Northbound I-5 in Seattle is reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge until June. The express lanes will remain open northbound-only 24 hours a day.
Project overview
WSDOT built Interstate 5, Washington’s main freeway, in the 1960s. The busiest section runs through Seattle with almost 240,000 vehicles traveling across the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge daily. This critical highway now requires major preservation and repairs.
Working with our contractor, Atkinson Construction, we have prioritized repairs on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge, which last had a major preservation effort about 40 years ago.
Through the Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation project, WSDOT will repair and resurface the upper bridge deck, replace concrete and aging bridge expansion joints, improve drainage and address other maintenance issues. Major construction will continue over the next two years, ending in 2027. This planned preservation effort will help extend the life of the bridge and prevent more unplanned traffic disruptions.
What to expect
We’re committed to helping you get to, through or around Seattle so you can experience everything the region has to offer – just remember to plan ahead.
Northbound I-5 Ship Canal Bridge reduced to two lanes until June
Northbound I-5 is reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge so crews can repair and resurface the bridge deck.
Schedule of northbound I-5 closures and reductions:
- Jan. 9 - 12: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone set up) - complete.
- Jan. 12 - June 5: months-long two left northbound I-5 lane reduction across the Ship Canal Bridge.
- June 5 - 8: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone removal).
- June 8 - July 10: all lanes of I-5 reopened for FIFA World Cup games.
- July 10 -13: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone set up).
- July 13 - end of 2026: months-long two right northbound I-5 lane reduction across the Ship Canal Bridge.
- End of 2026: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone removal).
Weekend-long full closures for work zone set up or removal are weather dependent. Crews need dry weather to re-stripe lanes. That means if the weather is too rainy, crews will reschedule work for the following weekend.
Express lanes
During lane reductions and full closures, the express lanes will operate in the direction of the work 24 hours a day. See the maps and drawings section for details.
- Those traveling in the opposite direction of the work may also experience delays because the express lanes will not reverse.
- All drivers may use the express lanes. Please observe signage as select ramps will remain HOV-only.
2027
In 2027, expect months-long reductions of southbound I-5 lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge. Crews again will need weekend-long full directional closures of I-5 to install and remove the work zones. We will share more specific details closer to the planned work.
Know before you go
You can expect delays during periods of construction on the Ship Canal Bridge. Plan ahead and give yourself extra time to travel.
We encourage you to ride transit – it’s the best, most reliable way to get around – and youth 18 and under ride free. If you’re planning on traveling to and from Seattle, refer to the available transit resources in our Related links tab.
The two left lanes of northbound I-5 at the Ship Canal Bridge are closed until June 5, when there will be another weekend-long closure to open all lanes prior to the World Cup games in Seattle. A third weekend-long closure is planned in July to reset the work zone for the two right lanes. Finally, there will be a weekend-long closure to remove the work zone when work is complete at the end of 2026.
The Ship Canal Bridge is critical to the region, moving almost 240,000 vehicles each day. The bridge is 60 years old and the deck has not seen a preservation effort in 40 years; it is showing signs of significant deterioration. WSDOT completed more than 200 emergency repairs on the bridge between 2019 and 2024, work that was unplanned and unexpectedly affected traffic throughout the region.
We’re setting the stage for long-term work to preserve the lifeline that I-5 has become for our region. We know that I-5 connects people to their jobs, families, and communities, and it keeps our economy moving. That’s why, even as we focus on this critical work now, we’re already planning for the next steps to keep the entire corridor safe and reliable for generations to come.
