Date:  Sunday, July 11, 2010

Contact: Lisa Hodgson, WSDOT Project Engineer, (425) 496-2038
Steve Peer, WSDOT Communications, (425) 301-2023

WSDOT thanks drivers for planning around weekend closures

RENTON – Contractor crews successfully removed the old Benson Road South bridge in Renton this weekend, completed a laundry list of other important construction work, and reopened I-405 to all traffic a few hours earlier than expected just before 8 a.m. this morning.

“We know that closing this vital section of I-405 was a big inconvenience to drivers,” said Lisa Hodgson, WSDOT Project Engineer. “We’d like to thank drivers for their patience as we were able to quickly and safely take down the old bridge.”

During the closure, more than 150 workers moved onto the construction site over a 30-hour period, to dig out old concrete, pour new concrete, replace signs, install large overhead sign structures and drains, clean up concrete, and haul out the sand we used on the freeway to prevent pockmarks during demolition. “It was a very busy section of road this weekend, that’s for sure” said Hodgson. To complete this additional work under nighttime closures would have caused months of additional work.

WSDOT turned a camera on the entire removal and produced a time lapse video which you can view here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nER9_NXoWzQ.

Puget Sound traffic
WSDOT wants to thank drivers for helping out this weekend by traveling before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m. and avoiding unnecessary trips especially on Saturday.

“We are lucky to have drivers who plug in early and pay attention to construction,” said Hodgson. “Without this awareness, we could have been looking at 13 mile backups on I-405 and westbound I-90.”

The worst congestion of the weekend was on northbound SR 167 where drivers experienced up to 20 minute delays as traffic backed up south of the closure. Drivers on I-5 also experienced minor delays due to the increased volume from traffic diverting from I-405.

Milestones
This is another milestone in this Renton widening project. The work is part of the $83.7 million Renton Stage 2 construction project aimed at relieving traffic congestion on I-405 between Tukwila and Renton. Funded through gas taxes and federal funds, the project is expected to open to traffic in the spring of 2011.

For more information about the project, visit the project web page:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/SR515Interchange/default.htm.

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