As part of the Washington State Department's Revive I-5 project all lanes of northbound I-5 will be closed between the West Seattle Bridge and Olive Way beginning at 8 p.m. Friday night, June 1, and reopen for the morning commute by 5 a.m. Monday morning, June 4.
Contractor crews working on nearly 13 miles of northbound Interstate 5 from Martin Luther King Junior Way South/State Route 900 to Northeast Ravenna Boulevard will:
- replace 37 expansion joints
- replace large sections of concrete pavement
- grind the roadway
- repave
- add pedestrian ramp upgrades and safety barrier improvements.
This is substantial weather-sensitive highway work that will require multiple nighttime lane closures, along with weekend-long lane reductions during the busy summer travel months. The project schedule must be carefully coordinated with nearby construction projects, the City of Seattle and transit agencies.
Why is WSDOT repairing this section of northbound I-5?
Approximately 100,000 vehicles use this section of northbound I-5 each day. The interstate was built in the 1960s. The concrete pavement was only intended to last 25 years, but has now doubled its lifespan.
In addition to its age, the increasing number of cars and heavy trucks on the road, along with freeze/thaw cycles, have contributed to the deterioration of the highway. Drivers can notice this in the tell-tale "thump, thump, thump" of their vehicle's wheels. That's the sign of a broken concrete panel that is rocking back and forth, and beyond its lifespan.
What should drivers expect?
To successfully complete the work, the following northbound I-5 traffic control is required:
- Multiple weekend-long lane reductions and associated ramp closures.
- Overnight lane and ramp closures throughout the duration of the project.
- Generally, no closures will be allowed on Friday nights, except during the weekend lane reductions.
The End Result
This preservation and improvement work will extend the useful life of the interstate for years to come, creating safer and improved driving conditions for the thousands of travelers who use it each day. This project is part of a years-long effort to preserve I-5 through King County.
Needs & benefits
- Preservation: Replacing broken concrete panels, repaving, and grinding the roadway improves the driving surface and extends the life of I-5. Replacing bridge expansion joints ensures the highway will remain safe and operational.
- Safety: Improving the highway surface eliminates and helps prevent future potholes, cracks and wheel ruts, making for a smoother ride for drivers. Replacing expansion joints reduces the chances that an aging expansion joint could become dislodged or fail, creating a hazard to drivers and forcing an emergency closure of the bridge. Reconstructed ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps create an easier transition between street and sidewalk.
- Economic: Replacing broken concrete panels, repaving and replacing bridge expansion joints reduces the need for emergency repairs, which are costly to taxpayers and can cause additional congestion during peak commute hours.
Revive I-5 Downtown Seattle
- Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, June 1, ALL LANES OF NORTHBOUND I-5 will close at the West Seattle Bridge until 5 a.m. Monday, June 4, weather dependent.
- The following ramps will also close:
- The southbound I-405 HOV off-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The Interurban Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The MLK Junior Way/SR 900 on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The Boeing Access Road on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The northbound I-5 off-ramp to the northbound I-5 express lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Edgar Martinez Drive will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Seneca Street will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The Swift Avenue/Albro Place on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The Southcenter Boulevard on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 10:30 p.m. Friday to 5:30 a.m. Monday.
- The Michigan Street/Corson Way on-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 10:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
- The southbound I-405 general purpose off-ramp to northbound I-5 will be closed from 11:59 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
I-5 Tukwila
- Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, June 1, northbound I-5 traffic will be reduced to two lanes across the Duwamish River Bridge until 5 a.m. Monday, June 4, weather dependent.
I-5 Express Lanes
- Saturday, June 2 & Sunday, June 3: The I-5 express lanes will be open in the southbound direction from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
- Saturday, June 2 & Sunday, June 3: The I-5 express lanes will be open in the northbound direction from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
I-5 Ship Canal Bridge
- Saturday, June 2: Southbound I-5 traffic will be reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge from 2 a.m. to noon, weather dependent.
- Sunday, June 3: Southbound I-5 traffic will be reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge from 2 to 11 a.m. The Northeast 45th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will also be closed, weather dependent.