SEATTLE — Drivers traveling throughout the Puget Sound area should be prepared for a "monster" amount of traffic closures this weekend as the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is working to complete major transportation projects.
WSDOT spokesperson Steve Peer said this will be the biggest weekend of construction-related closures for the entire year.
Here's where to expect closures this weekend.
SR 520
WSDOT said the SR 520 closure stretches from I-5 in Seattle to 92nd Avenue Northeast in Clyde Hill on the Eastside and includes all the associated on- and off-ramps. The SR 520 Trail will close for bicyclists and pedestrians across the lake.
According to WSDOT, the highway and trail will close at 11 p.m. Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday. Crews will be working on lighting and the fire suppression system under the new Montlake lid over SR 520 as part of the SR 520 Montlake Project.
Northbound I-405
This weekend northbound I-405 in Renton will be closed from Sunset Boulevard Northeast/Southport Drive (Exit 5) to Coal Creek Parkway Southeast from 11 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday. The following ramps will be closed for the weekend:
- Sunset Boulevard Northeast on-ramp (Exit 5).
- Northeast 30th Street on- and off-ramps (Exit 6).
- Northeast 44th Street on- and off-ramps (Exit 7).
- Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast on- and off-ramps (Exit 8).
- Coal Creek Parkway off-ramp (Exit 10).
Contractor crews will shift northbound traffic onto a new bridge as part of the I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project. A signed detour will be available. According to WSDOT, this work requires mostly dry weather and could be rescheduled if it rains.
Southbound SR 167
WSDOT said southbound SR 167 will be closed in Kent from SR 516 to South 277th Street beginning 11:59 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday. The following ramps will be closed:
- SR 516 on-ramp to southbound SR 167.
- Southbound SR 167 off-ramp to South 277th Street.
Crews will be paving and striping sections of southbound SR 167. A signed SR 167 detour will be in place for this SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project closure.
Like the I-405 closure, WSDOT said this work requires mostly dry weather and could be rescheduled if it rains.
I-5 overnight
For travelers driving in the late hours, expect closures in both directions of I-5 between SR 18 in Federal Way and 54th Avenue East in Fife. These will be closed overnight on Friday and Saturday. Northbound lanes are closed by 10:30 p.m. and southbound lanes by 11 p.m., according to WSDOT.
Officials will reopen lanes at 7 a.m. Saturday, with plans to have all lanes open by 11 a.m. Several lanes will start reopening at 8 a.m. Sunday and will be fully open by about noon.
Officials recommend travelers headed to the Fife area to use the signed SR 99 detour route.
SR 18, SR 161, SR 167 and SR 512 are other possible routes to use during the closure.
During this closure, WSDOT contractor crews will set girders for a new overpass crossing I-5. This work is part of WSDOT’s Puget Sound Gateway Program to complete SR 167.
Mercer Street on-ramps to I-5
The last closure this weekend involves Mercer Street on-ramps to I-5. These on-ramps will close starting at 10 p.m. Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday.
WSDOT said this work is part of the SR 520 I-5 Express Lanes Connection Project. Contractors will use the shutdown to pave the ramp and adjacent shoulders.