Date:  Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Contact: Seema Javeri, WSDOT Project Engineer, (425) 401-4126 (Bellevue)
Steve Peer, WSDOT Communications, (425) 301-2023 (Bellevue)

BELLEVUE – This weekend’s planned lane closure on northbound I-405 in south Bellevue is just another in a month of milestones for widening work that includes new lanes, new pavement and new striping.
Here’s a snapshot:

Tuesday, Aug. 11

• Crews restriped the ramp from I-90 to northbound I-405 to change how the lanes merge. The changes separate the westbound I-90 traffic for a longer distance to allow for a smoother merge to I-405.

Wednesday, Aug. 12

• Crews opened the old southbound I-405 bridge over I-90 for northbound carpool traffic. This move separates traffic and increases traffic flow in the carpool lanes.

Friday, Aug. 14

• Crews complete installation of two new overhead freeway signs on I-405 between I-90 and SE Eighth Street to better direct drivers to Bellevue exits and beyond.

Saturday, Aug. 15 – Monday, Aug. 17

• Crews repave I-405 from 112th Avenue SE to SE Eighth Street with new test sections of quieter asphalt

Monday, Aug. 17

• Crews open a new northbound lane from I-90 to SE Eighth Street.

This work is weather-dependent. If it rains or we have cooler-than-average temperatures, the work will be postponed until Aug. 22 – 24.

“Our contractor is getting through this to-do list quickly. We plan to have this work finished and new lanes open by this fall when back-to-school traffic typically picks up,” said Paula Hammond, Secretary of Transportation. “This work goes a long way to reducing congestion for those Tukwila to Bellevue commuters and freight haulers.”

In September, crews will open the final lane on northbound I-405 to give drivers three general purpose lanes and one separated HOV lane. Engineers say drivers can expect a faster commute on their typical morning commute from Tukwila to Bellevue.

Aug. 15 – 17 closure

Before we can open the new lane between I-90 and SE Eighth Street, crews will repave a large section of northbound I-405. This weekend closure could mean significant delays if Eastside drivers don’t plan ahead and find alternate routes starting first thing Saturday morning.

Crews will close all but one lane on northbound I-405 between 112th Avenue SE and NE Sixth Street from 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 to 5 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17.

Related ramp closures

• Saturday, Aug. 15 crews will close the carpool off-ramp to NE Sixth Street from northbound I-405.
• Sunday, Aug. 16 crews will close:
• The on-ramp from Coal Creek Parkway to northbound I-405.
• The off-ramps to eastbound and westbound I-90 from northbound I-405 from 5 a.m. on Sunday through 5 a.m. on Monday.
• The off-ramp to SE Eighth Street from northbound I-405.

On Sunday, drivers who plan to take northbound I-405 to I-90 face a detour lasting 15 minutes or more. To access I-90, drivers will be directed to exit northbound I-405 at NE Sixth Street and return to southbound I-405. Drivers may choose to take alternate routes to I-90. Detour maps can be found at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/112thAvetoSE8th/Closures.htm

Crews will reopen all lanes and ramps by 5 a.m. on Monday.

For information on the South Bellevue Widening Project visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/112thAvetoSE8th/

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