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How long to lid I-5 between Capitol Hill and downtown? Years and years and years — but the plan is being shaped now

(Image: Lid I-5)

A view from the new lid over 520 in Montlake (Image: Lid I-5)

Last month, the new SR-520 bike and pedestrian bridge opened to counterbalance the flow of motor vehicles traveling across the new Montlake Lid. Longstanding hopes to cover freeways in other parts of the city are also taking shape. Between Capitol Hill and downtown, the Lid I-5 group has been working on its initiative long enough that its years-old utility pole flyers have become part of the area’s gritty urban landscape. The effort has a $2.2 million boost to work with in 2025.

John Feit has been part of the group pursuing the lidding of I-5 through downtown to cap noise and pollution, and to reconnect neighborhoods while filing gaping holes in the city—like the affordable housing supply. Now, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city $2 million and the state legislature added another $200,000 in planning grants. Lid I-5 and other proponents of Seattle lids are pushing forward.

“We’re going to use that recent money to come up with an urban design vision, which means understanding what the people of Seattle would like to see with the lid accomplished,” Feit told CHS.

A rendering of a Lid I-5 concept that includes park space and new buildings (Image: Lid I-5)

A lid for the central city between Capitol Hill and downtown would cover Thomas Street to Main. Feit, co-chair of the Lid I-5 steering committee, said public input is much needed for the urban design vision, as it will outline would be built on the lid, and how it will connect people and places. The Lid I-5 steering committee is hosting a series of events about the grants, with the first meeting — a “beer and culture” gathering dedicated to the topic of “Defining a Vision” —  taking place on Wednesday from 5 to 7:30 PM at Pier 56.

“We want a strong public participation in it,” Feit said. “They are going to help us figure out how to spend the money.”

This week’s meeting will feature a panel discussion and Q&A, including Dorothy Faris of Mithun; senior project manager Ben Franz of Shiels ObletzShannon Nichol of GGN; and Donna Moodie of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

Feit views the funding as a relatively small yet significant step, and said the lid work is being done separately but in coordination with the Washington Department of Transportation’s master plan for I-5 from British Columbia to Oregon. Feit said the group expects to influence the state’s vision and move more significant lidding efforts forward.

Efforts to lid the freeway and reconnect areas like Capitol Hill to downtown have grown over the past decade with the Seattle City Council stoking the push in 2023 with a resolution supporting what would be a massively expensive — and possibly massively lucrative — project.

CHS reported here in 2019 on a $1.5 million study that explored the technical feasibility of building lids with green spaces and public parks, schools, and affordable housing developments. Federal money beyond the new $2 million planning boost may be available to help also pay for the construction. The projects could also present the city with vital revenue opportunities as it looks to manage an increasingly challenging budgetary environment.

The Montlake Lid’s bus shelters (Image: Lid I-5)

The possibilities for what rests on the lid will be dictated by the city’s needs, costs, and physics. Although it will be dependent upon community wants and needs, Feit said there could be buildings, affordable housing, and parks. Feit is specifically interested in hearing input from Chinatown-International District residents, since the neighborhood was also greatly impacted during the original development of I-5 as it separated neighborhoods in the city’s core.

“We really want to get their input and get their ownership of this, because it’s coming their way, this master plan, and this is a good way for them to express how they want to see I-5 in the future,” Feit said.

Although WSDOT won’t finalize its master plan until 2029, Feit said the future of the I-5 lid is guaranteed. He noted how future funding will be needed to move along the project, and that elected officials need to remain under pressure from the public.

“These kinds of projects—they take a long time, which is why we need more advocates, more people speaking up for this,” Feit said.

There are hopes the opening of the Montlake Lid’s grassy areas, bus terminal, and pedestrian and bike bridge will inspire.

WSDOT contractors are already hard at work on building another freeway lid just to the west. The Roanoke Lid and new Portage Bay Bridge construction is expected to last seven years.

(Image: Lid I-5)

How long to lid I-5? Even though it will take years to see the project someday finally dig in, Feit said people have the opportunity to improve their lives and to start laying the groundwork for changing this area of the city.

Already, the work has helped shape changes to the streets between Capitol Hill and downtown as Pike and Pine are being transformed with biking and pedestrian improvements. The $2 billion “Summit” expansion of the Convention Center has also helped reshape the connection.

“You shouldn’t be selective and say we only have the intellectual or emotional energy to tackle a handful of issues at a time. An attitude like that is a little defeatist—it doesn’t speak to the greater availability of the public to make a better life for anyone in a number of different ways,” Feit said.

Issues like homelessness, parks and schools aren’t mutually exclusive, he said. Becoming involved in the I-5 lid efforts can allow people to address multiple ongoing issues while promoting the functionality of the entire city.

“We’re building a part of the city that’s not there,” Feit said. “We can also use what we build on it to improve our overall physical environment.”

For more information, visit LidI5.org.

 

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nomnom
nomnom
14 days ago

Great, I’m all for it! But first can we get an overpass between Denny and Bellevue? There’s 3/4 of a mile with no way to get over 1-5, along one of the densest parts of Capitol Hill. Maybe paving over six stairclimbs between Capitol Hill to Cascade (aka SLU) was OK in 1962, but today thousands of workers commute daily between the two neighborhoods. Extend a lid across from Bellevue Place Park between Eastlake and Mercer.

Steph
Steph
13 days ago
Reply to  nomnom

Yes! And some way of getting to Eastlake too!

Long time resident
Long time resident
14 days ago

All I can say about the rendering with the park space is HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! That would be great but there will not be one square inch that the city won’t sell to developers who will erect structures blocking the view

Optimist
Optimist
14 days ago

Yes, let’s be cynical for cynicism’s sake! I’m sure there are no recent examples of massive successful projects where the city was able to convert a highway into a park.

District13Tribute
District13Tribute
14 days ago
Reply to  Optimist

The problem is if you turn it into a park you are not going to recop any of the costs of the project and the taxpayers will have bear that burden. Good luck if you think the state will pay for this and tolls won’t be possible since I-5 is a federal highway. The property tax to pay for this will be massive and then the assessed values of those who live in the area will skyrocket as well just as the units did near the Viaduct. The only way this project makes a little sense is if you sell every inch of that land to developers to build needed housing and absorb most of the costs.

Smoothtooperate
Smoothtooperate
14 days ago

does everything have to be completely monetised?

Useless
Useless
12 days ago

And what would we get in return? A homeless encampment.

KinesthesiaAmnesia
KinesthesiaAmnesia
12 days ago
Reply to  Optimist

My 1st thought when I read “recent examples” was: the 8 lanes of Alaskan Way highway still dividing downtown from the waterfront, covered with a swath of concrete ramps that are largely unusable by bike commuters, and don’t have a lot of the afore-promised infrastructure for bike users completed, but seem very valuable for funneling Market tourists to the aquarium. Maybe if I were the ghost of Ivar Haglund huckstering my way through developing the waterfront for tourists… I’d be frothing with clam nectar at all that concrete? But I’m not so I ain’t.

Then the other commenters made me realize this comment was actually probably referencing the new pedestrian bridge over 520 that also screwed things up royally for cyclists. We’ll see in warmer weather how people use that space or not.

I learned in urban planning classes that parks plopped in traffic islands (like McGraw Square), or hanging over freeways with unwelcoming walls of concrete and bad infrastructure for plants (Freeway Park), are pretty much consolation prizes from the car makers and road builders to the devalued city. That’s why I wonder if the new path over 520 will be enjoyed by its users as a park or a pass-through.

Also we really should have had all this nice stuff since the freeways were planned in the 1950’s. All up and down the i5 corridor and not just downtown Seattle. Yes I’m going to be extremely cynical about all that piss poor, racist, classist freeway planning still messing up our lives in huge ways 70 years later, whether we’re in Seattle, Tacoma or Olympia. I am not going to act grateful for whatever inadequate crumbs the state and its favored road developers are gonna throw our way to shut us up. They don’t want us fired up and demanding this: get rid of freeways in cities instead of lidding or cramming pretend parks around them, and we’d have much more actual park space and save money over the long run.

So I’m gonna go with yes: there are no recent examples of massive successful projects where the city was able to convert a highway into a park.

Jeffrey
Jeffrey
8 days ago

racist, classist freeway planning Woke nonsense

KinesthesiaAmnesia
KinesthesiaAmnesia
7 days ago
Reply to  Jeffrey

Here’s an article from one of our more un-woke major news sources https://mynorthwest.com/history/routes-of-racism-civic-decision-making-and-highways-at-wing-luke-museum/3870583 it’s about freeway development in Seattle and how it wiped out or chopped up Black and Asian neighborhoods.

Todd
Todd
14 days ago

Selling just half of the air rights to developers would pay for the entire lid project.

Mrman
Mrman
14 days ago
Reply to  Todd

In the downtown area ? Which is largely vacant. If they want space, lots of empty offices to convert. Seattle has much bigger problems that a lid will fix…

Hillery
Hillery
14 days ago

Sure let’s throw a bunch of money at this that could be spent repairing the ailing bridges in the state and area or for other crises. How is this a priority.

Eltrox
Eltrox
14 days ago

Dumb…another fantasy of white entitled “urbanists” and out-of-touch neo con liberals. Put that money into housing and social justice!

d4l3d
d4l3d
14 days ago

‘”An attitude like that is a little defeatist…” Seriously? Is this meant to defang or provoke?

“Issues like homelessness, … while promoting the functionality of the entire city.” How specifically does gentrifying the air accomplish this? Wishful thinking or analysis?

TaxpayerGay
TaxpayerGay
14 days ago
Reply to  d4l3d

Performative self aggrandizement. They wrap their desires in the language of helping the oppressed in hopes you won’t notice this is a glorious waste of money given the tremendous issues we have.

butch griggs
butch griggs
13 days ago
Reply to  d4l3d

Parks are de facto homeless shelters. Right” *head desk*. That’s a ton of housing. Cheap housing. In as nice area!

It’s a win win I think…lol

mattbaume
14 days ago

I wish someone would commission a study on how to stop studying things and BUILD

I S
I S
14 days ago
Reply to  mattbaume

100% You are an icon, Matt.

RanOverInnaBikeLane
RanOverInnaBikeLane
14 days ago
Reply to  mattbaume

Just give me $1 million and I will begin a study on that study for you! Great deal right?

Mrman
Mrman
14 days ago

Yea, the Montlake lid shows the worthless value of a lid over a freeway – it’s an empty space that has nothing in it, and no one visits it. The I5 project is a great way for architects to make money, knowing nothing will ever happen. I5 is on a gradient – you would need a big wall on the downtown side to hold it all up. And I5 itself is not earthquake safe (see 520).

Mars Saxman
Mars Saxman
13 days ago
Reply to  Mrman

The lid which opened less than a month ago, you mean? In the middle of winter, a time when people are notoriously keen to spend time sitting out on the grass? Gosh, you’d expect it to be just crawling with activity by now.

Nowhere
Nowhere
12 days ago
Reply to  Mars Saxman

The lid that removed the actual bike path that commuters were using daily to reach the UW?
The bike path that they put on the lid goes nowhere to nowhere.

CD Resident
CD Resident
12 days ago
Reply to  Mars Saxman

If hanging out huffing freeway fumes in a small park is your idea of a good time, go for it!

Mars Saxman
Mars Saxman
10 days ago
Reply to  CD Resident

I walk through Freeway Park every day going to and from work, and it is a pleasant experience. It would be even nicer if they lidded over even more of the freeway and reduced its noise further, but it’s certainly better than not having a lid at all.

Bold and Optimist
Bold and Optimist
13 days ago

I grew up in a dying Rust Belt city (STL) that once had the same population as Seattle, and what I love about living here now is the dynamic growth, career opportunities, and ability to do big things. There’s been many times when I thought, wow, this is what STL must have been like when my grandparents immigrated there. Yes, I know those big things the city and region are doing can be inconvenient, take too long, or go over budget. Ya’ll are doing big things and growing, which a lot of this country can’t do because they do not have the resources or the will. Additionally, it’s getting a lot worse out there for folks who don’t fit into what a lot of Americans believe makes you a “Real American.” This country badly needs places like Seattle to take in our fellows whose lives could be drastically improved by living here. I get the urge to be cynical and throw our hands up anything new or bold, but I implore, as an outsider who found refuge here, to embrace big and bold ideas like decking over one the city’s biggest eye scores and sources of pollution. I know ppl will comment that because I was born here or haven’t lived here for x amount of years, my thoughts are not valued. But please pull your heads out of your asses drop the cynicism and be happy you arent forced to live in red america.

Mars Saxman
Mars Saxman
13 days ago

That’s funny – the lid your hometown built, connecting the Gateway Arch park across I-44 into downtown, is one of the case studies LidI5 cites in support for their proposal. I made a point of going to see it when I was in STL last year.

Boris
Boris
13 days ago

Love this – we should ideally be planning for 100,000 new residents a year or more. Let’s think big again.

CD Resident
CD Resident
12 days ago
Reply to  Boris

With the current population of 750k, what do you expect +100k a year would do to density, utilities/sewers, roads and other resources? Double population in 7 years? Where are all these people coming from who can afford the cost of living here? Where is the hiring to justify all this immigration? Our local major employers seem to just be canning people last couple years.

Boris
Boris
9 days ago
Reply to  CD Resident

The economy is not a set size to distribute. Grow the population and the economy would also grow (hence how the US is 300x its size from a couple hundred years ago).

And guess what? Some of those people could build the very things that you’re worried about. Eliminate the current exceptionally restrictive zoning and we could actually build the housing that we need and grow again (with a lower cost of living from increased supply of both housing and labor).

butch griggs
butch griggs
13 days ago

People do not understand how good we have it here in many cases. They also have never been anywhere,

Steph
Steph
13 days ago

I’m just perplexed by this. Seattle would definitely benefit from having a smoother transition between first/Capitol Hill and downtown/SLU. However, for a lid to make sense the highway would have to be buried deeper. The hills slope down and the highway is above grade in much of downtown/SLU. It’s essentially a terrace. Put a lid on it and you’re just adding another layer to the terrace, not truly smoothing the transition between neighborhoods. Freeways are at their loudest and most polluting where they layer on top of each other, and lidding might actually considerably worsen pollution and noise for many residents. If we wanna blow money let’s just bury the whole highway completely.

BlackSpectacles
BlackSpectacles
11 days ago
Reply to  Steph

↑ this, exactly.

bru
bru
12 days ago

Looks good. Get it done.