Seattle drivers faced heavy congestion Thursday morning after a crash on westbound State Route 520 temporarily blocked multiple lanes during rush hour.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the collision was first reported around 9:45 a.m., affecting the HOV lane and two general-purpose lanes near Montlake Boulevard. Traffic was redirected through the gore point while emergency crews responded to the scene.
No major injuries have been reported, but the incident caused miles of backups stretching across Lake Washington and toward the I-5 interchange. Commuters reported delays exceeding 30 minutes in some areas.
By late morning, WSDOT confirmed that all lanes had reopened, though congestion lingered as residual traffic slowly cleared.
Why It Matters
SR 520 is a critical east-west corridor linking Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond — home to thousands of daily commuters and major employers. Even short-term closures can significantly disrupt morning travel across the region.
Transportation officials continue to remind drivers to stay alert, allow extra time, and monitor real-time traffic updates during peak hours to avoid unexpected slowdowns on the busy bridge corridor
