Northbound I-405 closure in Kirkland expected to cause major delays Aug. 28-31

KIRKLAND - People traveling through Kirkland along the I-405 corridor should prepare for significant delays the weekend of Aug. 28-31, as crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation make progress on the I-405/Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Inline BRT Station Project.

Northbound I-405 closure in Kirkland

All lanes of northbound I-405 will close from Northeast 70th Place to Northeast 85th Street from 11 p.m. Friday Aug. 28 to 4 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31. Up to three lanes of northbound I-405 also will close from the Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to Northeast 100th Street.

The following ramps also will close:

• Northeast 70th Place on-ramp to northbound I-405
• Northbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street

A signed detour will be in place. The Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to northbound I-405 will remain open.

Crews will dig out a section of the freeway to install a concrete culvert to reconnect the fish passage beneath northbound I-405 to the section under southbound I-405 that was built during a full closure in July.

Additionally, northbound I-5 in Seattle is reduced to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge until the end of 2026. The express lanes will remain open northbound only 24 hours a day. The Harvard Avenue on-ramp to northbound I-5 is closed until mid-October.

Plan ahead

Travelers should expect miles long backups on northbound I-405 and heavier traffic on nearby highways and local streets, as people adjust their routes. People traveling throughout the region should expect longer and less predictable trips. Delays may occur in new places and at new times, and conditions may change week to week as work moves around the region.

People should use transit and park-and-ride options, be flexible about travel times and access real-time traffic information. People driving should slow down, stay alert and follow posted signs when approaching and traveling through work zones. These choices can make a meaningful difference during major closures and help keep both travelers and highway crews safe.

Much of this work requires good weather and may be rescheduled due to rain. Schedule updates will be available on WSDOT's online Travel Center map, the WSDOT mobile app and by signing up for WSDOT's King County email updates.