Puget Sound Is in a Full Construction Era — And It’s Only Going to Get More Intense Through 2028
Over the next two years, travelers across Greater Puget Sound will see an unprecedented level of construction activity — not the result of a single project, but the cumulative effect of major efforts moving forward simultaneously across I-5, I-405, SR 520, I-90, and key freight and commuter routes. What makes 2026 different is that sustained lane reductions on northbound I-5 through downtown Seattle are in place for an extended duration, and this year’s construction is being compressed into a shorter timeframe ahead of a planned five-week pause during FIFA World Cup matches in June — meaning more disruption now instead of a longer stretch of impacts later. From Friday, May 8 through Monday, May 11, WSDOT contractor crews are working simultaneously on I-5, I-405, SR 520, and SR 99, limiting capacity and creating longer, less predictable trips across the Eastside and Seattle. For NW contractors working in the greater Seattle metro, this sustained construction era represents one of the most active public works pipelines the region has ever seen — with work continuing through 2028. Washington State Department of Transportation + 2
