Weekend work on I-5 postponed due to wet weather
Apr 10, 2018, 12:45 PM | Updated: Apr 27, 2018, 10:31 am
Paving work on a previous stretch of I-5 in 2017. (WSDOT)
(WSDOT)
UPDATE: The state has again postponed work on northbound I-5 in Seattle.
The plan was to close two lanes in the northbound lanes through the weekend so crews could replace concrete near the West Seattle Bridge and under the I-90 interchange.
Crews were also going begin replacing expansion joints between University and Mercer streets.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says the work will be rescheduled for the weekend of May 12-13.
RELATED: Emergency expansion joint repair causes major I-5 snarl
The I-5 stretch through Seattle opened in the 1960s. WSDOT notes that “full-blown rehabilitation has never happened” since then. That’s going to change over the coming weeks as work continues between northbound I-5 between MLK Way and Northeast Ravenna Avenue. Seattle will get 13 miles of new concrete and asphalt, as well as 37 new expansion joints. The job comes with a $51.2 million price tag.
The work can only be done during dry weather.
The current schedule is:
- POSTPONED – April 13-16: Northbound I-5 ramp to West Seattle Bridge/Columbian Way closure
- April 20-23: Weekend lane reductions
- POSTPONED – April 27-30: Weekend lane reductions
- May 11-14: Weekend lane reductions
- May 18-21: Full northbound closure
- June 1-4: Full northbound closure
- July 13-16: Weekend lane reductions
While the closures through Seattle may be most noticeable, the work to “revive I-5” began in 2017 on a stretch of southbound I-5 between the Duwamish River Bridge in Tukwila and South 320th Street in Federal Way.
WSDOT recommends that commuters use public transportation, light rail, carpool, bike, or walk to get around the freeway closures. It notes that I-405 will remain open, as well as other highways such as 99, 509, and 518. WSDOT also recommends that people could plan to spend the night in Seattle to avoid traveling during the work hours.
