Lane Opening Follow Up

Construction of the new northbound I-405 lane is complete. Crews opened the new lane to traffic on Thursday, June 17. Please visit this page over the next few months as our traffic engineers continue to monitor the new lane with a six month and yearly report.

 

New Northbound Lane

Crews opened the new lane of northbound I-405 from NE 195th Street to SR 527 on Thursday, June 17. We're currently conducting traffic studies and so far, they show great improvements. Below is a graph showing travel times and volumes in the same area last year compared to this year.





Speeds have increased up to 25 mph faster and with reduced congestion, an additional 300 vehicles can travel this route during peak hours.

Our traffic engineers will continue to monitor this area and provide a follow up report in six months.

When we opened the lane, we handed out coffee and doughnuts donated by the community at the Canyon Park park-and-ride just after crews removed the barrels. We thank the community for their patience during this project. See photos and a video from the event.

Commuter Feedback

Thank you drivers that have sent in great feedback in response to opening of the new lane. Here is what other's had to say about the new lane:

"I work in the North Creek Business Park and the new lane has vastly improved my evening commute. Previously, there was always a long back-up getting onto N I-405 from the NE 195th Street on-ramp, and that congestion continued until the Canyon Park exit. Ever since the new lane opened, it’s been congestion-free and my commute home has been reduced by at least a ten minutes.

My sincere thanks to whoever initiated the project, and to all those who worked on it. It has made such a huge difference." - Sarah

"Who says you can't pave your way out of congestion? I usually carpool, but when I couldn't and had to face the prospect of a long slow line of cars once I passed the Bothell interchange it took me a great deal longer to get to the Mill Creek exit. Yesterday, first day with the new lane open, I breezed through. Thanks to WSDOT, Kiewit, all their subs and all the construction workers who worked night and day, rain and shine, to relieve one more choke point." - Kathleen

"Thank you does not even begin to express how thrilled I was to drive through this area yesterday. I have commuted through that area for nearly 6 years and it was always such a nightmare to get through.

I drove through the area yesterday (6/17/10) around 4 p.m. and breezed through the whole area AT SPEED! I have NEVER been able to do that at that time of day. I was grinning from ear to ear as I sailed through the area instead of getting stuck in the bottle-neck.

I work in Bellevue and live in North Everett and you have just saved about 15 minutes (or more) off my commute!

So in case you folks at WSDOT (and the construction crew who did the work) don't hear THANK YOU enough, let me say it a million times over: THANK YOU!" - Bree

 

Need more info?

Know before you go by checking our traffic cameras and Seattle area traffic map before you leave home.

Other commute planning resources:

• Travel Times
• Current Seattle Traffic Conditions
• Travel Alerts and Slowdowns
• Local Weather