Drivers should expect backups and delays on northbound Interstate 5 through SeaTac and Kent for the next five weekends.

Starting at 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will reduce northbound I-5 to two lanes during the first of five consecutive weekends.

During the lane closures, crews will repave northbound I-5 between State Route 516 and the Southcenter area. Similar work during the weekend of June 3-4 resulted in backups of up to six miles.

“Drivers need to use alternatives, or be prepared for long delays,” said WSDOT Traffic Engineer Mike Swires. “We’ve already seen up to hour-long delays during the weekend in this area for this project. Travelers should use transit, take alternate routes, delay or postpone their trips on northbound I-5 in the Kent-SeaTac area.”

By 10 p.m. Friday, June 16, crews will reduce northbound I-5 to the two right lanes until 5 a.m. Monday, June 19. They will also close the SR 516 on-ramps to northbound I-5 and the South 200th Street on- and off-ramps throughout the weekend. Drivers need to watch for construction vehicles entering and exiting the work zone in the left lanes.

All work is weather-dependent. If the weather holds, WSDOT expects to finish the work during the July 14–17 lane reductions.

More than 100,000 vehicles use northbound I-5 each day in the SeaTac/Tukwila area. During the lane reductions, drivers can help ease congestion by:

· Using bus or light rail service

· Carpooling

· Scheduling trips early or late in the day

· Using alternative routes like I-405 or state routes 99, 167 or 509.