Tom Pearce, communications, 206-440-4696
Dave Lindberg, project engineer, 206-225-8725

SEATTLE – Travelers who use northbound Interstate 5 into downtown Seattle should plan for major delays for bridge and pavement preservation work to “Revive I-5” this weekend, April 20-23. Nearby freeway ramps will also close.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will reduce northbound I-5 between the West Seattle Bridge and Olive Way from four to two lanes to replace worn and aging bridge expansion joints and rehabilitate portions of concrete on the 50-year old roadway. Overnight, a single lane will remain open.

Lane reductions and region-wide traffic delays
Travel delays are expected across the Puget Sound region during the weekend work, including alternate routes such as Interstates 90 and 405, State Routes 99, 509 and 599, as well as city streets. People who use southbound I-5 between Lynnwood and Seattle should also expect big backups and slow speeds with the express lanes remaining open in the northbound direction this weekend.

“We need weekend travelers to avoid I-5 this weekend,” said WSDOT Traffic Engineer Mike Swires. “However, delays won’t be limited to just I-5. As drivers use alternate routes, congestion could build region-wide.”

Construction closure details
Several lanes and ramps will begin to close 8 p.m. Friday night, April 20, and reopen for the morning commute by 5 a.m. Monday morning, April 23:

• Two lanes of northbound I-5 will remain open between the West Seattle Bridge and Olive Way from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
• A single lane will remain open each night from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• The Express Lanes will remain open in the northbound direction all weekend.
   

Ramp closures
The following ramps will be closed during the weekend construction:

• Northbound I-5 off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge, Spokane Street and Columbian Way
• Columbian Way on-ramp to northbound I-5
• Westbound I-90 on-ramp to northbound I-5
• Eastbound I-90/Edgar Martinez Drive on-ramp to northbound I-5
• Dearborn Street on-ramp to northbound I-5
• University Street on-ramp to northbound I-5
• Cherry Street on-ramp to northbound I-5
   

Additional weekend lane closures
This is the first of at least six weekends of northbound I-5 lane reductions between the West Seattle Bridge and SR 520. Two of the six weekends include full closures of northbound I-5. Scheduled weekends include:

• April 27-30: Two lanes open
• May 11-14: Two lanes open
• May 18-21: Full northbound I-5 closure
• June 1-4: Full northbound I-5 closure
• July 13-16: Two lanes open

Some of the scheduled work is weather dependent and could be postponed due to rain.

Trip planning tools
Before heading out the door, travelers can get real-time traffic information about #ReviveI5 on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app and by tracking the WSDOT Traffic Twitter feed.