Revive I-5 lane closures happening in Seattle this weekend during Pride Parade

KIRO 7 News Staff
·2 min read
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The Washington State Department of Transportation continues to work toward completing the Revive I-5 project in Seattle by the end of this summer, and there will be lane reductions during the Pride and Independence Day weekends.

This weekend’s work on southbound I-5 from I-90 to Spokane Street is scheduled from 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24, to 5 a.m. on Monday, June 27. I-5 will be reduced to two lanes south of the collector-distributor lanes.

WSDOT estimates there will be hundreds of thousands of people at the Pride Parade in downtown Seattle on Sunday. There is also a Seattle Storm game at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Only about 40% of the scheduled work for the project has been completed. The work is weather dependent and some was canceled due to rain. Officials said with more rain possible this summer, the work must go on this weekend during the warm weather.

Crews will replace expansion joints. Three lanes will be closed from downtown to SoDo. All vehicles using the collector/distributor lanes will need to exit. Drivers using the Spring and James streets on-ramps will not be able to go onto southbound I-5.

The eastbound and westbound I-90 ramps to southbound I-5 also will be closed.

All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday.

The lane reductions will be delayed for Independence Day weekend, starting at about 9:30 p.m. Friday. All lanes will reopen by 6:30 a.m. on July 4.

“Usually, we don’t work major events or holiday weekends if it can be avoided, but after many discussions, we believe it can and has to be done,” said WSDOT communications consultant Tom Pearce. “We recognize the timing of this work over the Pride and Independence Day weekends is less than ideal, but we’re facing some very difficult decisions.”

Since May 7, crews have only been able to work during two of the five weekends when work was scheduled.

WSDOT said there will be about 16 weekends of lane reductions that will continue through the end of September.

During construction, WSDOT says people who drive the closed sections of I-5 should consider using public transit, carpooling or traveling before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m.