Updated at 3:49 p.m, November 17
The “Jobs, Not Cuts” rally originally scheduled to block traffic at the Montlake Bridge around 4 p.m., will still meet at that location, but will march toward the University District Bridge as its final destination.
According to a Seattle Times article, Seattle Police asked Working Washington, the organizers of the event, to move the rally to the University Bridge due to “safety concerns.” Occupy Seattle activists and students protesting cuts to education are expected to join the rally as well.
This event is part of a national day of action for happening in dozens of cities across the country. A Facebook page with information about the local rally invites people to “converge at the functionally obsolete Montlake Bridge to demand our political leaders build bridges to good jobs — not make more cuts.”
On Twitter, some are reporting a police presence ready and waiting for the marchers:
Metro just sent out an alert about the possible traffic snarls this might cause in your evening commute:
On Thursday, Nov 17, during the afternoon commute time, transit service in the University of Washington and University Bridge areas may be delayed or rerouted due to a rally.
If the University Bridge is blocked or closed to traffic, Metro buses that normally use it will instead travel both directions via NE Pacific St, the Montlake Bridge and North Capitol Hill.
Due to the time and location and other variables, this event could cause widespread traffic delays over a much larger area, as well as delays to transit service beyond the U District.
Reroutes and traffic will cause initial delays, which can then carry over into subsequent service schedules and areas.
Metro riders may wish to avoid this area or change travel plans or times.
Visit the Eye on Your Metro Commute blog on Metro Online for updates throughout the afternoon.
Update: 3:31 p.m.: Ravenna Blog has a nice, tidy post about the event with a ton of links, including these: The Seattle DOT traffic camera map. See if the bridge is blocked BEFORE you leave work.
Update 3:45 p.m.: According to Mike Lindblom of the Seattle Times, the rally organizers have negotiated with police, agreeing to arrive at the University District bridge at 5 p.m. and eventually leave without conflict. (The “eventually” in that statement leaves the ending time wide open for interpretation.)
You can follow the latest news about the rally through the #N17 hashtag on Twitter.
