SEATTLE — The first major freeway closure on southbound Interstate 5 is scheduled for Jan. 4-7. The Washington State Department of Transportation said this will be the first of nearly 20 weekend closures in Seattle that will run until April.

According to WSDOT crews will:

•  Replace 31 expansion ramps linking I-5, the West Seattle Bridge and Columbian Way and one joint on northbound I-5, south of the ramps.
• Grind and smooth three lanes of southbound I-5 between 50^th Street and Roanoke Street in the University District and add durable striping in each direction of I-5 between Northgate and Roanoke Street.
• Replace timber on the old Highway 99 bridge over Spokane Street south of the West Seattle Bridge.
• Replace bridge expansion joints and repave the ramp on northbound I-5 to Spokane Street (the West Seattle Bridge) and northbound and southbound I-5 off-ramps at Corson Avenue.

WSDOT said the four construction projects will cost less than $30 million. Traffic engineers coordinated with the city of Seattle, Eastside and the south Sound, sports teams and event planners to avoid overlapping construction and detours.