Seattle highway closures, southbound I-405 shutdown in Bothell mean weekend detours
Oct 9, 2026, 7:00 PM
A red and white 'Road Closed' sign stands prominently on an urban street. (Photo: wirestock via Envato)
(Photo: wirestock via Envato)
Drivers traveling through Seattle and Bothell should plan for highway and ramp closures beginning Friday, Oct. 9, including overnight closures of the I-5 express lanes and a full weekend closure of southbound I-405.
I-5 express lanes closing overnight in Seattle
The I-5 express lanes will close at the following times:
- 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, to 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.
- 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, to 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11.
- 11 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12.
The express lanes have only been open northbound during the Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation construction. Crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will use the closures to complete work on the underside of the bridge.
WSDOT reopened the Harvard Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5 Friday morning, three days ahead of schedule.
Southbound I-405 closing for the weekend in Bothell
Southbound I-405 will close between SR 527 and SR 522 from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, to 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12. A detour will be in place.
Crews will work on drainage, pavement reconstruction, and bridge repairs as part of the I-405/Brickyard to SR 527 Improvement Project.
The following ramps will also close:
- SR 527 on-ramp to southbound I-405.
- Northeast 195th on- and off-ramps to I-405.
- Southbound I-405 off-ramp to SR 522.
The detour on southbound SR 527 cannot accommodate normal I-405 freeway traffic volumes. Travelers should expect delays on southbound I-5, especially Sunday, Oct. 11, when the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field.
I-5 off-ramp to Northeast 130th Street closing for 10 days
Sound Transit crews will close the northbound I-5 off-ramp to NE 130th St. in Seattle from 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19.
The closure supports ongoing construction at the new Pinehurst Link light rail station.
SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard closing overnight
The eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard in Seattle will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. overnight Saturday, Oct. 10, and nightly Oct. 12-15.
Crews will use the closures to continue removing the old off-ramp and deliver materials needed for an upcoming traffic shift in 2027.
While the ramp is closed, all traffic entering eastbound SR 520 from I-5 will cross Lake Washington and pay the SR 520 bridge toll. Drivers who want to avoid the toll or reach Montlake from I-5 must use alternate routes.
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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