Date:  Friday, April 01, 2011

Contact: Steve Peer, WSDOT Communications, (425) 301-2023

BELLEVUE – Interstate 405 will close tonight at 11 p.m. for 53 hours so crews can remove the old N.E. 12th Street bridge. Both directions of the freeway will be closed between N.E. Eighth Street and State Route SR 520 until 4 a.m., Monday, April 4. To help prevent region-wide gridlock, drivers should delay discretionary trips, know and take alternate routes, and plan for delays throughout the Puget Sound area.

“Our crews are ready to go” said Seema Javeri, WSDOT Project Engineer. “We know this is an inconvenience to many drivers so our goal is get in, get the work done, and get out.”

Crews will place six to eight inches of sand on I-405 to protect the freeway while they crunch down the old bridge. Once it’s on the ground, they’ll separate the concrete and rebar from the old bridge and haul it away to be recycled. Crews will take advantage of the freeway closure by replacing damaged road panels, installing sign bridges, and paving.

Crews are replacing the bridge with a new one that is higher above I-405, wider, and longer. The new bridge, slated to open in the summer of 2012, will provide space for new northbound ramps to pass under the structure on their way to SR 520 and I-405 and will feature a pedestrian and bicycle trail separated from traffic.

Know before you go
WSDOT will do everything possible to keep traffic moving during the weekend closure. Drivers can do their part to stay engaged and monitor traffic conditions.
• Bookmark and use WSDOT’s online tools: 
    o What’s happening now in the Puget Sound area: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2011/today  
    o Traffic cameras: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/default.aspx  
    o Travel alerts: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts  
    o Traffic products for mobile phones and other wireless devices: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/products   
    o WSDOT Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/wsdot  
• Minimize trips on I-405 throughout the weekend and avoid discretionary trips.
• Call 511 for current traffic conditions on I-405 and alternate routes
• Tune to Highway Advisory Radio and watch electronic highway signs for information.

Several freeway on- and off-ramps in Bellevue will close during the weekend, along with N.E. 12th Street from 112th Avenue N.E. to 116th Avenue N.E. For details and detour routes, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/NE8thtoSR520/NE12th.htm 
 
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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 www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 511

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