2026
In 2026, our second year of construction, we will rehabilitate southbound I-5 from SR 520 to Denny Way. This work will follow a similar schedule to the work in 2025, with the addition of a break for the FIFA World Cup during the summer. Travelers should expect the following:
- Southbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes from SR 520 to Denny Way for nine months (except for during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June and July).
- The double-lane work zone will be set in the two inside lanes of southbound I-5 and then shift to the two outside lanes during the nine-month period.
- The I-5 Express Lanes will be open to support southbound traffic from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. They also occasionally make be open 24 hours a day due to construction.
- Speed limits will be reduced to 50 mph in the work zone.
- Four full weekend closures of southbound I-5 from SR 520 to Northeast 45th Street.
- One weekend full closure in early spring to set the double-lane work zone in the inside of southbound I-5.
- One weekend full closure in June to remove the barriers and reopen all lanes for the FIFA World Cup.
- One weekend full closure in July to set a double-lane work zone in the two outside lanes of northbound I-5.
- One weekend in the fall to remove the barriers and reopen all lanes of I-5.
- In the spring, summer and fall of 2026, we will close some ramps between SR 520 and Denny Way for about 25 days each.
- Each ramp will be fully closed for 25 days.
- There will not be two consecutive ramps closed for construction at the same time.
2027
In 2027, the third year of construction, we will rehabilitate southbound I-5 from Northeast 50th Street to Mercer Street. Travelers should expect the following:
- Southbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes from Northeast 50th Street to Mercer Street (including the Ship Canal Bridge) for nine months.
- The double-lane work zone will be set in the two inside lanes of I-5 for the first half of the closure and then swap to the two outside lanes for the second half.
- The I-5 Express Lanes will be open to support southbound traffic from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. They may occasionally be open 24 hours a day during construction.
- Speed limits will be reduced to 50 mph near in the work zone.
- During the closure period the open lanes of southbound I-5 will be narrowed over the Ship Canal Bridge to give crews enough space to work.
- Three full closures of southbound I-5 from Northeast 50th Street and Mercer Street for one weekend each.
- One weekend full closure in early spring to set the double-lane work zone in the inside of southbound I-5.
- One weekend full closure in mid-summer to shift the double-lane work zone in the two outside lanes of southbound I-5.
- One weekend full closure in the fall to remove the barriers and reopen all lanes of I-5.
- In the spring, summer and fall of 2027, we will fully close approximately five ramps between Northeast 50th Street and Mercer Street for about 25 days each.
- Each ramp will be fully closed for 25 days.
- There will not be two consecutive ramps closed for construction at the same time.
