Montlake Boulevard closed this weekend; Aug. 27 open house; weeklong ramp closure ahead

Washington State Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 08/21/2026 12:23 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 closed around the clock this weekend

Crews will close Montlake Boulevard between East Hamlin Street and East Louisa Street around the clock from 10 p.m. tonight, Aug. 21, to 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24. 

Travelers should plan ahead: It’s a busy weekend for closures across the Puget Sound region. Expect delays and allow additional travel time. Here's a breakdown of what's closed:

  • Montlake Boulevard between East Hamlin Street and East Louisa Street
  • Montlake Boulevard on-ramps to eastbound and westbound SR 520
  • Eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard
  • A 300-foot section of East Roanoke Street west of Montlake Boulevard
  • Lake Washington Boulevard between Montlake Boulevard and 24th Avenue East

The westbound SR 520 off-ramp to northbound Montlake Boulevard will remain open. Crews will maintain a path for people walking, biking and rolling to cross SR 520 on Montlake Boulevard, with a short detour south of SR 520. See map below.

2026_0721_Aug.MontlakeBlvdClosure.png

During the Aug. 21-24 closure, crews will:

  • Install three new mast-arm sign structures on Montlake Boulevard – two northbound and one southbound.
  • Remove the large sign bridge spanning Montlake Boulevard just south of SR 520.
  • Mount new signs on the mast-arm structures.
  • Install a new southbound sign, north of SR 520, on an existing utility pole.

This is the last of two weekend closures needed to complete the Montlake sign structures work. The work is the result of community recommendations developed in 2023 and 2024 to remove and replace the large sign bridge on Montlake Boulevard with smaller signs and structures. Visit this webpage to learn more.

If you have questions about this work and closure, please call 206-200-9484.

Reminder: Portage Bay Project open house is next week

We’re excited to invite you to 2026 Portage Bay Project open house about the Portage Bay Project! Crews have made a lot of construction progress since our last in-person meeting last summer, and we want to share what’s coming for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.

Open house details

  • When: Thursday, Aug. 27, 5-7 p.m. Please note there will be no formal presentation.
  • Where: Queen City Yacht Club, 2608 Boyer Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102.
  • Transit access: Take King County Metro Route 49 to Roanoke Park and walk or roll to the event.
  • Parking: Limited free parking is available on site.

Stop by the open house anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. to learn about upcoming construction activities, including:

  • How we're building the new Portage Bay bridges
  • Future Roanoke lid construction
  • Work on and near Boyer Avenue East
  • Traffic shifts on SR 520
  • New temporary overpass in Roanoke Park

We’ll have displays highlighting upcoming work. Project staff will be available to answer questions about upcoming traffic shifts, temporary overpass construction, effects on city streets, future lid construction and more.

Want to learn more? 

Head over to the Construction Corner webpage for project updates. You can also connect with us directly through our 24/7 hotline at 206-319-4520 or via email at SR520Bridge@wsdot.wa.gov. 

Update on piledriving near the Montlake lid

Piledriving on the east side of the project is ongoing in the area between SR 520 and the eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard. These piles will be used to construct a retaining wall to support a new temporary roadway. The new temporary roadway will be built later this year.

What to expect:

  • Impact and vibratory piledriving on land.
  • Work hours are typically from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though some nighttime work may be needed.
  • Neighbors near the work zone will notice increased noise and vibration during this work.

If you have questions about this work or the project, please call our 24-hour hotline at 206-319-4520, or email us at SR520Bridge@wsdot.wa.gov.

PilesonMontlake0820

New piles that will support a temporary roadway between SR 520 and the eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard.

Weeklong eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard closure: Sept. 12-19

As soon as 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, crews will close the temporary eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard around the clock for a week. The ramp will reopen at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Crews will remove the old eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard to make space for the work area and begin constructing the new bridges.

0820_Montlakerampclosuremap.png

What to expect:

  • During this closure, travelers heading eastbound on SR 520 will not be able to exit onto Montlake Boulevard. Drivers entering eastbound SR 520 from I-5 will continue across Lake Washington and pay the SR 520 bridge toll. For information about toll payments, please visit the Good to Go! webpage, or contact customer service at 1-866-936-8246.
  • Drivers wanting to get to Montlake and the University of Washington from I-5 will need to plan and use alternate routes.
  • The Montlake Boulevard on-ramp to eastbound SR 520 will remain open.
  • Nearby neighbors will hear noise from construction equipment.

Reminder: Westbound SR 520 off-ramp to northbound I-5 and East Roanoke Street closed select nights through Sept. 3

The westbound SR 520 off-ramp to northbound I-5 and East Roanoke Street will close for construction from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on select nights through Thursday, Sept. 3. Crews will use these nightly closures to install shafts for the future expansion of the Roanoke Trail Crossing Bridge over I-5.

The currently scheduled closure dates are:

  • Monday, Aug. 24, through Thursday, Aug. 27 (including Thursday night)
  • Saturday, Aug. 29
  • Monday, Aug. 31, through Thursday, Sept. 3 (including Thursday night)

Please note that these dates are subject to change. For more information, visit our  Construction Corner webpage.

Construction Corner roundup

  • Aug. 21-24: Montlake Boulevard closed between East Hamlin Street and East Louisa Street around the clock
  • Aug. 24 – Sept. 3: Westbound SR 520 off-ramp to northbound I-5 and East Roanoke Street closed select nights
  • Sept. 12-19: Eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard closed around the clock

Check our Construction Corner map for the most up-to-date information on SR 520 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:
    • Portage Bay Project: 206-319-4520 (24-hour hotline)
    • Montlake Project: 206-200-9484, M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • 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.
    • Be sure to check out the Document Library for FAQ's and other resources including information for neighbors who believe their homes have been damaged by construction vibration.
  • 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/X and BlueSky ‪to get key news and updates about the SR 520 program.
  • Share the ROTW listserv with your friends and neighbors.
  • View construction photos taken 'round the clock by our four mounted construction cameras.

Note: We combined our two SR 520 Program email lists into one. This newsletter will focus on Portage Bay Project construction and closures while also sharing other SR 520 updates. You can manage your preferences or unsubscribe anytime.

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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