Seattle road closures that could interrupt your weekend travel plans

Getting to Montlake from downtown Seattle will be a challenge beginning this weekend.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has planned a weeklong closure of the Montlake Boulevard off-ramp from eastbound SR 520.

Weeklong closure at Montlake Boulevard off-ramp

Crews have a lot on their plate during this closure as they prepare for the future traffic shift in early 2027. During the seven-day closure, WSDOT will remove sections of the old Montlake Boulevard off-ramp, which closed earlier this summer. The new off-ramp will close to give crews enough space to work safely and efficiently.

This will cut off a major access point to the University of Washington and the Laurelhurst neighborhood coming in from downtown Seattle. This will send added volumes to the University Bridge and all routes leading up to the bridge, including Eastlake Avenue and Fuhrman Avenue.

Closure details

The Eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard will be closed around-the-clock, starting at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, and ending at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.

All traffic from I-5 entering eastbound SR 520 during this time will pay the SR 520 Bridge Toll. Travelers who do not want to pay the toll or who need to access Montlake Boulevard must use alternate routes.

The westbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard will remain open.

Weekend-long closure of I-5 express lanes 

Part of the extensive Revive I-5 Ship Canal Bridge Project includes work beneath the bridge deck surface for drainage improvements.

In order to give crews a safe work zone, WSDOT will shut down the Express Lanes all weekend.

There is urgency to complete this drainage work before the heavy fall rains arrive, and WSDOT has planned another full weekend closure to finish connecting all the drains that were installed during the early stage of this project.

There will be two weekend closures. The first is from 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14. The second is from 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5.

Westbound I-90 closure across Lake Washington

All lanes of westbound I-90 between Mercer Island and Seattle will close from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, to 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, for tunnel maintenance.

The 76th Avenue Southeast/North Mercer Way, Island Crest Way, and West Mercer Way on-ramps to westbound I-90 will also close during these hours.

WSDOT reminded drivers that the only other bridge across Lake Washington is SR 520, which is a toll bridge.

1st Ave. S Bridge lane closure

WSDOT has northbound bridge inspections scheduled this weekend on the 1st Ave. S Bridge.

Saturday, Sept. 12, the right lane will close. On Sunday, crews will switch to the left lane.

Lane closures will occur between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on both days.

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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