All lanes of northbound Interstate 5 in SeaTac were blocked for more than five hours after a multi-vehicle crash early Monday, creating a two-mile backup before lanes reopened around 5:40 a.m.
The lanes were blocked at S 188th Street, where traffic was being diverted to Orillia Road. The Washington State Department of Transportation said the crash, shortly after 12:30 a.m., involved several vehicles. As of 4:45 a.m., the backup was already two miles long, according to WSDOT.
The extended closure affected early morning commuters traveling through the SeaTac area near the airport. WSDOT has not disclosed the cause of the crash, how many vehicles were involved, or whether anyone was injured. The lengthy closure suggests the collision required extensive cleanup or investigation before lanes could safely reopen.
The crash adds to ongoing traffic challenges on I-5 as the region continues dealing with construction projects and increased congestion from commuters returning to offices. Drivers heading north through the area during early morning hours faced significant delays as they were forced off the highway and onto surface streets.
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