Montlake Boulevard, Lake Washington Boulevard and associated SR 520 ramps closed this weekend; Portage Bay project updates

Washington State Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 08/16/2024 03:28 PM PDT
There is a horizontal green band that reads Rest of the West News. Above it is the letters W S D O T. An oval on the right reads state route 520.

In this update:

Reminder: Montlake Boulevard, Lake Washington Boulevard and associated SR 520 ramps closed this weekend

There’s a major closure this weekend in Montlake that begins tonight! Here’s a breakdown of what’s planned to close:

  • Montlake Boulevard between East Hamlin Street and East Louisa Street
  • Lake Washington Boulevard between Montlake Boulevard and East Foster Island Road
  • East Roanoke Street between Montlake Boulevard and East Louisa Street
  • All SR 520 on- and off-ramps to and from Montlake, including the westbound SR 520 off-ramp to Lake Washington Boulevard
Graphic shows map of Montlake Blvd with red lines for closure limits and text boxon the top right with legend.png

Drivers heading east on SR 520 from I-5 will need to pay a toll to cross the bridge since there’s no exit before the toll when the Montlake Boulevard ramp is closed.

A signed detour for pedestrians and bicyclists will be in place through the work area. Local access will be maintained. The SR 520 Trail will stay open.

Closures will begin at 10 p.m. tonight, Friday Aug. 16, and last until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug.19. During this time, crews will pave and work on utilities and landscaping.

SR 520 and SR 520 Trail planned to close next weekend, Aug. 23-26

Crews plan to fully close SR 520 in both directions between I-5 in Seattle and 92nd Avenue Northeast in Clyde Hill on the eastside starting at 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26. The SR 520 Trail is also scheduled to close.

Stay tuned for updates once details are confirmed. You can also find the latest information on our Construction Corner webpage.

We know it’s been a busy summer with a lot of construction and closures - but the finish line for the Montlake Project is in sight! We're excited for you to experience all the benefits and new facilities this fall. Stay tuned for more updates as schedules are confirmed.

Back-to-back closures of southbound I-5 and express lanes off-ramps to Mercer Street continue this weekend

Heads up! Crews will close the southbound I-5 and I-5 express lanes off-ramps to Mercer Street for the second consecutive weekend beginning at 10 p.m. tonight, Aug. 16. The ramps will reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19.

During the Aug. 9-12 closure, crews were able to install the beginning portions of a new concrete median barrier that will separate the ramps and allow for the express lanes ramp to become reversible upon this project’s completion in fall 2024.

Crews will need a third consecutive weekend to complete this work from Aug. 23-26. More details to come.

Graphic shows map of I-5 and mercer off-ramp closure in red with blue, grey and white background

Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project updates

Online open house through Sept. 17

Visit our online open house now to learn more about the project design, review the construction schedule and find out how to stay informed during construction. The online open house is available through Sept. 17.

Harvard Connection update

Thanks to everyone who contacted us about maintaining the Harvard Shared-Use Path (Harvard Connection) on the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project.

As we’ve shared before, this project faced an approximate $700 million budget gap. The Legislature directed us to move forward with awarding the Portage Bay project but to “seek consequential cost reduction opportunities through value engineering and prioritizing functionality and usability of the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid.” Removing the proposed Harvard Connection was one of several cost reduction opportunities we analyzed to meet this legislative requirement.

However, following conversations with legislators, our contractor, project partners and community advocates, we have decided to maintain the Harvard Connection. It is clear the community feels strongly about keeping this bicycle and pedestrian connection. We look forward to delivering these multimodal improvements to the city and region. 

Upcoming construction

We also want to provide you with an update about the construction schedule for the Portage Bay project.

We anticipate pile-driving in Portage Bay to begin in mid-October, and not early-September as originally planned. Our contractor, Skanska, is working to secure the materials and staffing necessary to begin constructing the temporary work trestle.

This delay is not expected to affect the overall completion timeline for the project of 2031.

If you have any questions, please call the project's 24-hour construction hotline at 206-319-4520.

New SR 520 toll rates

On Aug. 15, new toll rates for the SR 520 bridge went into effect, averaging a 10% increase (rounded to the nearest nickel). The rates vary depending on the time of day and day of the week, decreasing by 10 cents or increasing by up to 70 cents from the previous tolls. Good To Go! customers will pay between $1.35 and $4.90 on weekdays, and $1.35 and $2.95 on weekends. The new schedule also has six rate variations instead of the previous eight.

These changes were required by state law to maintain travel speed and reliability while meeting the bridge’s financial needs. For more information on the rate-setting process, please visit the Washington State Transportation Commission’s (WSTC) website. If you have Good To Go! questions, please visit this website.

Construction Corner roundup

  • Aug. 14-19: Sidewalk on west side of Montlake Boulevard closed around-the-clock
  • Aug. 15: Westbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard closed overnight
  • Aug. 16-19: Montlake Boulevard, Lake Washington Boulevard and associated on-and-off ramps closed around-the-clock
  • Aug. 16-19: Southbound I-5 and I-5 Express Lanes off-ramps to Mercer Street closed around-the-clock
  • Aug. 23-26: SR 520 and SR 520 Trail fully closed across Lake Washington around-the-clock
  • Ongoing: Montlake Boulevard on-ramp to eastbound SR 520 closed weeknights
  • Ongoing: Portage Bay on-land drilling for soil sampling
  • Ongoing: Westbound SR 520 off-ramp to southbound I-5 reduced to one lane

Check out the SR 520 Construction Corner map for the most up-to-date information on closures and construction impacts

How to reach us and stay informed about SR 520 construction:

  • Call or text our project-specific construction hotlines with pressing questions or concerns related to the:
    • Montlake Project: 206-775-8885
    • SR 520/I-5 Connection Project: 206-316-2559 
    • Portage Bay Project: 206-319-4520
  • Call the SR 520 Program information line (206-200-9484, M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) with general SR 520 inquiries.
  • Email SR 520 staff with your questions about the project or construction activities.
  • Visit the SR 520 Construction Corner for the most up-to-date information on closures and construction impacts.
  • Visit the SR 520 Program website to find general information about the project.
  • Email Regina Glenn, WSDOT Megaprograms Diversity and Inclusion Manager, for more information about contracting opportunities.
  • Follow us on Twitter @wsdot_520 to get key news and updates about the SR 520 program.
  • View current Montlake Project construction photos, taken continuously day and night, by mounted construction cameras
  • Share the ROTW listserv with your friends and neighbors

If you have difficulty understanding English, you may request language assistance services free of charge by calling (360) 705-7090 or emailing TitleVI@WSDOT.WA.GOV.

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