Bellevue, WA Traffic Cameras: 600+ Live Cams

Camera Coverage

Bellevue has transformed from a Seattle bedroom community into a major tech hub with headquarters and campuses for Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and T-Mobile. The resulting commuter traffic has made the Eastside one of the most congested corridors in the Pacific Northwest, with I-405 regularly ranking among the worst bottlenecks in Washington state. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the average one-way commute for Bellevue residents is 23.4 minutes, with more than 60% of local drivers reporting a commute time under 25 minutes. Over 400,000 people live across the Eastside communities that rely on this highway network, with camera coverage providing real-time visibility into conditions that can change within minutes.

TrafficVision.Live aggregates feeds from WSDOT, City of Bellevue, and King County to give you comprehensive coverage of every major route and interchange. Whether you're navigating the express toll lanes on I-405, timing a crossing of the floating bridges, or checking downtown Bellevue's surface streets, these cameras show you exactly what conditions look like right now — not outdated traffic maps or estimated speeds.

I-405: The Eastside Spine

I-405 is the primary north-south highway through the Eastside, connecting Lynnwood to Renton while passing through Bellevue's core. The addition of express toll lanes has created two distinct traffic experiences — the general-purpose lanes can crawl at 10 mph while the toll lanes flow at 55 mph, but cameras help you judge whether the toll is worth the time savings. During peak hours, tolls can exceed $10 for a short segment, making visual confirmation of conditions essential before committing to either lane choice.

The highway carries over 200,000 vehicles daily through the Bellevue segment, with multiple major interchanges creating complex weaving patterns. SR-520 and I-90 both intersect I-405 within Bellevue city limits, and the merge traffic at these points creates predictable daily bottlenecks. Cameras at each interchange approach show you exactly where slowdowns begin and how far backup extends.

The express toll lanes operate Monday through Friday, 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with dynamic pricing that adjusts every few minutes based on congestion levels. General-purpose lanes run alongside for the entire Bellevue corridor, but during peak hours the speed differential can be dramatic. Cameras positioned at toll lane entry and exit points let you see whether the general-purpose lanes are truly stopped or just slow-and-go before you commit to paying.

SR-520 & I-90: The Floating Bridges

East-west connections between Bellevue and Seattle rely on two extraordinary structures — the SR-520 and I-90 floating bridges across Lake Washington. These bridges are the only vehicle crossings between the Eastside and Seattle, making them critical chokepoints. When one bridge experiences problems, the other becomes immediately gridlocked as tens of thousands of commuters divert.

SR-520 is the northern crossing, rebuilt in 2016 with a modern floating span that replaced the aging original structure. The new bridge includes electronic tolling (no cash, all automated), with cameras showing conditions approaching the toll plaza and throughout the crossing. Tolls range from $1.50 to $4.50 depending on time of day, but the bridge often flows better than I-90 during peak hours despite the cost.

I-90 is the southern crossing, connecting Bellevue to Seattle via Mercer Island. This bridge carries I-90's mainline traffic plus serves as the primary toll-free alternative to SR-520. During evening rush hour, eastbound I-90 can back up for miles as Seattle workers return to the Eastside. Cameras on both the Bellevue and Mercer Island segments show exactly where congestion starts.

Wind conditions can close SR-520 to high-profile vehicles (trucks, RVs, trailers) when gusts exceed 40 mph, forcing all large vehicles to I-90. Cameras along both bridges show weather conditions and current traffic flow. During winter storms, even light snow can create dangerous conditions on the bridge decks, and cameras provide the only real-time visibility into whether crews have cleared the roadway.

Downtown Bellevue

Downtown has exploded with development over the past decade — Amazon's Bellevue campus, new high-rises, and the expanding light rail system have transformed traffic patterns. NE 8th Street, Bellevue Way, and 112th Avenue NE form the core grid, with over 100 cameras covering major intersections and arterial segments. The concentration of tech campuses means rush hour is heavily peaked, with dramatic changes in volume between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM as workers arrive.

Bellevue Way runs north-south through the heart of downtown, connecting I-90 to SR-520 and serving as the primary surface street alternative when highways are jammed. During incidents on either floating bridge, Bellevue Way becomes a parking lot as drivers attempt to navigate around the problem. Users can also monitor live street feeds along NE 8th Street and Bellevue Way to check for road-level gridlock near the Amazon and Microsoft campuses. Cameras at key intersections (NE 8th, NE 4th, Main Street) show whether surface streets are viable or equally congested.

NE 8th Street is the primary east-west arterial through downtown, connecting I-405 to neighborhoods east of downtown and providing access to Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square. Afternoon congestion at the I-405/NE 8th interchange regularly backs up onto the highway itself, creating hazardous merge conditions. Cameras at the interchange approaches show whether the exit is clear or backed up beyond the ramp.

Light rail construction for the East Link extension has disrupted traffic patterns throughout downtown since 2016, with the line scheduled to open in 2025. Construction cameras show work zone conditions and detours, though these feeds may transition to operational transit monitoring once service begins.

Eastside Communities

Factoria: The Factoria area at I-405 and I-90 is a major retail and residential hub with heavy traffic throughout the day. The interchange is one of the busiest in Washington state, with complex weaving patterns as through traffic on I-405 conflicts with I-90 traffic entering and exiting. Cameras cover the interchange approaches and the Coal Creek Parkway corridor extending south into Newcastle.

Crossroads: The Crossroads neighborhood at NE 8th Street and 156th Avenue NE serves as a major east-west corridor connecting downtown Bellevue to Redmond and the Sammamish Plateau. This area sees heavy commuter traffic during peak hours and shopping traffic throughout weekends. Cameras at major intersections show conditions along NE 8th and access to I-405.

Overlake & Bel-Red: The Overlake area north of downtown is home to significant portions of Microsoft's campus and has been undergoing massive redevelopment as light rail construction advances. NE 20th Street, Bel-Red Road, and 148th Avenue NE form the primary grid, with cameras covering the approaches to SR-520 and connections to Redmond. This area experiences concentrated peaks aligned with Microsoft's core hours.

Newcastle & Somerset: South of I-90, Newcastle and Somerset are residential communities that feed into Bellevue via Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way. Morning rush hour sees heavy southbound traffic toward I-405 and I-90, with cameras showing conditions at the major merge points and the climb up Coal Creek Parkway from I-405.

Weather and Seasonal Patterns

The Eastside experiences typical Pacific Northwest weather — rainy winters and dry summers — but the impact on traffic is significant. Rain increases commute times by 20-30% across all routes, with particularly severe impacts on the floating bridges where visibility drops and wet roadways create hydroplaning hazards. According to Bellevue Vision Zero data, the city's streets experience a serious injury or fatality collision every 14 days on average, making real-time monitoring of road conditions essential for safety. Cameras provide real-time visibility into weather conditions and resulting traffic impacts.

Winter brings occasional snow events that can paralyze the region. The Eastside's hills and the floating bridges both become treacherous in even light snow, and many commuters lack experience driving in winter conditions. When snow is forecast, cameras show whether roadways are clear, slushy, or snow-covered, helping you decide whether to attempt the commute or work from home.

Summer construction season brings major projects to I-405, SR-520, and I-90, with overnight and weekend closures common. WSDOT typically schedules major work for Friday and Saturday nights when commuter traffic is lowest, but cameras show whether work zones are active and how they're impacting traffic flow.

Platform Features

TrafficVision.Live provides free access to 600+ live cameras throughout Bellevue and the Eastside, aggregating feeds from WSDOT, City of Bellevue, and King County. Every camera is accessible without registration, subscription fees, or paywalls. The platform is part of a global network of 135,000+ live traffic cameras from 600+ sources worldwide.

Route Builder: Create custom routes and see every camera along your path. Perfect for daily commuters who want to check their entire route before leaving. Save multiple routes for different destinations and access them instantly.

Favorites: Save cameras you check frequently for one-click access. Build a collection of key decision points along your commute — the I-405/SR-520 interchange, your regular off-ramp, the bridge crossing — and review them all in seconds.

Live Updates: Camera feeds refresh automatically to show current conditions. No manual reload required — the platform continuously updates imagery so you always see the latest available view.

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