Drivers passing through downtown Seattle this weekend are in for a rough ride. Multiple highway closures across the region — including the I-5 express lanes and a key State Route 520 off-ramp — are expected to create significant delays starting Friday night, September 11.
I-5 express lanes close for Ship Canal Bridge work
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will shut down the I-5 express lanes as part of the Revive I-5 project, reducing northbound traffic through downtown to just two lanes. Crews will work on drainage pipes on the underside of the upper Ship Canal Bridge deck.
The first closure runs from 11 p.m. Friday, September 11, through early Monday, September 14. A second closure follows from 11 p.m. Friday, October 2, to 5 a.m. Monday, October 5. Drivers diverting away from northbound I-5 should expect heavier-than-normal traffic on northbound Interstate 405 in Bellevue as a result.
Eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake closes for a week
The eastbound State Route 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard will be completely closed for a full week — from Saturday, September 12, to Saturday, September 19 — while crews tear down portions of the old ramp structure. WSDOT’s Steve Peer confirmed the closure kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Saturday the 12th, four hours after the Husky game. It then runs around the clock Monday through Friday before wrapping up at 8 a.m. the following Saturday the 19th.
Good news for Husky fans, though: WSDOT promises that the ramp won’t close until after the main arrival period for this Saturday’s game.
Three more regional closures to watch
The disruptions don’t stop at I-5 and SR 520. Three additional closures are in effect across the greater Seattle area this weekend:
Westbound I-90 across Lake Washington (Mercer Island/Seattle) closes overnight from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 for tunnel maintenance.
The I-405/Northeast 85th Street interchange in Kirkland shuts down from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14. Northeast 85th Street will be closed between Sixth Street and 120th Avenue Northeast while crews install electrical infrastructure and prepare the road for paving.
Weeknight lane and ramp closures on I-405 in Bellevue and Kirkland continue as part of an ongoing pavement repair project underway since June. Expect overnight shutdowns from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Thursday, along two stretches: Northeast Eighth to 60th Streets in Bellevue, and Northeast 85th to 145th Streets in Kirkland.
If your route touches any of these corridors this weekend, build in extra time, take public transit, or find an alternate path before you hit the road.
