SR 520's Montlake Project: Summer steps forward, fall closures ahead

By Nicole Phaysith

As summer gives way to fall, we want to catch you up with what’s been happening on the Montlake Project in Seattle. Here’s a recap of the progress we’ve made this summer – and what you can expect in the coming months.

Past and future

State Route 520 corridor neighbors may recall receiving a mailer earlier this summer about planned closures for Montlake Boulevard and Lake Washington Boulevard. At the time, we made our best guess about how much work – and how many closures – we needed to complete the work. As with many construction projects, we faced some challenges and will need to schedule some additional closures in the fall and winter.

Between now and the end of the year, we anticipate up to seven SR 520 and Montlake Boulevard weekend closures. Some Montlake and SR 520 closures will overlap, while others may be separate. We will avoid UW football and Seahawk weekends unless we work within shorter closure windows before/after the games. Many of these closures are weather dependent, so some could slip into early 2024. You can also expect some single-lane closures, ramp closures and overnight SR 520 full closures.

We acknowledge these setbacks and recognize the impacts of extended closures on the community. We’re continuing to work with our contractor to complete the work and keep traffic moving with the least impact to the community.

Montlake Boulevard

Looking north at Montlake Boulevard’s realignment into its final configuration June to July 2023

Lake Washington Boulevard

Looking northwest at Lake Washington Boulevard in August 2023

SR 520

Looking northwest at parallel “twin” bridges on SR 520 approaching the
Montlake neighborhood in late August 2023

More milestones to come

There’s much more to celebrate next year as we complete our final milestones on the project. By spring 2024 we will open:

• A bike and pedestrian tunnel under Montlake Boulevard, connecting the cross-lake SR 520 Trail to the Bill Dawson Trail.
• A bike and pedestrian bridge over SR 520, east of the Montlake lid. This bridge will enhance connectivity between Lake Washington Boulevard and East Montlake Park.
• A regional transit hub on the new Montlake lid, improving access to public transportation.
• Last but not least, a new three-acre Montlake lid over SR 520! #LaunchTheLid!

Closures and what you need to know

We appreciate your patience during a busy summer of construction and closures. It's important to note that closure details provided here may change due to factors such as weather conditions. Bottom-line:  Between now and the end of the year, you can expect up to seven weekend closures of SR 520 and Montlake Boulevard. Some Montlake and SR 520 closures will overlap, while others may be separate.

Wondering how to stay in the loop?

Here are the easiest ways to stay updated about closure information, as it becomes available:

• Check our online Construction Corner map
• Sign up for weekly email updates. Just enter your email address, and under "Construction, Planning & Projects," open "Projects," then "Rest of the West news."