SEATTLE — A mix of concerts, lane closures and detours left many drivers frustrated Saturday as the Washington Department of Transportation’s “Wild West Weekend” of construction entered its second day.
Northbound I-405 in Renton and southbound I-405 in Kirkland remained fully closed Saturday, part of a planned WSDOT effort to complete paving, bridge joint repairs and drainage improvements in a tight weekend window. Additional lane reductions on I-5 in Seattle added to the region’s traffic troubles.
Concerts featuring Barry Manilow at Climate Pledge Arena and The Weeknd at Lumen Field added to the weekend’s congestion. By late afternoon, delays stretched more than an hour from Lynnwood to Seattle and 26 minutes from SeaTac, according to WSDOT.
"There was a lot of traffic! The traffic was hard, but what do you expect?” said concertgoer Mia Gottschalk.
Lines outside the stadiums began forming hours before the shows started. WSDOT acknowledged the traffic in a social media post referencing The Weeknd’s tour: “Don’t be stuck in traffic ‘After Hours, Til Dawn.’”
Some drivers vented their frustration at KING 5 while sitting in the traffic.
“I think it’s horrible,” said one man caught in I-405 traffic near NE 124th Street in Kirkland. “They should do it during the week when people are working from home.”
He said he was waiting for about 35 minutes to enter the detour at 124th Street.
The Renton project has forced the closure of I-405 northbound lanes between state Route 169 and Sunset Blvd.
Late Saturday, WSDOT said about 75% of the new concrete surface had been laid with drainage work more than halfway down. Crews will also address joint work on two bridges and install more than 4,500 feet of new barrier.
In Kirkland, crews have laid more than 10,000 square feet of new pavement with another 25,000 square feet expected to be laid before the weekend project concludes, WSDOT said.
“We know closures like this are frustrating,” WSDOT said in a statement. “They disrupt plans, slow down weekends, and make everyday trips harder. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to get in, get the work done, and get out.”
Drivers are encouraged to leave early, stay calm, and take alternate routes. The closures are scheduled to last until 4 a.m. Monday.