Drivers across the Puget Sound region should prepare for major travel disruptions this weekend as crews shut down a key stretch of Interstate 405 in Bothell for construction work.
All lanes of northbound I-405 at the State Route 522 interchange and all lanes of southbound I-405 between State Route 527 and SR 522 will close beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, March 13, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The full freeway closure will remain in place until 4 a.m. Monday, March 16 while crews remove the remaining portion of a former northbound I-405 flyover ramp at the SR 522 interchange.
The work is part of the Interstate 405 Brickyard to State Route 527 Improvement Project. Officials said this will be the fourth and final weekend closure needed to complete the ramp removal.
Detours will be posted to guide drivers around the closure, but transportation officials are warning travelers to expect significant congestion.
Widespread Delays Expected
The shutdown comes as another major freeway project is already impacting traffic in Seattle.
Two lanes of northbound Interstate 5 remain closed on the Ship Canal Bridge as part of the ongoing Revive I-5 preservation project. Express lanes in the area are also operating northbound only around the clock.
Because both corridors serve as major regional routes, the overlap is expected to cause heavy congestion across the broader Puget Sound area.
Transportation officials say drivers should anticipate backups stretching several miles and delays exceeding an hour during the closure.
Local streets and alternate routes may also experience heavier traffic than usual as drivers look for ways around the freeway shutdown.
“There is no alternate route that can carry the same volume of traffic as an interstate,” the agency said.
Additional Ramp Closure Near Lynnwood
Drivers in Snohomish County will also see a separate overnight closure related to maintenance work.
The ramp from I-405 to northbound I-5 near Lynnwood will close from 10 p.m. Friday, March 13, until 5 a.m. Saturday, March 14 while maintenance crews perform drilling work, according to WSDOT.
Officials encourage travelers to plan ahead, allow extra time, or consider postponing trips through the area if possible.
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