Two Semis Crash on I-5 and Cause a 5-Mile Traffic Backup Into Northgate

This morning's Wednesday commute on southbound I-5 through Seattle was a major mess after a crash between two semis shut down most of the lanes on the Ship Canal Bridge.

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For a while, drivers were dealing with about 5 miles of stopped and slow-moving traffic.

Two Semis Crash and Stop Traffic on the Ship Canal Bridge

According to WSDOT Traffic, the crash happened on southbound I-5 just north of NE 45th Street, around the Ship Canal Bridge.

The first report came in at 5:25 a.m., announcing that three left lanes were blocked by the collision.

Emergency responders were called to the scene, and WSDOT warned drivers that the closure was expected to last for an extended period.

The situation became even more difficult because one lane farther south on the bridge was already closed for construction.

Traffic Backup Stretched Into Northgate for Miles

At one point, southbound I-5 was down to just one lane near the crash.

WSDOT reported about five miles of backup stretching into Northgate as crews worked at the scene.

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That later grew even longer after another update put the backup at more than six miles, reaching into Shoreline.

Drivers were encouraged to consider alternate routes, including SR-99.

WSDOT said access to eastbound SR 520 was not impacted by the crash.

Tow Trucks Had to Remove the Semis

Getting two semi trucks out of the roadway took some time.

Three left lanes remained blocked while tow trucks removed the semis, which were cleared around 2 PM.

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