Commute from West Seattle to Bellevue (Mercer Island: calculator, park, business)

[PredsfanJ]

How bad is it trying to get out of West Seattle to Bellevue if I leave at 7AM? Is it going to be terrible going over the West Seattle bridge and up I-5 until I get to I-90?

How long do you think it would take to get to the 90 juncture? From there on, I would assume that the I-90 bridge won't be too bad Eastbound in the morning, but then again, what do I know.

[rmkiefer07]

I did that commute for a week a few years ago and I don't recall it being extremely difficult. However, returning in the evenings was sheer torment from Bellevue to the West Seattle bridge. It's been several years but I imagine at minimum it's no better now.

[PredsfanJ]

Do you remember if it was 30 min or more like 40-50 min.

[Hemlock140]

I did the I90 commute for 2 years, now take the bus. I also go to West Seattle often on business. At 7am it's really not bad to I90, no trucks
heading east that early normally, and the traffic going east on 90 is light.

In the afternoon starting about 3:30 most days I90 is backed up from Bellevue Way all the way into Seattle, and both 99 and I5 south are
practically stopped. There are alternatives like 4th Ave or 1st Ave but then there are trucks to contend with coming out of the container terminals and all the other people avoiding the main arterials. Unfortunately getting out of Bellevue is also a mess. Depending how far you are from the freeway it can take 20-30 minutes just to get to I90 in the afternoon. I can see it taking an hour to 75 minutes from downtown Bellevue to Luna Park in the afternoon.

[Xanathos]

Oh man, just shoot yourself now.

[tobester]

Depending on how 'deep' into West Seattle you are, I would say on an average day 30-45 minutes to Bellevue. Unfortunately, the stretch of I5 between the bridge and I90 is always bumper to bumper and the I90 drive eastbound usually doesn't open up 'til after you're off Mercer Island. Return trip has been described by Hemlock140.

[rmkiefer07]

Originally Posted by PredsfanJ

Do you remember if it was 30 min or more like 40-50 min.

I seem to recall 30-40 minutes coming from Delridge to downtown Bellevue in the morning. Hemlock's description of the afternoon is pretty close to what I remember.

[PredsfanJ]

Thanks, it doesn't sound too bad.

[cakkehrer]

This thread is a bit old, so could someone please tell me what the commute is now like from Alki Avenue S in West Seattle to Bellevue? I have flexibility in terms of when I can leave -- anywhere between 8 and 10 am. Thanks!
Connie

[philter33]

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