This is how Seattleites say they've been adapting to the tougher traffic caused by WSDOT's I‑5 Ship Canal Bridge roadwor

Just after voting got underway in last month’s August Top Two election, WSDOT kicked off a nearly monthlong partial closure of the I‑5 Ship Canal Bridge to enable contractors to undertake major repairs and preservation work. The project, part of the department’s Revive I‑5 initiative, will conclude this coming Monday, August 18th, but it will be followed by a series of similar projects in the coming months and years that will necessitate more lane and even some total weekend closures.

“Through the Revive I‑5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation project, WSDOT will repair and resurface the upper bridge deck, replace concrete and aging bridge expansion joints, improve drainage and address other maintenance issues. Major construction begins in July 2025, lasting about four weeks and will continue over the next two years, ending in 2027. This planned preservation effort will help extend the life of the bridge and prevent more unplanned traffic disruptions,” WSDOT’s website says.

We were preparing our July 2025 survey of the Seattle electorate to enter the field at the time WSDOT began closing lanes and thought it would be worthwhile to ask our respondents how they were adapting to the temporary loss of capacity on northbound Interstate 5, which has increased congestion and slowed travel times during the busy summer season. Respondents were allowed to select more than one answer choice.

A plurality, 38%, said they were taking fewer trips by car, while 30% said they were still continuing to drive and adjusting to longer commute times.

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2025/08/this-is-how-seattleites-say-theyve-been-adapting-to-the-tougher-traffic-caused-by-wsdots-i-5-ship-canal-bridge-roadwork.html?jetpack_skip_subscription_popup