Expansion joint repairs slow traffic on I-5 in Seattle

SEATTLE — Once again, expansion joints caused traffic to back up in Seattle.

At 8:50 a.m. on Monday, the Washington State Department of Transportation said it was making expansion joint repairs on northbound Interstate 5 at Lakeview Boulevard.

The two left lanes were blocked in the Eastlake area for at least two hours.

The lanes have since reopened.

Essentially, expansion joints hold concrete slabs together, allowing them to expand and contract according to the weather and weight of vehicles.

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