Montlake pedestrian bridge closes for a week at SR 520
Oct 19, 2026, 8:00 AM
WSDOT combined two photos on Oct. 31 to create this top-down panorama of the nearly complete Montlake lid and interchange on SR 520 in Seattle. (Photos courtesy of the WSDOT)
(Photos courtesy of the WSDOT)
Pedestrians and bicyclists at Montlake will need to navigate a detour crossing over SR 520 for a full week, beginning Monday, Oct. 19, at 7 a.m.
Closure details and detour route
Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews will close the Montlake pedestrian bridge over SR 520 to replace concrete panels. The extended closure allows the concrete to cure before pedestrians and cyclists who rely on this crossing can access it again.
A short detour will direct people to the 24th Avenue E overpass, just to the west of the Montlake pedestrian bridge. From there, riders, rollers, and strollers will be directed back to the Montlake pathway.
The closure is scheduled to wrap up by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.
More closures from eastbound SR 520 to Montlake Boulevard
More overnight closures are scheduled this week at Montlake Boulevard while crews continue to remove the old off-ramp. This work is expected to last through the end of October.
Currently scheduled closure nights
- Monday, Oct. 19, through Thursday, Oct. 22
- Monday, Oct. 26, through Thursday, Oct. 29
- Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1
Nightly closures run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Travelers heading east on SR 520 will not be able to exit at Montlake Boulevard and will need to continue across Lake Washington and pay the SR 520 bridge toll.
A reminder: If you cross the lake eastbound on SR 520 and turn around to access Montlake from westbound SR 520, you will be charged two separate tolls.
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More closures from Westbound SR 520 to northbound I-5 and East Roanoke Street
To add a little more confusion to the Montlake area this week, crews will continue to close the westbound SR 520 off-ramps to northbound I-5 and E Roanoke Street on select weeknights to excavate near the off-ramps.
Currently scheduled closure nights
- Monday, Oct. 19, through Thursday, Oct. 22
- Monday, Oct. 26, through Thursday, Oct. 29
Westbound SR 520 drivers continuing past the Montlake Boulevard and Lake Washington Boulevard exits must detour to southbound I-5. A single lane of westbound SR 520 between Montlake Boulevard and I-5 will also close.
Stay up to date on the latest SR 520/Montlake projects here.
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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