDOT updated the construction notice over the holiday weekend to add this intriguing line:

All trail users will need to find alternate routes. WSDOT is looking into ways to accommodate people who use the trail during this closure. Those accommodations are not finalized yet, but WSDOT wants to make sure the public is aware the work is coming.

Very mysterious. Assuming the closure goes ahead as currently planned, this would be one of the longest closures of the 520 Bridge trail yet. Late January is probably the least bad time of the year for such a closure since ridership typically at its low point. On the other hand, cold and rainy days do make the long detours that much more difficult for the people who are riding. The only bike detour options are to go all the way around the north end of the lake or to detour down to the I-90 Bridge, both of which add a lot of miles and time.

You can also put your bike on a bus to cross the lake. The most common buses that serve the SR-520 freeway stations are: Metro 255 (U District to Kirkland), Sound Transit 542 (U District to Redmond) and Sound Transit 545 (Downtown to Redmond).

Heading east, you can catch any of the U District-originating buses on the south side of NE Pacific Street near the UW Health Sciences Education building or on 15th Ave NE south of Campus Parkway.

Heading west, you can take the elevators at Evergreen Point or Yarrow Point to catch the 255, 542 (to U District) and 545 (to downtown). You can also catch Metro 271 (U District to Bellevue/Issaquah) on 84th Ave NE just south of 520 in Medina.

Also be aware that on days the Montlake ramps to 520 are closed, such as the January 19 weekend, the U District buses will be on significant reroutes. Check the Metro and Sound Transit websites for plan your time accordingly.