I-5 Lid Feasibility Study

What's Happening Now?

Draft I-5 Lid Feasibility Study Released 

This study prepared by WSP explores the feasibility of additional lidding of Interstate 5 in the core of Seattle's downtown, expanding from the existing lids of Freeway Park and the Washington State Convention Center. The study assesses structural and financial solutions that would bridge the highway, support new uses, and reconnect neighborhoods that have been divided for over 50 years. An overview of key issues and findings by the project's technical advisory team can be found here.

The feasibility study is part of the "community benefit agreement" related to the Washington State Convention Center's expansion. The funding was secured thanks to the hard work and passion of community members who have been exploring and advancing the Lid I-5 proposal. While this advocacy effort is separate from the feasibility study, the group's work informed the analysis and two of their members serve on the study's Steering Committee along with other stakeholder group representatives. For more information on the Lid I-5 group and their work, visit their website.

Our former Director Sam Assefa commented on Seattle's growth and the lid concept in this video produced by the Lid I-5 campaign.

Get Involved

Visit LidI5.org for the latest community project updates.

I-5 Lid Feasibility Study (December 2020)

• Summary Report
• Economic and Financial Feasibility Memorandum
• Existing Conditions and Context Memorandum
• Real Estate Market Scan
• Technical Feasibility Memorandum
• Test Case Memorandum
• Department of Neighborhoods outreach report 

I-5 Lid Feasibility Study Committee Meetings

Committee Work Session (December 11, 2019)

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Workbook

Preliminary Structural Feasibility Workshop (August 22, 2019)

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Small group materials
  
• Summary

Guiding Principals and Key Study Assumptions Workshop (June 11, 2019)

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Small group materials
• Look-ahead
• Work plan
• Summary

Orientation and Overview Meeting (March 26, 2019)

• Presentation
• Summary

Outreach

• I-5 Lid Outreach Report (August 2019)
• I-5 Lid Outreach Report (July 2019)
• I-5 Lid Feasibility Study Fact Sheet
  • English
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Somali
  • Spanish
  • Vietnamese

Consultant Work

• Questions and Answers (January 2019)

Pre-Submittal Conference

Meeting at City Hall (December 20, 2018)

• Summary
• Sign-in sheet

I-5 Lid Request for Proposals

• I-5 Lid Feasibility Study RFP (December 2018)
• RFP Inclusion Plan Evaluation

University of Washington Student Studies

• UW Department of Urban Design and Planning Study (New)
  Reconnecting the Emerald City - Analysis and Design Guidelines for the I-5 Lid
• UW Real Estate Finance Study
  Financing options for various lid scenarios developed by students of the University of Washington Runstad Center for Real Estate.