Date:  Sunday, April 03, 2011

Contact: Seema Javeri, WSDOT Project Engineer, (425) 889-0244
Steve Peer, WSDOT Communications, (425) 301-2023

BELLEVUE – Southbound I-405 in Bellevue opened just after 9 p.m. - several hours ahead of schedule after crews removed the old N.E. 12th St. bridge. Northbound lanes remain closed until 4 a.m. Monday. Workers will use the last few hours cleaning sand, restriping lanes and replacing a concrete barrier between north and southbound I-405.

During the removal process, a piece of concrete from the old bridge hit a girder on the new bridge leaving a long, shallow gash. Engineers say the bridge is structurally sound, but want to keep traffic confined to the other lane until they can complete a more thorough inspection. Earlier this evening the NE 12th Street bridge reopened but traffic is limited to one westbound lane. Eastbound drivers will be detoured to NE 10th and NE 8th Streets.

“While we’re pleased we managed to get enough done in the southbound lanes to open them early, we’re disappointed that the new bridge was damaged during the process,” said Seema Javeri, WSDOT Project Engineer. “We are now focusing on safely completing our work to get the northbound lanes open in time for the morning commute.”

Damage to new bridge
During the weekend, excavators dismantled and removed the old bridge. When doing so, a piece of concrete hit the new bridge causing damage to a girder supporting the new bridge. The new bridge carries Bellevue traffic across I-405 in the Bellevue medical district. No one was hurt during the incident.

Once down, crews spent most of weekend separating the rebar from the concrete before hauling it away to be recycled. Crews also added three sign bridges over I-405, replaced 17 damaged concrete panels, and rebuilt and repaved the NE Eighth Street on-ramp to northbound I-405. They will let the repaved areas cure before drivers can safely drive on them.

Crews removed the NE 12th Street Bridge to replace it with a new structure that’s higher above I-405, wider and longer. The new bridge will make way for new northbound ramps headed to I-405 and SR 520 from the nearby NE 10th Street Bridge and will feature a pedestrian and bicycle trail separated from traffic.

For project information, see www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/NE8thtoSR520/ 

Photos available on Flickr

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WSDOT's mission is to keep people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/ or by dialing 511

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