Friday Oct. 10: The first of six weekends of southbound I-5 weekend-long lane reductions will begin Friday night, Oct. 10, through early Monday morning, Oct. 13. Each of the weekend-long lane reductions will begin as early as 10 p.m. Fridays and end by 5 a.m. Mondays. For a complete list of dates, see "What to expect."
Project overview
WSDOT built Interstate 5, Washington’s main freeway, in the 1960s. The busiest section runs through Seattle with almost 240,000 vehicles traveling across the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge daily. This critical highway now requires major preservation and repairs.
Working with our contractor, Atkinson Construction, we have prioritized repairs on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge, which last had a major preservation effort about 40 years ago. The bridge deck shows considerable wear. Crews have completed more than 200 emergency repairs since 2019, causing unplanned traffic disruptions.
Through the Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation project, WSDOT will repair and resurface the upper bridge deck, replace concrete and aging bridge expansion joints, improve drainage and address other maintenance issues. Major construction begins in July 2025, lasting about four weeks and will continue over the next two years, ending in 2027. This planned preservation effort will help extend the life of the bridge and prevent more unplanned traffic disruptions.
What to expect
Preservation efforts started this summer 2025. We’re committed to helping you get to and through Seattle so you can experience everything the region has to offer – just remember to plan ahead. Southbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge will be reduced to two lanes Friday nights as early as 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday mornings the weekends of:
- Oct. 10-13
- Oct. 17-20
- Oct. 31-Nov. 3
- Nov. 21-24
- Dec. 5-8
- Jan 9-12, 2026
Express lanes
During these weekends, the express lanes will operate southbound only 24 hours a day.
- Northbound I-5 travelers may also experience delays since the express lanes will not reverse.
- All southbound drivers may use the express lanes. Please observe signage as select ramps will remain HOV-only.
These lane reductions will allow crews to install new scuppers and drain inlets on the southbound portion of the bridge. Crews will saw-cut concrete, jack hammer the area to create depth, place drainage and pour concrete to set the structures in place. Completing drainage work at this stage in the project will keep our schedule on track, so crews can focus on repairing and resurfacing the bridge deck during long-term lane reductions in 2026 and 2027.
2026 and 2027
Expect months-long northbound lane reductions in 2026. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, work will pause and all lanes of I-5 will be open. In 2027, expect months-long reductions of southbound I-5 lanes. Crews will need weekends-long full directional closures of I-5 to install and remove the work zones.
During lane reductions, I-5 will reduce to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge in the direction of the work. The I-5 express lanes will operate 24/7 in the same direction to ease congestion. Drivers should expect regional traffic impacts, so plan ahead and take transit, if you can. We will share more specific closure dates later this year.
Know before you go
You can expect delays during periods of construction on the Ship Canal Bridge. Plan ahead and give yourself extra time to travel.
We encourage you to ride transit – it’s the best, most reliable way to get around – and youth 18 and under ride free. If you’re planning on traveling to and from Seattle, refer to the available transit resources in our Related links tab.
Six weekends of work are planned on the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle between October 2025 and January 2026.
The Ship Canal Bridge is critical to the region moving almost 240,000 vehicles each day. The bridge is 60 years old and the deck has not seen a preservation effort in 40 years and is showing signs of significant deterioration. WSDOT has completed more than 200 emergency repairs on the bridge between 2019 and 2024, work that is unplanned and can unexpectedly impact traffic throughout the region. As the deck continues to age, failures will become more frequent and more extensive, resulting in more unplanned travel impacts.
We’re setting the stage for long-term work to preserve the lifeline that I-5 has become for our region. We know that I-5 connects people to their jobs, families, and communities, and it keeps our economy moving. That’s why, even as we focus on this critical work now, we’re already planning for the next steps to keep the entire corridor safe and reliable for generations to come.
