MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle drivers prepare for full I-5 closure Wednesday night

Mar 20, 2024, 2:32 PM | Updated: Mar 27, 2024, 3:50 pm

Photo: I-5 near Seneca Street in Seattle....

I-5 near Seneca Street in Seattle. (Photo: Chris Sullivan, KIRO Newsradio)

(Photo: Chris Sullivan, KIRO Newsradio)

Northbound I-5 Closure

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will have crews working near Olive Way, installing a sign bridge and an electronic sign overnight. This is part of the Improve Mobility Project designed to improve traffic flow by adding a lane near Seneca Street and adding ramp meters at the Dearborn/Interstate 90 (I-90) and Cherry Street on-ramps.

More from Nate Connors: A bevy of traffic situations you need to be aware of this weekend

For the safety of contractors and drivers, all northbound lanes of Interstate 5 (I-5) will close at midnight and reopen by 4 a.m. Thursday. The closure is between I-90 and Olive Way, with lane reductions starting at 9 p.m. The northbound collector-distributor lanes will also be closed during these hours.

Drivers needing to access downtown Seattle should exit at Edgar Martinez Drive or take the exit to I-90 East and exit at Rainier Avenue.

The express lanes will remain open to allow drivers to continue north of downtown Seattle. WSDOT has plans to repeat this closure on Monday, March 25.

SR 520 East Ramp Closure

Drivers who use State Route (SR) 520 to access Redmond won’t be able to take the 148th Street Northeast ramp Wednesday evening. WSDOT will be upgrading drainage in Overlake and will need to close access to northbound 148th Street Northeast.

The closure begins at 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. Thursday. A detour will be in place.

More traffic: Lane sweeping is all too common and needs to stop

Later this spring, intermittent closures are planned at the interchange for landscaping.

You can read more of Nate Connors’ stories here. Follow Nate on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and the KIRO Newsradio traffic team here for more traffic updates.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

MyNorthwest News

federal way fatal crash...

Jason Sutich

All lanes reopened after semi driver killed in crash on NB I-5 near Federal Way

The two right lanes of northbound I-5 reopened on Tuesday following a fatal car and semi-truck crash near the Federal Way rest area.

31 minutes ago

seattle center shooting...

Tyrah Majors, KIRO 7 News

Seattle Center shooting renews focus on emergency preparedness at public events

A memorial honoring the victims of the Seattle Center shooting serves as a painful reminder of how quickly a day of celebration can turn into tragedy.

1 hour ago

Barnes Tuesday ghost gun...

Julia Dallas

Mayor, SPD Chief reveal 3 firearms, including ghost gun with 19 rounds still loaded, recovered in Bite of Seattle shooting

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes held a news conference Tuesday regarding a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle.

1 hour ago

Domino's crash Port Orchard restroom bathroom...

Frank Lenzi

Car slams into Port Orchard Domino’s, driver flees scene

A car slammed into a Domino's restaurant in unincorporated Port Orchard Monday night, leaving behind extensive damage — and no driver.

2 hours ago

Bite of Seattle shooting gang katie wilson...

Luke Duecy

Seattle police say Bite of Seattle mass shooting was a gang gunfight as questions mount over Mayor Katie Wilson’s response

SPD now stated the deadly mass shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle was a gunfight between rival gangs.

3 hours ago

Spanaway...

James Lynch

22-year-old arrested after allegedly carjacking man outside LA Fitness, leading deputies on chase through Spanaway

A 22-year-old man is behind bars after deputies said he stole a truck from a man, then led law enforcement on a chase through Spanaway.

3 hours ago

Seattle drivers prepare for full I-5 closure Wednesday night