Bellevue Chick-fil-A Causing Traffic Backups

Oh, Chick-fil-A. It's been back in the state for just over a week, and the new Bellevue store has created such traffic delays that the city has had to step in. Bellevue Police Officer Seth Tyler told MyNorthwest.com that backups have been reported on local streets near the restaurant and on 1-405. As a result, Bellevue city officials have closed lanes on NE Eighth Street and 116th Avenue NE to help control the mass of cars headed to the new Chick-fil-A, and they've also made the restaurant hire off-duty law enforcement through a third party company to assist.

According to Tyler, two officers work at a time during Chick-fil-A's business hours to help flow customers in and out of the restaurant and ensure that the NE Eighth Street and 116th Avenue NE intersection isn't blocked. These measures have helped reduce traffic problems so far, and the area's two other new Chick-fil-As — Tacoma (38th and Steele, opened yesterday), and Lynnwood (3026 196th ST SW, slated for May 11) — are also expected remove some strain on the Bellevue location.