Drivers heading through downtown Seattle this weekend should expect significant delays as northbound Interstate 5 will be completely closed for the second time this summer.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) confirmed that the closure will begin late Friday night and last until early Monday morning, stretching from the I-90 interchange to Northeast 45th Street, just beyond the Ship Canal Bridge.
The Ship Canal Bridge, which has been reduced to two northbound lanes for the past month, will fully reopen once the work wraps up on August 18. Crews have been repairing and resurfacing the upper deck, replacing deteriorated concrete and aging expansion joints, improving drainage, and addressing other long-overdue maintenance needs.
WSDOT noted that the I-5 express lanes, which have been running northbound during the bridge lane reductions, will remain open northbound throughout this weekend’s closure. Once I-5 reopens Monday, the express lanes will revert to their usual alternating northbound and southbound schedule.
To navigate around the closure, WSDOT recommends drivers use Edgar Martinez Drive or the Dearborn, James, and Madison Street exits before reaching the barricades. The first available exit from the northbound express lanes will be Northeast 42nd Street in the University District.
Similar southbound closures on the Ship Canal Bridge are planned for this fall, with specific dates yet to be announced. WSDOT also cautioned that “months-long” northbound lane reductions are scheduled for 2026 and 2027, with more details expected later this year.
