A few months into the state’s big Ship Canal Bridge repave, the original shock has eased somewhat, as morning commuters adapt their schedules and driving habits to cope with fewer lanes on Interstate 5.
However, the southbound drives from Lynnwood to Lake Union remain an exasperating 56 minutes, on average, on Tuesdays through Thursdays. That’s eight minutes less than when the bridge project began Jan. 12, but still 20 minutes worse than at full capacity, before Revive I-5 started, according to Washington State Department of Transportation data.
The modest improvement in trip times likely means drivers are changing when they go to work or run an errand, diverting to other roads, keeping a safe following distance, or benefiting from more hours of daylight compared with midwinter…