Date:  Thursday, August 07, 2008

Contact: Steve Peer, WSDOT Communications, (425) 301-2023 (Bellevue)
Stacy Trussler, I-405 Deputy Project Director, (206) 437-4870 (Bellevue)

Plan ahead to avoid congestion on all major Seattle and Bellevue highways and arterials

BELLEVUE – Major I-405 closures in South Bellevue are on track to begin tomorrow night, Friday, Aug. 8. WSDOT traffic engineers predict major traffic congestion.

Now is the time to check your alternate routes.

During the weekend of August 8 through 11 crews will:

• close all southbound lanes of I-405 between SE 8th Street and I-90 Friday, Aug. 8 at 11 p.m. The lanes will reopen Monday, Aug. 11 at 5 a.m. 
• close multiple ramps leading to I-405 in south Bellevue.
• close the ramp from eastbound SR 520 to southbound I-405.

During the 54-hour closure, crews will dump sand to protect the roadway and begin demolishing the Wilburton Tunnel just north of I-90 in South Bellevue. Removing the tunnel will allow contractor crews to begin widening this section of I-405 to 6 lanes. This is part of a $124 million dollar project to eliminate one of the biggest traffic chokepoints in the state.

“To avoid major back-ups throughout the region, we recommend people travel close to home,” said Stacy Trussler, I-405 Deputy Project Director. Trussler added that, “No changes in driving behavior could lead to 13-mile backups on southbound I-405.” Northbound I-405 should not be affected.

During the closure, drivers should:

• check the status page for frequent construction updates
• avoid the closure area
• use alternate routes in to and out of Bellevue
• check the WSDOT traffic cameras before they use I-5, I-405, SR 520 and SR 522 this weekend at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/
• vanpool, carpool or take the bus

WSDOT is fully prepared for the closure. We have:

• suspended all construction on parallel or alternate routes
• coordinated extensively with the city of Bellevue to manage increased traffic on city streets into and out of the downtown retail core
• changed the express lanes schedule on both I-5 and I-90. The I-5 express lanes will run southbound throughout the weekend and the I-90 express lanes will run eastbound to carry traffic back over to the eastside.

Contractors estimate it will take three long weekends to bring the tunnel down.

The closures will also take place 

• 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15 to 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 18 
• 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22 to 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25

During construction weekends, drivers will see increased traffic on all regional freeways between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. In addition to I-405, I-90, SR 520, the I-405 closures will likely affect I-5 and SR 99 southbound traffic, which is typically already heavy on weekends.

“We recommend that people take a ‘staycation’,” Trussler said. “If you need to travel, do it early or late in the day, and leave plenty of time.” Trussler added that Bellevue is open for business during construction. Drivers heading to Bellevue should avoid the freeways and take local arterials.

Many say they don’t even know where the Wilburton Tunnel is located. When headed southbound on I-405, drivers go under the tunnel as they approach the I-90/I-405 interchange. The tunnel spans 360 feet from entrance to exit. Once the highway is widened, WSDOT expects smoother and safer traffic flow for drivers approaching the I-90/I-405 interchange.

WSDOT has developed a Web resource to help drivers plan their trips and avoid backups during closures. The transportation department encourages drivers to visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/112thAvetoSE8th/wilburton.htm. On the Web page, drivers will find links to up-to-the-minute traffic conditions, recommended detours and transportation tips.

I-405 is renowned in Washington for having the most congested freeway section in the state between Tukwila and Bellevue. With downtown Bellevue employment expected to grow by about 40 percent, from 33,000 to 48,000, between 2006 and 2010, improvements such as the South Bellevue Widening Project are critical to relieve I 405 congestion now and into the future.

WSDOT worked with cities and counties in the region to craft a long-term I-405 master plan to address traffic congestion along the corridor. The Wilburton Tunnel removal is part of the I-405 South Bellevue Widening Project, which is a component of the master plan. Also known as the I 405/112th Ave SE to SE 8th St Widening Project, the project is one of three I-405 "Nickel Projects" funded in part by the 2003 nickel funds as well as the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account.

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