I-5/NB MLK Jr Way to NE Ravenna Br – Pavement Repair

Client

Washington State Department of Transportation

Completion Date

2019

Designer

Jacobs Engineering Group

Location

Seattle, Washington

Delivery Method

Design-Build

Division

Northwest

Contract Value

$38 million
I-5/NB Jr Way to NE Ravenna Br Pavement Repair

I-5/NB Jr Way to NE Ravenna Br-Pavement Repair project improved the deteriorating I-5 northbound concrete pavement through downtown Seattle, spanning from Martin Luther King Jr Way in the south to Ravenna Blvd. Bridge in the north—a distance of approximately 12.5 miles. Work included select panel replacement and full-depth pavement replacement with Portland Cement concrete pavement (PCCP), as well as grinding and replacing asphalt shoulders, upgrading drainage structures, replacing traffic loops, installing permanent pavement striping, and performing diamond grinding of the roadway surface to ensure ride quality. A major portion of the work includes the removal and replacement of 36 mainline and 34 ramp bridge expansion joints and six bridge approach slabs.

Considering the project's potential impact on more than 120,000 vehicles per day, work was restricted to nights and weekends to minimize disruptions to traffic flow. This strategy was crucial to accommodating the needs of residents, businesses, and various events within Seattle—an area already experiencing significant construction activity. The commitment was to complete all work using a limited number of weekend lane closures and a single weekend full closure of northbound I-5. Atkinson scheduled these closures in collaboration with WSDOT, the City of Seattle, and major sports teams (e.g., Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders, and Seattle Seahawks) to avoid conflicts with city events. Atkinson also coordinated with local educational institutions to minimize disruptions during graduation ceremonies.