This weekend, northbound I-5 in Seattle will face major restrictions as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) carries out several projects north of downtown at the same time. The most challenging area will be near the Ship Canal, where construction projects will coincide with the usual traffic congestion. Officials say they are accelerating the work partly because summer workdays were lost during the World Cup, while the backlog has also been attributed to I-5 maintenance being deferred in favor of major infrastructure projects.
From 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, the northbound I-5 express lanes will be closed while crews replace drainage systems beneath the Ship Canal Bridge. Two lanes on the bridge itself are already under construction through December, so traffic could slow even further.
The closure of the express lanes will be especially disruptive because of Seattle’s transportation network. Only a few major road crossings, including I-5 and SR-99, cross the Ship Canal, while most local streets are not designed to handle that volume of traffic. Express lanes usually help distribute traffic during rush hour, but vehicles will now be diverted to the regular lanes, SR-99, other bridges and nearby streets. As a result, congestion could quickly spread to both sides of the canal and surrounding neighborhoods.
During the same period, the eastbound section of Highway 520 between I-5 and Montlake Boulevard will be closed. Crews are preparing to remove an old ramp and sections of the elevated roadway ahead of construction of a new concrete bridge across Portage Bay.
Additional restrictions will affect the Aurora Bridge on Highway 99: the southbound lanes will be closed Saturday morning for an inspection, while northbound traffic will be restricted Sunday. In Kirkland, the I-405 and Northeast 85th Street interchange will be completely closed from Friday evening until Monday morning for paving. In Tukwila, up to two lanes of southbound I-405 will be closed Saturday evening and during the day Sunday. Overnight construction will also close the Highway 99 tunnel beneath downtown Seattle in both directions.
Sunday traffic will be further increased by a Seattle Seahawks home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Additional Sounder trains have been scheduled for fans, but they will serve only certain routes and may not be suitable for the trip home after the game. Passengers are advised to check the Sound Transit schedule in advance, confirm the departure times of the last trains and buses, and purchase tickets. Alternatives include Link light rail, buses or parking and transferring to public transit. Those planning to return late should arrange a backup option, such as traveling to a transit hub, sharing a taxi or using a car-share service.
Passengers traveling from the Eastside to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport should take the construction in Tukwila into account. In addition, the Hoh River Bridge on Highway 101 along the coast remains closed between Forks and Queets. Because of structural cracks, detours lasting several hours may be necessary through Oct. 6, and another multiday closure is scheduled for next week.
Based on: Seattle weekend traffic forecast calls for pain at the Ship Canal