Interstate 5 North - King County South

The northbound side rest area in southern King County doubles as a rest area for passenger vehicles.

08/29/06

South 375th Street passes over Interstate 5 north at the rest area / weigh station off-ramp. The next interchange joins the freeway with SR 18, an east-west freeway linking Federal Way with Auburn, Covington, and Hobart.

08/29/06

Motorists utilizing the rest area / weigh station off-ramp split into separate ramps for the scales and rest area facilities. A similar setup exists at other combination rest area / weigh stations.

08/29/06

There is no direct access to SR 161 (Enchanted Parkway) from Interstate 5. Instead motorists are directed onto SR 18 (South 348th Street) west to make the connection with the north-south highway. SR 161 is a 36.25 mile state route that begins at SR 18 and leads south to the Six Flags theme park of Wild Waves Enchanted Village, Milton, Edgeway, and Puyallup.

08/29/06

SR 161 (Enchanted Parkway) passes above Interstate 5 on the half mile approach to the Exit 142A/B cloverleaf interchange with SR 18. SR 18 ends at the South 348th Street intersection with SR 99 (Pacific Highway) nearby in Federal Way and travels 28.41 miles overall to Exit 25 of Interstate 90.

08/29/06

This empty sign bridge now hosts signs advising motorists of the left HOV lane and Exit 142 ramps to SR 18.

08/29/06

Older guide sign for Exit 142A to SR 18 east. The replacement sign omits North Bend as a second control city. SR 18 stretches as a freeway for all but seven miles of its route east of Hobart to Interstate 90. A WSDOT project widened the final stretch to four lanes with an interchange added at Tiger Mountain Summit.

08/29/06

Advancing through the cloverleaf interchange with SR 18, northbound drivers approach Exit 142B, the first of three Federal Way off-ramps from Interstate 5. SR 18 (South 348th Street) ends at SR 99 in 0.54 miles. Signage for Exit 142B now displays "SR 18 west / South 348th Street".

08/29/06

Exit 142B loops onto SR 18 (South 348th Street) west ahead of a heavily commercialized area to SR 99 (Pacific Highway). 348th Street continues beyond the state route portion to West Hylebos State Park, St. Francis Hospital, and Campus Drive.

08/29/06

With the expansion of Interstate 5 north to extend the HOV-2 lane south, the northbound freeway now provides six overall lanes.

08/29/06

The second Federal Way interchange joins Interstate 5 with South 320th Street near the city center and The Commons at Federal Way (formerly the Seatac Mall).

08/29/06

Northbound at the parclo interchange (Exit 143) with South 320th Street in Federal Way. South 320th Street exits the city to the east, becoming Peasley Canyon Road toward Auburn.

08/29/06

The HOV-2 lane also has an exit ramp for downtown Federal Way. Departing to the left, the ramp connects with an access road to a roundabout between South 317th Street and 28th Avenue South.

08/29/06

Interstate 5 straddles the Federal Way city line northward to the city of Kent. Pictured here is the Military Road under crossing and a northbound distance sign featuring Kent and Seattle.

08/29/06

One mile south of the diamond interchange (Exit 147) with South 272nd Street on Interstate 5 north at the South 288th Street underpass. Suburban development lines both sides of the freeway to the Kent city line.

08/29/06

South 272nd Street travels the line between Kent and Federal Way west to SR 99 (Pacific Highway) to Woodmont Beach. Eastward, the road continues to Star Lake and South 277th Street to SR 167 near Thomas.

08/29/06

A six-ramp parclo interchange joins I-5 with SR 516 (Kent Des Moines Road) within the city of Kent.

08/29/06

Exit 149A departs Interstate 5 north for SR 516 (Kent Des Moines Road) east to the Kent city center. The state route constitutes an expressway between Interstate 5 and SR 167.

08/29/06

SR 516 (Kent Des Moines Road) meanders west 2.03 miles to become SR 509 north at Marine View Drive near Des Moines Beach. Overall the state route travels 16.49 miles east from Des Moines to SR 169 at Maple Valley.

08/29/06

Vancouver, British Columbia makes its debut to Interstate 5 northbound drivers on this distance sign posted between SR 516 and the South 216th Street overpass.

08/29/06

Military Road continues alongside Interstate 5 from Kent to Seatac, meeting the freeway at a folded-cloverleaf interchange at South 200th Street (Exit 151).

08/29/06

Exit 151 joins Interstate 5 north with adjacent Military Road ahead of its intersection with South 200th Street at Seatac. South 200th Street leads west to Normandy Park. Military Road continues in close proximity to Interstate 5 by Angle Lake to McMicken Heights in Seatac.

08/29/06

Orilla Road stems north from South 212th Street at Kent to meet Interstate 5 at a diamond interchange (Exit 152) opposite South 188th Street.

08/29/06

Orilla Road becomes South 188th Street west to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and SR 509. Military Road lines Interstate 5 next to Exit 152 and south of McMicken Heights.

08/29/06

Interstate 5 north lowers to the interchange complex (Exits 153-154) with Tukwila Parkway, Interstate 405 north, and SR 518 west.

08/29/06

Exit 154B constitutes the northbound beginning of Interstate 405, an urban loop around Lake Washington and the city of Seattle stretching 30.3 miles from Tukwilla to Lynnwood. SR 518 is a 3.42 mile freeway spurring west from Interstates 5 & 405 to SR 509 at Burien.

08/29/06

Exit 153 departs ahead of the ramps for Interstate 405 north and SR 518 west for parallel Southcenter and Tukwila Parkways. Exit 153 serves the adjacent Southcenter Mall.

08/29/06

Exit 153 separates into ramps for Southcenter Parkway. Southcenter Mall lies north of a pervasive warehouse and commercial area bound by Southcenter Parkway and SR 181 (Valley Parkway). Northward, Southcenter Parkway becomes Tukwila Parkway east to the Green River and Exit 1 of Interstate 405.

08/29/06

The HOV-2 lane separates through the directional cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 405 north and SR 518 west. Exit 154B connects with the northbound beginning of Interstate 405 to Renton, Newcastle and Bellevue. Exit 154A joins the left lanes of SR 518 west to Seatac and Burien.

08/29/06

Northbound at the ramp split of Exit 154 for Interstate 405 north and SR 518 west. SR 518 leads directly to SW 148th Street and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Interstate 405 meets Interstate 90 in 11.05 miles. Much of Interstate 405 and SR 518 was constructed between 1965-70.

08/29/06

Drivers merging onto Interstate 5 north from SR 518 east merge with the HOV-2 lane before joining the freeway mainline on the left side at this reassurance marker.

08/30/06

Continuing northward, Interstate 5 next splits with SR 599. SR 599 constitutes a 1.75 mile freeway connecting Interstate 5 Exit 156 with SR 99 (West Marginal Way) in north Tukwila. SR 99 ends at the Pacific Highway interchange with SR 518 in SeaTac and resumes at the SR 599 interchange with Tukwila International Boulevard. The stretch along Tukwila International Boulevard was decommissioned in 2004.¹

08/30/06

Northbound at the wye interchange (Exit 156) with SR 599 north on Interstate 5. Access is also provided to the southbound HOV lane, but not from the northbound carpool lane. SR 599 parallels Interurban Avenue throughout its alignment and sees an interchange with the industrial area at South 133rd Street nearby. SR 599 and 99 provide a seamless freeway to the 1st Avenue Bridge into the Georgetown section of Seattle.

08/30/06

Ramp meters appear at the Interurban Avenue half diamond interchange with Interstate 5. The northbound freeway crosses the Duwamish River in this scene.

08/30/06

Turning northwest, Interstate 5 parallels the Union Pacific and BNSF Railroads and SR 900 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Way) at the Allentown and Duwamish sections of north Tukwila.

08/30/06

Interests to Boeing Field / King County International Airport (BFI) are directed to remain along Interstate 5 north beyond the off-ramp to Martin Luther King, Jr. Way north for a loop ramp onto South Boeing Access Road to Airport Way north.

08/30/06

Martin Luther King, Jr. Way partitions into a one way couplet at the half diamond interchange of Exit 157. Exit 157 consists of a slip ramp onto the adjacent roadway north to Ryan Way east and Boeing Access Road west. SR 900 (not signed here) follows MLK Way south from Ryan Way to Sunset Boulevard in Renton.

08/30/06

A slip ramp provides access to Interstate 5 north from Martin Luther King, Jr. Way north ahead of its intersection with South Boeing Access Road west and Ryan Way east. Ryan Way leads east to 51st Avenue in south Seattle.

08/30/06

Exit 158 provides access to South Boeing Access Road west to Airport Way and East Marginal Way south of the Seattle Boeing plant and adjacent airport. South Boeing Access Road comprises a short expressway between SR 900 and Pacific Highway South (historic U.S. 99).

08/30/06

Button copy signs that were posted at the Exit 158 loop ramp onto South Boeing Access Road west. Airport Way begins via a trumpet interchange nearby and leads north to King County International Airport and all the way to the CenturyLink Field area at the end of Interstate 90.

08/30/06

Interstate 5 officially enters the city of Seattle just north of Exit 158.

08/30/06

A brief roadway separation follows along Interstate 5 as it lines the hills east of King County International Airport. The left lane remains striped for HOV-2 motorists.

08/30/06

Swift Avenue continues Myrtle Street northwest along Interstate 5 north to South Albro Place. Exit 161 joins the northbound freeway with Swift Avenue ahead of Graham Street west of the Holly Park neighborhood.

08/30/06

For a brief moment Interstate 5 north appears almost rural in this scene one half mile south of Exit 161.

08/30/06

Exit 161 ascends from Interstate 5 north to Swift Avenue. Graham Street leads east to Holly park and Brighton while South Albro Place crosses the freeway and adjacent railroad lines west to Ellis Avenue at the Georgetown section of the city.
Exit 162 departs next as part of a pair of directional ramps that join Interstate 5 with industrial areas along Corson Avenue and Michigan Street at Georgetown.

08/30/06

Drivers bound for Corson Avenue south to Michigan Street west branch away from the northbound mainline at the Albro Place overpass. Directional ramps join Interstate 5 north and south from Bailey Street east from Michigan Street beyond the Exit 162 ramp departure. Michan Street angles southwest otherwise to the 1st Avenue Bridge (SR 99) and East Marginal Way.

08/30/06

Interstate 5 northbound reassurance assembly posted by the Bailey Street on-ramp.

08/30/06

Interstate 5 continues with roadways at different grades through South Seattle. The left lane remains restricted to HOV-2 traffic.

08/30/06

Two major interchanges lie next along Interstate 5 north: Exit 163 connects the freeway with Columbian Way east to South Seattle and the West Seattle Bridge to Riverside and Youngstown. Exit 164A joins Interstate 5 north with Interstate 90 east across the Mercer Island Floating Bridge to Bellevue.

08/30/06

The first views of the impressive downtown skyline of Seattle unfold along Interstate 5 north at South Seattle. CenturyLink Field (home of the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise) and T-Mobile Park (home of the Seattle Mariners MLB franchise) are also visible to the south of the central business district.

08/30/06

Large cranes rise from the port facilities of Harbor Island north of Pigeon Point. Waters of Elliot Bay and Puget Sound also come into view.

08/30/06

A directional stack interchange provides the movements between Interstate 5, the West Seattle Bridge, and Columbian Way east. The West Seattle Bridge is a locally maintained freeway leading west to 35th Avenue SW and Fauntleroy Way SW at West Seattle. Columbian Way winds east from the viaduct to Beacon Hill, South Seattle, and Rainier Valley.

08/30/06

Exit 163 quickly partitions into ramps for West Seattle Bridge, Columbian Way east, and Spokane Street. Spokane Street parallels the West Seattle Bridge viaduct below, connecting Interstate 5 with 1st Avenue South north to Qwest and T-Mobile Parks.

08/30/06

Passing underneath the flyover ramps associated with the West Seattle Bridge interchange. The West Seattle Bridge was constructed between 1981 and 1984.²

08/30/06

Interstate 5 lines the hillside by Beacon Hill above the industrial plain to the west. CenturyLink Field, T-Mobile Park, and the downtown skyscrapers remain in view to the northwest to the directional stack interchange with Interstate 90 (Exit 164A).

08/30/06

Interstate 90 begins at 4th Avenue South (SR 519) by CenturyLink Field and the International District and arcs southeast to meet Interstate 5 near Yesler Terrace. The freeway splits into a local express configuration along an elevated viaduct from Royal Brougham Way to Seattle City Park near Exit 3. Exit 164A provides access not only to Interstate 90 east but also to Dearborn, James, and Madison Streets via a lengthy collector distributor roadway north to the Freeway Park tunnel.

08/30/06

Heavy traffic along Interstate 5 in both directions near Beacon Hill. 2009 WSDOT traffic counts tallied 240,000 vehicles per day along the drive between Exits 163 and 164A. Speed limits are set at 60 mph on this stretch.

08/30/06

The Exit 164A c/d roadway connects Interstate 5 north with Deaborn Street west to the International District, James Street east to Seattle University, and Madison Street to downtown and First Hill.

08/30/06

Exit 164A departs Interstate 5 north as a two lane off-ramp to Interstate 90 east and the aforementioned city streets. Interstate 90 represents the longest Interstate highway in the system at 3,020.54 miles. The freeway joins Washington's largest city with the it's largest city east of the Cascades, Spokane. Further east, Interstate 90 travels across the Rockies to Butte, Montana and across the Great Plains to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Interstate 90's transcontinental path joins the major metropolitan areas of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Boston at its eastbound conclusion.

08/30/06

Travelers bound for Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Issaquah part ways with Interstate 5 north at Exit 164A. Interstate 90 meets Interstate 405 at Exit 10 and Interstate 82 at Exit 110. Spokane lies 275 miles to the east.

08/30/06

Exit 164B connects northbound Interstate 5 with the concluding Interstate 90 west at 4th Avenue South (SR 519). Interstate 90 ends at a traffic light with SR 519's northbound beginning in the shadow of CenturyLink Field. SR 519 commences and follows a "U" shaped route along 4th Avenue South south to Royal Brougham Way west to Alaskan Way and the Washington State Ferry terminal.

08/30/06

A double-decked section of Interstate 90 travels in the foreground with Columbia Center anchoring the Seattle skyline in the background.

08/30/06

Traveling through the interchange with Interstate 90 on Interstate 5 north. The freeway mainline reduces to two lanes northward, but additional lanes are available via the adjacent c/d roadway and the reversible Express Lanes down the middle.

08/30/06