Southbound I-5 traffic slow through Seattle

UPDATE: A carjacking accident snarled southbound I-5 during a weekend of construction delays. Click here to read about the crash.

Drivers heading south on Interstate-5 through Seattle Saturday were experiencing construction-related delays that are expected to continue through Sunday.

Three of five southbound lanes between Stewart Street and I-90 are closed for construction until 5 a.m. Monday.

State transportation officials say travel on I-5 through Seattle could take up to one-hour because of congestion. "A lot depends on what drivers do throughout the day," said Kris Olsen, spokeswoman for Washington State Department of Transportation.

Express lanes were moving slower than the main I-5 lanes Saturday morning because so many drivers were using them in the hopes of avoiding the congestion, Olsen said.

Olsen stressed that the HOV lane is open to all drivers in Seattle. She also reminded drivers that they can use the I-90 exit ramp which rejoins I-5 after the work zone.

She also said southbound drivers want to use I-405 to avoid congestion in the heart of Seattle.

State crews are cutting apart 41 broken and cracked concrete panels and installing new stabilizing steel and concrete.