Countdown to construction: Major ‘Revive I-5’ repairs starting for Ship Canal Bridge

Get ready for the next stage of construction on Seattle’s busiest corridor. As early as Jan. 9, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will resume its Revive I-5 preservation work on the northbound Ship Canal Bridge.

Whether it’s for work or fun, anyone traveling north or south should plan ahead and explore their travel options. With significant lane closures, trips through the area will require extra time and flexibility. Transit, carpooling or adjusting travel schedules may be smart alternatives during the disruptions.

To help support ridership demand during Revive I-5, Metro is planning to add up to 17 buses on key routes on weekdays and 12 buses on weekends to help riders avoid travel delays due to highway construction. These buses will be able to be deployed flexibly by Metro staff to locations and routes where there is crowding or delays.

Our partners with the City of Seattle earlier expanded bus lane access on Aurora Avenue North for the RapidRide E Line to keep service running more smoothly.

As part of the project, two northbound lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge will close while crews repair and resurface the bridge deck. To minimize impacts during major events, work zones will be removed in June for World Cup soccer matches in Seattle, then reinstalled when games conclude in July.

The Revive I-5 project is designed to extend the life of the aging Ship Canal Bridge and improve safety and ride quality for years to come. While the short-term traffic impacts will be challenging, the long-term payoff will be smoother, safer travel through this critical stretch of I-5.

Learn more about this work from WSDOT.

The WSDOT schedule of northbound I-5 includes:

As early as Jan. 9 to 12: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone set up).
As early as Jan. 12 to June 5: five-month closure of the two left northbound I-5 lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge, causing northbound traffic delays. The reversible express lanes will remain northbound for the duration, causing southbound traffic delays.
June 5 to 8: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone removal).
June 8 to July 10: all lanes of I-5 reopened for FIFA World Cup games.
July 10 to 13: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone set up).
July 13 to end of 2026: months-long two right northbound I-5 lane reduction across the Ship Canal Bridge.
End of 2026: weekend-long full northbound I-5 closure (work zone removal).

Weekend-long full closures for work zone set up or removal are weather dependent. Crews need dry weather to re-stripe lanes. That means if the weather is too rainy, crews may reschedule work for the following weekend.

Express lanes will run northbound only, 24 hours a day, whenever there are lane closures or reductions for Revive I-5 construction.

We know it’s a big deal. But with some planning and the right tools, you can ease the traffic blues. You’ll just want to think twice about hopping on I-5 north like it’s a normal day. You’ve got options — and now’s the time to use them.

Transit is your best friend

Taking the bus or light rail is hands-down the least stressful way to navigate around the construction zones. No parking hassles, no personally navigating stop-and-go traffic — just sit back and ride. (Prepare for busier-than-usual buses and light rail during construction.)

And remember: Sound Transit Link light rail has expanded into Federal Way since the last round of Revive I-5 work. The network now stretches all the way from Federal Way city center to Lynnwood.

Bonus: Youth 18 and under ride free on transit!

Use trip planning tools to map out your ride

King County Metro Trip Planner
Sound Transit Trip Planner
Community Transit Trip Planner
Call Metro Customer Service at 206-553-3000 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Stay informed with Service Alerts

Learn about delays, reroutes or closures that may impact transit.

Some further tips

Work remotely if possible. Try flexing your hours. Travel during off-peak hours if you can — you’ll save time and avoid a whole lot of stress. Consider carrying some water and a snack to get you through longer commutes.

Get even more state travel information

Download the WSDOT mobile app
View real-time travel maps
Sign up for email updates and alerts
Check traffic before you go

The Bottom Line

Construction is never fun — but a smoother, safer freeway system is worth it. Whether you’re commuting to work, shopping, or otherwise traveling through town, a little planning goes a long way.

So power up your transit apps and alerts and give yourself some extra travel time. Puget Sound region, we’ve got this!