Microsoft meeting could snarl Sodo traffic Thursday

Traffic in Seattle's Sodo neighborhood could be very heavy at times Thursday as several thousand people attend Microsoft's annual employee meeting at Safeco Field.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

Streets around Safeco Field will remain open, but before the meeting there may be traffic delays on the Fourth Avenue South offramp from Interstate 5 and Interstate 90, and as the meeting ends there may be congestion in the stadium area.

In the morning, a number of Microsoft charter buses will exit I-5 using the South Dearborn and South Forest street offramps to park at locations north and south of Safeco Field. In the afternoon, buses will travel Edgar Martinez Drive to reach I-90.

Congestion is likely to be heaviest near Safeco Field from 9 to 11 a.m., and from about 1 to 5 p.m., according to Seattle Transportation Department officials. Police will be assigned to direct traffic through the area.