Major sports events, full closure on I-405 will make for very busy Seattle commute all weekend

This weekend around the Seattle area might go down as one of the busiest of the summer for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

A handful of closures will make for tough travel through Seattle on a very busy weekend that includes the Mariners 50th Season Celebration and the Seahawks Fan Fest, both Saturday and next door to each other. Sound Transit suggests taking the train if you can and save yourself the headache of driving and parking.

Northbound I-405 closure in Bellevue and Renton

Northbound I-405 will close from North Southport Drive/Northeast Sunset Boulevard to Coal Creek Parkway Southeast from 11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to 4 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10. A signed detour will be in place.

Crews will excavate drainage crossings and complete full pavement replacements and a traffic switch on northbound I-405 as part of the I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project.

This full closure of northbound  I-405 will send all those drivers to northbound I-5 during the weekend, adding to our steady march of sports fans heading into downtown Seattle on Saturday.

I-405/Northeast 85th Street interchange closures in Kirkland

The northbound and southbound I-405 on- and off-ramps (exit 18) and Northeast 85th Street from Sixth Street to 120th Avenue Northeast will close at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10

Detours will be in place while crews grade pavement on Northeast 85th Street and install drainage.

Eastbound SR 520 overnight closure

Eastbound SR 520 will close overnight between I-5 and Montlake Boulevard from 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, to 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. All traffic from I-5 heading to eastbound SR 520 must use alternate routes.

Eastbound SR 520 is open across Lake Washington. Only the section of eastbound SR 520 between I-5 and Montlake Boulevard will close.

Crews will repair an expansion joint on the bridge. This work is part of the SR 520 Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project.

Fall City: SR 202 emergency closure planned 

Emergency work along SR 202 in Fall City, which requires a second weekend-long closure to repair erosion damage caused by major storms in December 2025 and March 2026, will begin Friday, Aug. 7.

From 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, SR 202 will fully close just east of the SR 202/SR 203 roundabout. Please note that this is an updated schedule that shortens the closure by about 8 hours.

Signed detours via I-90 will help guide people around the closure. Detours may add 45 minutes or more to travel times through the area, so people are encouraged to plan for longer trips.

Preparation and detour details

Crews will use the weekend-long closure to rebuild the road embankment along the Snoqualmie River at milepost 22, just east of the SR 202/SR 203 roundabout in Fall City.

During the closure, crews will place woody material, boulders, streambed gravel mix and stone fragments to restore the roadside embankment to its original grade.

Traffic will alternate in the work zone from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 11 to Aug. 12.

Possible effects on river users

Recreational river users may also be affected by this work.

Portions of the Snoqualmie and Raging rivers may be closed during in-water work to keep people safe while construction vehicles and cranes repair the riverbank.

Public access to the rivers and nearby boat launches may also be affected during this work.

Bellevue: Overnight eastbound I-90 lane, ramp closures resume 

Overnight lane and ramp closures on eastbound I-90 in Bellevue will continue starting Sunday, Aug. 9, to support a paving project that will last through the summer.

Closure details

The following closures are planned from as early as 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Sunday, Aug. 9, until Friday morning, Aug. 14:

• Eastbound I-90 on-ramp from Bellevue Way Southeast.
• Eastbound I-90 off-ramps to Factoria Boulevard Southeast, 148th Ave. SE and 150th Ave. SE.
• Up to two lanes of eastbound I-90 between Bellevue Way Southeast and 150th Ave. SE.

Signed detours will guide people around ramp closures. This work is weather dependent and could be rescheduled if rain is forecast.

Contractor crews will continue guardrail replacement along the I-90 corridor. This work supports a project that is repaving nearly 2 miles of eastbound I-90 in Bellevue.

Nate Connors is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Follow him on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.

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