CHOKEPOINTS

4 nights of lane restrictions on SR 18 over Tiger Mountain

Sep 9, 2026, 3:47 PM

tiger mountain SR 18...

A lane closed sign on the back of a construction truck. (Photo: AZ-BLT via Envato)

(Photo: AZ-BLT via Envato)

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is starting a four-night surveying project over Tiger Mountain Summit that will reduce a 6-mile stretch of eastbound SR 18 to a single lane overnight between Issaquah-Hobart Road and Deep Creek.

SR 18 lane restrictions start Thursday

The right lane of eastbound SR 18 will close nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Thursday, Sept. 10, and ending Monday, Sept. 14. One eastbound lane will be open each night.

WSDOT will pause work on the night of Saturday, Sept. 12, and resume Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9 p.m.

Drivers should plan for delays and allow extra time traveling during the nightly lane reductions.

WSDOT reminds freight drivers that Issaquah-Hobart Road and Issaquah city streets are not suitable for semi-trucks and that drivers should not attempt to use them as a detour. Freight traffic, instead, should use westbound SR 169 to northbound I-405 to eastbound I-90, or other suitable alternate state routes.

Additional closures planned

Similar single-lane, nightly closures in the westbound direction will occur for six nights beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15.

A full eastbound SR 18 closure will occur nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for six nights beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23.

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

Please follow our Community Guidelines

Chokepoints

3 ground stop...

Julia Dallas

Ground stop lifted as hundreds of flights canceled at SEA; officials cite ‘major engineering defect’

A ground stop has been issued for all airports nationwide by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

2 days ago

Orcas Island Ferry...

Julia Dallas

Gov. Ferguson, WSF working with San Juan County on Orcas Island ferry terminal repairs

San Juan County has issued a declaration of a state of emergency due to damage at the Orcas Island ferry terminal.

2 days ago

Federal Way collision northbound I-5 two lanes blocked...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

All NB I-5 lanes reopen near Federal Way after collision

The two right lanes of northbound I-5 in Federal Way have reopened following a collision just south of State Route 18 near milepost 141.

2 days ago

sounder train dog attack...

Chris Sullivan

Dog attack on Sounder train 2 weeks after pet policy change

Earlier this week, a dog attack occurred on a Sounder train, where a dog attacked a service dog.

2 days ago

Seattle Freeways tailgaters...

Charlie Harger

Harger: Turn signals, tailgaters, and the 5 most annoying drivers on Seattle freeways

I drive to work in the dark, and I’m coming down the ramp from westbound Highway 18 onto northbound I-5. Wipers going. Coffee in the cupholder. A semi is barreling down the right lane, and there’s a car in front of me on the ramp.

2 days ago

seatac crash i-5...

KIRO 7 News Staff

NB lanes of I-5 in SeaTac reopen 7 hours after deadly multi-car crash

The northbound lanes of I-5 in SeaTac were closed for almost 7 hours, and traffic was backed up over a mile after a deadly multi-car crash on Thursday night.

2 days ago

4 nights of lane restrictions on SR 18 over Tiger Mountain