Travelers in Seattle should brace for significant traffic disruptions next year as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) begins its largest “Revive I-5” project to date.
Traffic in this area is already notoriously bad, and it will get much worse. The ambitious plan will renew an eight-mile stretch of Interstate 5 (I-5) between Yesler Way and Northgate, addressing critical infrastructure needs on one of the state’s busiest highways.
KIRO Nieuwsradio was the only media outlet present at the press conference on Thursday morning where this enormous traffic project was announced.
From the spring of 2025, two northbound lanes of the Scheepskanaal Bridge will be closed 24/7 for nine months. This will cause a major bottleneck for motorists. Additionally, the express lanes will only support northbound traffic at all times during this time, making the southbound commute even more challenging.
“Beginning in March 2025, the northbound Ship Canal Bridge will be reduced to two to three lanes,” said Ed Kane, a WSDOT Northwest Region representative. “We are having concrete barriers installed and we are starting to work on the other two lanes of the bridge. The express lanes will be open all the time northbound.”
The project includes major repairs to the eight-mile stretch of I-5
The project, which will continue until fall 2027, will include extensive repairs and repaving. Construction is being tackled piece by piece. According to Kane, the initiative is essential to maintaining the safety and efficiency of this important transportation corridor.
“Over the next three years, we will repair and repaving the Lake Washington Ship Canal Bridge and the Lakeview Viaduct southbound between the Ship Canal and Denny Way on an eight-mile stretch of I-5 between Yesler and Northgate,” said Kane. . “We will also replace some worn concrete panels on southbound I-5 between Yesler and the Ship Canal, and repave approximately 30 on- and off-ramps between the Ship Canal and Northgate, and replace several bridge expansion joints.”
The decision to undertake such a major project stems from the age of the highway and the frequency of emergency repairs. The Ship Canal Bridge alone required 49 emergency repairs between August 2022 and 2023, with almost 200 emergency repairs on the route since 2019.
To expedite work and minimize long-term disruptions, WSDOT has opted for a more intensive construction schedule.
“To complete this work as quickly as possible, we are allowing our contractor to close two lanes of I-5 in one direction for up to nine months per year,” Kane explained. “This is the most efficient and safest way to get the job done. It provides a safe work zone for the people doing the work and allows daytime work, which is the most efficient way to do the job.”
The project will be carried out in phases, with significant lane reductions and complete closures planned to facilitate construction. In 2026, the focus will shift to the southern lanes.
“In the spring through June, we will reduce southbound I-5 to two lanes from the Ship Canal Bridge to Denny Way,” Kane noted. “We will be opening all lanes again in June for the World Cup events, so there will be no lane restrictions at that time. Our contractor will return in July, reinstate the lane closure and continue working into the fall,” Kane said.
I-5 restoration project final phase in 2027
The final phase in 2027 will see work continue on the southbound lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge to Mercer.
“By spring 2027, through the fall, the contractor will have two lanes closed and two lanes open again on southbound I-5, this time from the Ship Canal Bridge to Mercer,” Kane said. “Again, the express lanes will be open all the time southbound.”
The project also includes the paving of approximately 30 driveways, which will occur primarily during nighttime and weekend closures. Complete directional closures of I-5 will be required to establish and dismantle work zones.
“Every year we have a full closing weekend to set up the work,” Kane explains. “We will have another closure in the middle of the year to change the work zone.”
WSDOT urges drivers to plan accordingly
WSDOT recognized the significant impact this project will have on commuters and urged the public to plan accordingly.
“We know this work will cause major disruptions for people traveling up and down I-5,” Kane said. “We recommend that you carpool, use public transport and travel outside peak hours where possible. The WSDOT website has several planning tools. As WSDOT says, “Know before you go.” Take a look at the website, see where the traffic is and what the best way to get to your destination is.”
Despite the expected headaches, the Revive I-5 project is seen as a necessary step to ensure the long-term viability of Seattle’s main north-south artery.
“It’s time to go after work,” Kane said. “This is the most efficient and safest way to get the job done.”
For more information about the project and to view a map, visit WSDOT’s website.
You can read more stories by Nate Connors here. Follow Nate on X here and the traffic team of KIRO Nieuwsradio here for more traffic updates.
