Ballard-area residents traveling through Seattle this weekend should plan for significant traffic impacts as northbound Interstate 5 will fully close between Interstate 90 and Northeast 45th Street from late Friday, June 5, through early Monday, June 8.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, on- and off-ramps along the closure area are scheduled to begin closing at 9 p.m. Friday, June 5. The northbound I-5 mainline is scheduled to fully close at 11:59 p.m. All lanes and ramps are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, June 8.
Ballard and Fremont drivers may see increased traffic on the Ballard Bridge, Fremont Bridge, Aurora Avenue, and other north-south routes.
The closure will allow crews to remove the work zone associated with the Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation project. WSDOT says all lanes of mainline I-5 will remain open from June 8 through July 10 to accommodate travel during the world championship soccer matches being held in Seattle.
During the closure, the I-5 express lanes will remain northbound-only. On Monday morning, June 8, the express lanes will return to their regular schedule, operating southbound in the mornings and northbound in the afternoons and evenings.
WSDOT said crews will return for another weekend-long closure of northbound I-5 between July 10 and July 13 to establish a new work zone in the two right northbound lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge.
The agency is encouraging travelers to plan ahead, expect delays, allow extra travel time, and consider alternate routes, transit, biking, or carpooling.
Additional regional traffic impacts are expected this weekend as State Route 18 will fully close at the Interstate 90 interchange from 9 p.m. Thursday, June 4, through 5 a.m. Monday, June 8 for paving work. WSDOT advises travelers to follow signed detours and expect congestion near the interchange.
Photo: King County Metro