Date:  Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Contact: Jonathon Harris, Project Engineer, 425-282-6826
Craig Kanaya, WSDOT Communications, 425-456-8606
Quick link: What's Happening Now construction and traffic page

'We need more than 30 percent' of drivers to use alternate routes through Renton

RENTON – If you’re planning to take southbound I-405 through Renton to get to the Mariners or Sounders game this weekend or possibly the airport, prepare to use alternate routes or expect long delays.

Traffic will be funneled into two lanes as crews close the southbound I-405 carpool lane between SR 167 and the West Valley Highway to pave the I-405 bridge over Oakesdale Avenue SW in Renton.

“Paving the bridge this weekend means we will stay on track to open an additional I-405 lane in each direction this fall,” stated Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “The added capacity on I-405 between the I-5 and SR 167 interchanges means faster speeds and smoother movements through the area around two of our state’s most congested interchanges.”

Crews are taking advantage of the good weather to complete the final stages on the new bridge over Oakesdale Avenue SW. Crews will be pouring concrete, which takes 42 hours to cure, in addition to paving, striping and cleanup work.

To complete this work, crews will close the carpool lane on southbound I-405 between SR 167 and SR 181 around the clock from 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31.

Avoid backups by taking alternate routes

Electronic message boards on I-405, I-5 and SR 167 will notify drivers of the upcoming closure. Drivers looking for alternate routes around the closure to Seattle can use SR 900 (Sunset Boulevard) and northbound I-405 to westbound I-90 to get to I-5. Through Renton, drivers can also take Grady Way to get back onto southbound I-405 at the SR 181 interchange.

“We need more than 30 percent of the traffic to use alternate routes this weekend or drivers could experience hourlong delays or longer on southbound I-405 and northbound SR 167,” said Jonathon Harris, WSDOT Project Engineer. “This isn’t just about the carpool lane on I-405. We expect traffic delays on SR 167 as well.”

As with all construction closures, WSDOT advises drivers to slow down, use caution, and pay close attention to signage in and around the construction zone.

The work is part of the "I-405/I-5 to SR 169 Stage 1 - Widening Project." WSDOT and contractor crews are building a new lane in each direction on I-405 between I-5 and SR 167 and a new lane on southbound SR 167 between I-405 and SW 41st Street.

For alternate route maps and project information please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/I5toSR169/

Want the latest I-405 construction updates? Please visit: WSDOT - I-405 - Construction Updates

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