Please plan for additional travel time this weekend due to major highway construction, popular community and sporting events, and Link light rail repair work in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.

Transit is a key alternative to avoid driving in congestion caused by weekend lane closures on northbound I-5 in Seattle across the Ship Canal Bridge, but with an asterisk: Emergency repair work in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel on Saturday and Sunday means no Link light rail 1 Line service between Capitol Hill and SODO stations.

How to navigate a challenging travel weekend

Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel closure

• Sound Transit is closing the 1 Line stations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel for emergency rail replacement June 21 and 22. Trains will operate every 15 minutes between Lynnwood and Capitol Hill stations, and between SODO and Angle Lake stations.
• Free shuttle buses will be available outside of 1 Line stations between SODO and Capitol Hill stations during the repairs. Shuttle stops are outside the closed stations at Capitol Hill, Westlake, Symphony, Pioneer Square, International District and SODO stations.
• UPDATE – Keep your Link 1 Line paper ticket: If you are transferring from Link to Metro or Sound Transit buses, show your Link 1 Line ticket to the driver or fare enforcement as your proof of payment on June 21-22.
• What buses can I ride? Several existing Metro and Sound Transit routes have bus stops outside of the 1 Line stations and can carry you through downtown Seattle.
• First Hill Streetcar: A streetcar will be added to First Hill service, connecting riders from Capitol Hill Station to Pioneer Square. Streetcars will operate every 12 minutes on Saturday, and every 15 to 20 minutes on Sunday.
• King County Metro’s Trip Planner can help you pick the fastest route for your trip.
• Real-time information might show inaccurate bus arrival estimates.
• Ambassadors available: Sound Transit will help riders navigate the changes at some affected 1 Line stations during the disruption.

Interstate 5 Ship Canal bridge – two northbound lane closures

• Prepare for major traffic congestion on I-5 and parallel city streets. I-5 will be reduced to two northbound between State Route 520 and Northeast 45^th Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, rain or shine. The I-5 express lanes will be northbound all weekend.
• If the weather cooperates, crews will be able to stripe the freeway into two lanes. However, striping work cannot be done during rain. The inability to stripe would mean a 1,000-foot section of the freeway would have to be reduced to one lane for the weekend.
• If you must drive, consider avoiding the backups and instead use Interstate 405 or SR 99, but expect traffic volumes to be heavier there, too.
• Up-to-date travel information is available via the WSDOT mobile app, the real-time travel map, or by signing up for email updates and alerts.

Major weekend events

• FIFA Men’s Club World Cup TM: Saturday, June 21, noon. FC Internazionale Milano vs Urawa Red Diamonds
• Fremont Solstice Parade Saturday, June 21, 1 p.m. Routes 31, 32, 40 and 62 affected. See details in our Service Advisories webpage.
• Fremont Fair: Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, June 22, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.