All northbound lanes of Interstate 5 through Seattle and over the Ship Canal Bridge reopened Sunday morning, one day ahead of the original schedule. The Washington State Department of Transportation called the news outlet very early in the morning to personally deliver the announcement, signaling that the work had been completed earlier than planned.
Crews worked to temporarily remove the construction barriers and equipment that had been occupying the northbound lanes along this stretch of I-5. The barriers and equipment had been in place for months as part of the ongoing Revive I-5 project, which has been reshaping highway infrastructure through the city.
The timing of the early reopening is tied directly to the FIFA World Cup, which begins in just a few days. All northbound lanes will remain open through the duration of the tournament, giving commuters and visitors an unobstructed route through Seattle during the event.
The World Cup is just days away from Seattle. The Space Needle is already displaying a soccer ball at its top in a festive nod to the tournament, and the lanes reopening a day early gives northbound drivers a clear route through the city during that period.
The next scheduled shutdown of northbound I-5 in this corridor is expected around July 10th, following the conclusion of the World Cup. That closure will mark another phase of construction work on the highway.
After that shutdown, another round of the Revive I-5 project is set to begin, continuing the broader infrastructure work along the highway through Seattle. Transportation officials have been working on the project in phases to minimize disruption while completing necessary upgrades.