By: RB McKeon
We get it – after many changes on the I-5 Yesler to Northgate project, when we say we've got some work to do this summer you might think this is a well-timed April Fools' joke – but it isn't. As negotiations with our contractor continue, we have identified approximately four weeks of critical construction activities in 2025 as the best way to complete the project by the end of the 2027 construction season.
Last time we talked about this project, we shared that the long-term linear lane closures originally planned for 2025 were pushed to 2026 to align construction spending with available funding. That's still true. While we pivoted away from long-term lane closures in 2025, a shortened season of work this summer will allow crews to understand the condition of the bridge below the surface and get back some of the time we lose next season when most work across the region is paused during the FIFA World Cup.
What's happening in 2025
We have four weeks of lane closures on northbound I-5 at the Ship Canal Bridge and two weekend closures of northbound I-5 between I-90 and Northeast 45th Street happening between Friday, July 25 and Monday, Aug. 25.
During this summer's closures, contractor crews from Atkinson Construction will:
- Repair and resurface up to 20% of the northbound Ship Canal Bridge deck.
- Partially repair five expansion joints.
- Replace bridge drain inlets.
Full closures and lane reductions
To complete this critical preservation work, construction crews will:
- Close all lanes of northbound I-5 from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street from Friday night, July 25 to early Monday morning, July 28. During the closure, crews will set up work zone barriers, restripe lanes and replace bridge drain inlets.
- When northbound I-5 reopens on July 28, it will be reduced to two lanes for approximately four weeks, with the speed limit reduced to 50 mph.
- Close all lanes of northbound I-5 for a second weekend from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street from Friday night, Aug. 22, to early Monday morning, Aug. 25, when all lanes reopen. During the closure, crews will remove the work zone, restripe lanes and replace bridge drain inlets.
There's never a good time to do this work
Recognizing the difficulty of closing lanes on I-5 during Seattle's busy summer, WSDOT scheduled this work to avoid major holiday weekends and peak events, such as Fourth of July, Labor Day and Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame celebration at T-Mobile Park.
And, to help mitigate the effect on traffic:
- The I-5 express lanes will remain open in the northbound direction around-the-clock during the lane reductions.
- Drivers can use I-90 exits, the collector-distributor lanes or alternate routes to navigate closures.
Why now?
The I-5 Ship Canal Bridge carries nearly 200,000 vehicles a day, and its deck has reached a point where delays in repairs will only lead to more frequent and severe rehabilitation needs. The summer 2025 work allows WSDOT to:
- Prevent more emergency repairs that cause unexpected traffic disruptions.
- Stay on track for the 2026-27 bridge rehabilitation project, avoiding conflicts with the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
- Gather critical data on the bridge's condition below the surface to better prepare for future work in 2026 and 2027.
- Evaluate the effect on traffic of a northbound closure, especially with express lanes running northbound around-the-clock during this period.
This isn't an April Fools' joke, and we promise, it's for a good reason. There's never a perfect time to close lanes on I-5, but these four weeks of work help keep us on track for the bigger preservation project ahead.
We'll keep working with our partners, sharing updates, and making sure you know before you go.