I-5 closed through downtown Seattle tonight, Thursday overnight
Jun 28, 2023, 11:23 AM
Cars fill up the lanes on I-5 through Seattle. (Photo: George Rose, Getty Images)
(Photo: George Rose, Getty Images)
Interstate 5 through downtown will be closed tonight and overnight Thursday, the Washington State Department of Transportation reported.
The closure is due to the installation of an overnight sign structure.
Express lanes will remain open for people traveling north of downtown, others heading downtown must exit at or before Edgar Martinez Drive.
People traveling north of downtown can use the express lanes to continue through the area but will not be able to exit to downtown Seattle. Drivers wishing to reach downtown Seattle should exit on northbound I-5 near the Interstate 90 interchange.
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June 28-29 closure details
WSDOT crews will close the I-5 mainline lanes beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the ramp from I-90 to Olive Way will close. All lanes of the mainline and collector/distributor ramp will reopen at 4 a.m. the following day.
The northbound I-5 on-ramps from Dearborn Street, Cherry Street, and University Street will also close at midnight. Signed detours will assist drivers to the nearest open ramp. People driving on I-90 will not be able to head northbound directly onto I-5 and must use a detour route.
Going downtown
People traveling to downtown Seattle on I-5 should use the Edgar Martinez Drive exit or take eastbound I-90 and exit at Rainier Avenue. The off-ramps to James Street, Madison Avenue, Cherry Street, and University Street will be closed.
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Going north of downtown
Travelers going north of downtown can use the express lanes, keeping in mind the first exit is NE 42nd Street in the University District. The express lanes also exit at Lake City Way and Northgate Way before rejoining the mainline.
During the closure, crews will work on a large overhead sign support for the Seneca Mobility project that holds overhead message signs and off-ramp signs. The contractor previously tried to schedule this work for earlier this month, but equipment problems caused a delay.
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