Northbound Interstate 5 will close completely through Seattle over the Halloween weekend as crews remove a major construction zone from the Ship Canal Bridge, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced.
All northbound lanes between Interstate 90 and Northeast 45th Street will shut from 11.59pm on Friday, October 30, until 5am on Monday, November 2. Connecting ramps and lanes will begin closing from about 9pm on Friday.
The closure is designed to allow workers to dismantle the Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation project’s barriers, reconfigure the carriageway and repaint lanes and shoulders.
Northbound I-5 closure is weather-dependent
Northbound traffic has been restricted to two lanes across the bridge during months of repairs to its deck. Once the work zone has been removed, all mainline lanes are expected to reopen and the I-5 express lanes should return to their usual reversible schedule.
WSDOT said the timetable depends on dry conditions, as rain could prevent crews from completing the lane-marking work. If the weather disrupts the operation, the closure will be postponed until a suitable weekend, although no replacement date has yet been confirmed.
The Ship Canal Bridge carries almost 240,000 vehicles a day and forms a key link through the Seattle area. The wider preservation project, which includes deck repairs, resurfacing, expansion-joint replacement and drainage improvements, is funded at about $178 million.
Drivers should expect delays and allow extra time, with transport officials advising people to check live traffic information and consider public transport where possible.
Some work will continue after the northbound lanes reopen, including overnight maintenance and drainage activity beneath the bridge. Major preservation work is due to move to the southbound lanes in 2027.
