I-5 Northbound Reopens at Ship Canal Bridge
Washington State Department of Transportation reopened northbound Interstate 5 between Interstate 90 and Northeast 45th Street nine hours ahead of schedule.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Remote Work
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Crews removed the work zone from the two right northbound lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge, and all northbound I-5 lanes are now open after the full closure ended at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Ramps are in the process of reopening.
Why it matters
The early reopening restores northbound through traffic on a major Seattle commuter corridor. Overnight closures and lane reductions will continue on mainline I-5 and the express lanes as bridge maintenance and drainage work proceeds.
The northbound closure concluded nine hours ahead of its planned schedule, returning two right lanes of the Ship Canal Bridge to traffic. Express lanes remain northbound until early Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, and the source does not detail the cost impact of the work.
The players
Washington State Department of Transportation
The state agency responsible for maintaining and operating Washington's highways, including Interstate 5 through Seattle.
The details
Crews removed the Revive I-5: Ship Canal Bridge Preservation project work zone from the two right northbound lanes. The express lanes will operate on their regular schedule until southbound construction begins.
Timeline
Full northbound I-5 closure concluded at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
Express lanes close northbound early Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, and reopen southbound at 5 a.m. that day.
Southbound Ship Canal Bridge construction begins as early as February 2027.
Remote Work Outlook
The Ship Canal Bridge work is part of the Revive I-5 preservation program, which sequences lane closures to limit disruption across Seattle's commuter corridors. Overnight closures will continue through 2026, shaping how remote and hybrid workers time their commutes on this stretch of I-5.
Seattle drivers using northbound I-5 through the Ship Canal Bridge can expect the two right lanes to be back in use once ramps finish reopening. Overnight closures and lane reductions will continue through 2026, so commuters should check traffic conditions before leaving home or the office.
The takeaway
Workers who rely on I-5 for commuting should plan for continued overnight closures through 2026 and check traffic conditions ahead of the southbound construction start.
What happens next
Southbound express lanes reopen at 5 a.m. Nov. 2, 2026, and southbound Ship Canal Bridge construction begins as early as February 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on how commuting disruptions affect remote work decisions in the Seattle area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by My Edmonds News.
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