SEATTLE — World Cup games have concluded in Seattle and ‘Revive I-5’ repairs resume Friday with lane closures over the Ship Canal Bridge.
Washington State Dept. of Transportation will close northbound Interstate 5 on- and off-ramps from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street beginning Friday July 10 at 9 p.m. Northbound I-5 from I-90 to NE 45th Street will close completely at 11:59 p.m. Friday.
According to WSDOT, this full northbound closure allows crews to set up a work zone in the northbound two right lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge.
Southbound lanes of I-5 will remain open during the northbound closure, but the express lanes will remain northbound-only 24 hours a day–just as it had been during Revive I-5 before international soccer matches started in mid-June.
When northbound I-5 reopens at 5 a.m. on Monday, July 13, this section of the freeway will be reduced to two left lanes from four across the Ship Canal Bridge until the end of 2026. The Harvard Avenue East on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed until mid-October as traffic shifts throughout the work zone.
WSDOT says, a reduced 50 m.p.h. speed limit will be in place for everyone’s safety and travelers also should be aware that may be new configurations throughout the work zone from SR 520 to just past the Northeast 45th/50th streets off-ramp.
Southbound I-5 commuters be warned
Express lanes will operate northbound-only 24 hours a day for all Revive I-5 lane reductions and closures through the end of the year–until December now. Those traveling to or through Seattle may experience traffic delays as the express lanes will not run southbound as they typically do in the morning.
The Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation Project is the largest active highway preservation project in Washington state, according to WSDOT. Crews are repairing and resurfacing the upper bridge deck, replacing aged expansion joints and improving drainage. This work will extend the life of the bridge and avoid more unplanned lane and highway closures to make emergency repairs.
Additional weekend work
In addition to the full closure of northbound I-5, from 9 p.m. Thursday, July 9, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 13, traffic will not be allowed along either direction of SR 18 beneath the I-90 bridges near Snoqualmie. All right-turning ramps will remain open at the I-90/SR 18 interchange during this full closure. Crews working for WSDOT will complete final paving for the Diverging Diamond Interchange under I-90. Crews will also remove temporary barrier, install permanent impact attenuators, install guardrail, paint temporary striping, install electrical loops, place curbing, and adjust stormwater drainage. Detour routes are available. This closure requires dry weather and may be rescheduled with short notice if rain is forecast.