The SR 520 reopened to traffic this morning, after a weekend closure for transportation crews and the floating bridge's annual inspection. Visitors saw firsthand the impact of 120,000 daily vehicles after peering into the big, hollow concrete pontoons that are holding up the aging bridge. While crews patched 520's cracks, the question continues to loom over the bridge's longevity, especially in the event of an earthquake. If anything, this inspection solidified the need for the new bridge, which is expected to open in 2014--although it will come at the cost of pricy tolls on the 520, expected to begin next fall. more ›

Think twice about your weekend road-tripping plan of attack, especially if your map requires you to take either SR 520 or I-90 bridges. The 520 floating bridge will be undergoing its annual bridge inspection this weekend so tonight, WSDOT crews will close down 520 from Montlake Boulevard E. to 92nd Avenue NE at 11 p.m. It is set to re-open on Monday, June 22 at 5 a.m. Now here's the clincher: come Sunday morning, the I-90 express lanes will also be closed from 6:30-9:30 a.m. (Oh, noes!) for the cyclists riding in the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Good luck with any rerouting so you can see dear ol' Dad. And if that's not enough, expect traffic congestion from Mariners games, the All Nations Cup Parade, and the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade Festival and Street Fair. more ›

• Add this to the traffic sucks--again--column. Eastlakers were fortunate enough to find out this morning that construction crews began work on the Boylston Avenue E street and sidewalk improvements. Work will continue daily (except weekends) till Friday, June 26.
• The Montlake home of Daphne Tomchak has been left in shambles--$18,000 worth of damages--after funding ran out mid-shoot for the Hollywood movie types who used and abused her home for the film.

Last night the first cars drove across the reopened SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge earlier than expected. Nowadays it's nearly unheard of, a construction project that finishes eight days ahead of schedule. Eight days, ahead of schedule! The hot mess of traffic jams and delays caused by the closure should start to thin out soon, making the morning commute tolerable. more ›