Express lanes

The I-5 Express Lanes help traffic flow during busy travel times. These lanes move in the direction that will relieve the most congestion and are on a typical daily schedule that changes on weekends and occasionally for major events.

I-5 Express Lanes schedule

Monday-Friday

• Southbound - 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Northbound - 11:15 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Closed: 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.

Saturday & Sunday

• Southbound - 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Northbound - 1:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Closed: 11 p.m. - 8 a.m.

Special events schedule

Express lanes staying open late and operating on weekend schedule hours for July 4th holiday

The I-5 Express Lanes will operate on weekend schedule hours and remain open and in the northbound direction until midnight on Friday, July 4, to allow for traffic to exit the downtown Seattle area after the holiday festivities and fireworks show. This means the express lanes won't switch to northbound until 1:45 p.m. (instead of the normal 11:15 a.m. weekday time) and then will remain in that direction until midnight after which they will close for the remainder of the evening. The lanes will reopen at their normal weekend time and operations on Saturday, July 5.

Express lanes reverse to southbound and remain open overnight from July 11-12

The I-5 Express Lanes will reverse from northbound to southbound at 11 p.m. on Friday, July 11. They will remain in the southbound direction overnight and continue to the regular weekend schedule at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, July 12. This is to facilitate the planned full southbound I-5 closure for maintenance work in the Convention Center tunnel.

I-5 Express Lanes map