Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Mission: Not-So-Impossible – Operation Ship Canal Bridge

By: RB McKeon

Aerial view of highway bridge with overlay text reading "Mission: Not So Impossible, Operation Ship Canal Bridge."
A photo of the Ship Canal Bridge taken from above shows a patchwork of repairs that have been needed in recent years as the deck surface continues to show signs of wear and tear.

This is your mission, Seattle – should you choose to accept it.

Starting 10 p.m. Friday, June 20 through 5 a.m. Monday, June 23, northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge will be reduced to two lanes from SR 520 to Northeast 45th Street. Think of it as a preview of this summer’s big feature: a four-week-long two-lane reduction starting July 18.

But don’t worry, this mission is not impossible. Why? Because we’re giving you everything you need to plan head, test your options and ace the mission.

The objective: Set the stage and stay on track

This weekend’s mission isn’t just a dress rehearsal, it’s a critical setup for the summer’s main event that begins the weekend of July 18 and runs four weeks, ending on Aug. 18.

Crews will complete drainage and demolition work this weekend and prepare the bridge for upcoming around-the-clock lane reductions. Specifically, they’ll work on drainage and replace about 80% of the bridge’s scuppers in the northbound section. This work also allows our contractor to test their plan and make sure the work will go smoothly, helping us stay on schedule.

For you, this weekend is a chance to test your alternate routes, adjust travel times or try transit before the real mission begins. July’s work will be longer and more intense, but certainly not impossible, especially if you’ve already got a plan.

Mission details: What’s happening June 20-23

Map shows I-5 between Mercer Street and Northeast 45th Street. Detailed closure information in text below.
Northbound I-5 will have lane reductions and shift traffic from SR 520 to Northeast 45th Street from Friday night, June 20, through Monday morning, June 23.
  • Northbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge all weekend.
  • To create two through lanes we will restripe the shoulder to use as a temporary lane. This requires short full closures of northbound I-5 and several ramps that will occur twice:
    • Between 12:01 and 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 and again on Monday, June 23, to allow for restriping.
    • The Mercer Street and westbound SR 520 on-ramps to northbound I-5 will be closed.
    • If the weather is bad, we won’t be able to restripe to create two through lanes, but the drainage work will still take place because it is not weather dependent.
  • The Mercer on-ramp to the express lanes will remain open.
  • The Harvard Avenue East on-ramp will remain open.
  • Express lanes will run northbound all weekend to help ease congestion.
    • Expect lane reductions in the express lanes:
      • 7 p.m. Saturday, June 21 until 5 a.m. Sunday, June 22.
      • 7-11:59 p.m. Sunday June 22.

Mission strategy: smart planning and strategic timing

In any good mission, success starts with smart planning, and that includes when it takes place and where and how we divert traffic.

Why now?

In a region as active and fast-moving as the greater Puget Sound, there’s never a perfect time for major construction. That’s why we’ve worked closely with our partners to minimize conflicts with key summer events in Seattle. The timing of this work was carefully selected to avoid overlapping with the Seafair Torchlight Parade, Bite of Seattle, a series of sold-out concerts and the Seattle Mariners’ Ichiro Hall of Fame weekend festivities.

We know how important Seattle summers are, and we want to make sure people know what to expect when traveling to and through Seattle. With a little planning and coordination, you can still experience everything Seattle has to offer while we carry out the mission to preserve I-5 for the future.

Mission support tools:

The mission doesn’t require secret codes or spy gear, just a little planning. We’ve already chosen these dates to minimize impacts, and we have a lot of resources to help you succeed:

Try a different route, take transit, adjust your timing. This is your opportunity to experiment before July’s four-week operation.

Coming Soon: The Feature Film

2025: Four-week lane reduction on northbound I-5

  • July 18–21: Full closure
  • July 21–Aug. 15: Two-lane reduction
  • Aug. 15–18: Full closure

2026: Extended northbound I-5 lane reductions

2027: Extended southbound I-5 lane reductions

The trilogy ends with a new long-lasting bridge deck.

Your mission is simple: Know before you go. Plan ahead. And help us keep the region moving while we make essential repairs that will last for decades.

This message will not self-destruct. It’ll just help you survive summer traffic.

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