Driving On I-5 South In 1987 (Lynnwood, Seattle)

Back in 1987, The Washington State Department of Transportation drove south on I-5 and recorded video to document the highway. This was part of a project that photographed/videotaped the states highways every couple of years. This video now resides at The Washington State Archives who were kind enough to share it.

[@Theospeak1]

I remember driving that stretch in 1987. Can't believe what it looks like now.

[@hedga001]

I know, I was looking at it on Google maps and it’s all shopping centers and dense commercial properties instead of trees.

[@Tony__Tone]

It is so crazy how different all of that stretch looks now😮

[@dude4173]

The biggest difference in the lynnnwood area is today it’s a concrete jungle but back then, it was still very forested. Sad to see

[@lockedine]

Like hell

[@glenbo2464]

I love the scenery back then and the cars too !

[@johnnysama]

The end of the video has the then-under construction Seattle Convention Center. :)

[@dgendvil]

Gosh....

[@wasserdagger]

Wow, can you believe it... no traffic congestion on I-5 heading into Seattle! I remember those days fondly. Oh, and traffic was even lighter in the 60's and 70's. This is weird but I get the feeling I still see many of those same cars and trucks on the road today. (I myself am still driving a 1994 Chevy Blazer.) Great video. Thanks for the memories.

[@qpwodkgh2010]

No idea what you're talking about. Traffic was bad then as well and placing the convention center on top of I-5 was insane to do that. I should know, I drove in it. These videos were taken at time of low traffic. This was taken on a Thursday at 11 AM.

[@robinbellamy]

26:30 Looks a lot cleaner. Nowadays, the concrete walls are covered with the graffiti and 28:39 there are homeless camps under the freeway overpasses.

[@mercurysunlight5689]

I live on Whidbey Island and haven't been over that way in ten years. Sounds like I'm sure not missing anything!

[@declanjohn8517]

Wow, we must have had a hot dry summer early that year. Late June and look at the yellow, crunchy grass!

[@hoarbaby]

We did.. I remember all the parks had dead grass because “no watering”.. they even told us to not flush the toilet for number 1… seriously

[@franciscolopez7101]

Seattle only got 0.16 inches of rain in June 1987. The high temp at Sea-Tac on the day this video was recorded was 85 (average is 72).

[@bobscott7440]

​@@franciscolopez7101 Good research.

[@bobscott7440]

​@Bryan Smith I lived and worked in Portland Oregon that summer. I have never been in a hotter summer before or since.

[@Scott-k4p]

Those were the best days!!!

[@odiumimbues]

wow they extended the 181 exit , added an east to the west 196th duo exit. multiple overpasses missing here. wow.

[@daveb2280]

Newly built King County Jail. Didn't open until two years later. Note: James St. exit didn't even exist!

[@babymonster206]

Amazing 👍🏿 video

[@arwzqu1964]

Looks to be fairly early in the morning from the shadows cast by the cars. Could easily count the high rise buildings in Seattle. Now it looks much different.

[@OrsonBuggy1958]

17:00 Yup, that's Seattle all right. I drovef a cab in the 80's in the Seattle metro area and you'd be hard pressed to find a main road or freeway I haven't driven. I don't have any reason to travel to the Lynnwood area and haven't for years and years.. I can only imagine what it looks like now.

[@ahoorakia]

4:33 nice to see 66 chevy as daily drive still on the road 11:37 nice 66 or 67 riviera😍

[@jonasbrothersrockist]

WOW, 1987 is 4 years younger than my older sister, then 1 year younger than my other older sister, then 2 years older than my older brother and 7 years older than I am. My older sister was born in 1983, my 2nd older sister was born in 1986, my older brother was born in 1989 and I was born in 1994.

[@bmasters1981]

Why do we have a voice reciting all the exit numbers and what's on them?

[@BenGarrott]

Speed limit is 60 now in that area not 55

[@lockedine]

Man was this the good old days or what??

[@Ziduche]

Proportion of American brand cars was over 50% when it''s probably 1% today. Incidentally the dark pollution cloud over downtown, not something to regret.

[@JulietActual]

Wow

[@dgendvil]

On the way down to Tacoma, towns in S.W. Washington, & Portland, too.

[@jonasbrothersrockist]

Are you from Washington State or Oregon State?

[@KB-hn3tx]

Back in the day when driving through Seattle was more pleasing to the eye, without all of the ugly, eyesore graffiti along that stretch today

[@cmo5150]

Some of us love and appreciate the graffiti thank you very much. If you don’t like it just move.

[@kevinmcdonald8049]

Whats missing is angry drivers and rainbow flags.

[@albeback5234]

😫 I miss Lusty Ladies