Local

3 major closures happening on I-5 in Seattle during large events this weekend

SEATTLE — Once again, it will be a busy weekend on Interstate 5 in Seattle with a full southbound closure under the convention center Friday night, a northbound lane reduction Saturday night and weekend-long expansion joint work.

In addition, both directions of State Route 18 will be closed between Interstate 90 and Issaquah-Hobart Road east of Issaquah on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has three separate construction and maintenance closures in Seattle starting Friday night, July 22.

The closures include:

  • From 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22, to 5 a.m. on Monday, July 25: Southbound I-5 will be reduced to two lanes between Interstate 90 and the West Seattle Bridge, with all traffic going through the collector/distributor lanes. Crews will replace several expansion joints.
  • From 11 p.m. on Friday, July 22, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 23: Southbound I-5 will be closed between Stewart and Spring streets. Crews will be under the convention center testing the fire suppression system and doing maintenance. A detour will be in place.
  • From 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, to 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 24: Two right lanes of northbound I-5 will be closed from the State Route 520 exit to Northeast 45th Street for bridge maintenance.

To complicate matters, the Pokémon GO Fest from Friday to Sunday is expected to draw 40,000 people to downtown Seattle and Seattle Center, according to organizers.

The Capitol Hill Block Party is also this weekend.

There is also a sold-out out Mariners game at T-Mobile Park on Friday night, as well as games on Saturday and Sunday at 1:10 p.m.

The Sounders are playing at Lumen Field at 7:08 p.m. on Saturday, and the Storm have a game at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday at 3 p.m.