Major Puget Sound highway work starts tonight, plan ahead.

Seattle-Area Drivers Brace for Major Highway Closures This Week

Commuters in the Seattle area should prepare for significant travel disruptions as multiple major highway construction projects are set to begin. The series of closures will impact key routes on both the east and west sides of Lake Washington, primarily during overnight and weekend hours.

Major I-5 Lane Reductions in Seattle

The first major disruption starts on Interstate 5. Northbound lanes between the I-90 interchange and Olive Way will see multiple left lanes closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday. Crews will be conducting crucial bridge expansion joint repairs. During this same period, the northbound exit to Seneca Street will also be completely blocked.

Weekend Shutdown on the Eastside

A more substantial closure is scheduled for the east side of the lake. All southbound lanes of I-405 between State Route 520 and Northeast 85th Street in Kirkland will be shut down from 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday. This full weekend closure is necessary for crews to demolish the old Northeast 85th Street bridge. A signed detour will route drivers onto 108th Avenue Northeast.

Simultaneously, the southbound I-405 ramp to westbound SR 520 will be closed. Drivers wishing to access westbound SR 520 must continue south on I-405 to the Northeast 70th Street interchange and follow the posted detour signs.

Overnight Work on SR 520 Bridge

Adding to the congestion, the State Route 520 floating bridge will face overnight lane reductions. From 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights, crews will close two of the four westbound lanes for ongoing construction and maintenance work. Transportation officials warn that backups are likely, especially during the Monday morning commute following the weekend work.

All projects are weather-dependent and subject to change. Officials strongly advise the public to check real-time traffic maps, plan for considerable extra travel time, and consider using alternate routes or public transportation where possible.

What do you think?

• Are these extended weekend highway closures the most effective approach, or do they unfairly penalize residents who rely on their cars for weekend work and leisure?


• With traffic consistently ranked as a top concern, should the region impose a temporary moratorium on non-emergency highway work during peak economic recovery periods?


• Does the repeated disruption from massive infrastructure projects shake your confidence in the long-term planning of our state's transportation agencies?


• If you had to choose, is it better to endure these intense, short-term closures or spread the work out with longer-lasting but less severe lane reductions?