February 2010
- Construction is under way on a separate project to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists at the I-5/196th Street SW interchange.
- We are finalizing the design for this project and will advertise it for competitive bidding in March 2010.
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Overview
We will build a braided ramp to separate traffic merging from I-405 and SR 525 to southbound I-5 from traffic exiting southbound I-5 to 196th Street in Lynnwood. These improvements will help reduce congestion by eliminating lane-weaving and will help reduce the risk of rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
Why is WSDOT
making these improvements?
Keeping drivers safe is WSDOT’s top priority. Busy residential and retail traffic exiting at 196th Street SW is causing severe backups onto southbound I-5 as fast traffic mixes with slow moving traffic exiting to the 196th Street interchange. These traffic flow problems lead to rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
The End Result
With the braided ramp configuration, drivers exiting to 196th Street SW from southbound I-5 will be separated from the traffic entering southbound I-5 from SR 525 and I-405. These improvements will eliminate lane-weaving, and help reduce rear-end and sideswipe collisions and congestion.
Project Benefits
• Safety - By providing a braided ramp, we will eliminate lane-weaving on the mainline, and decrease rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
• Congestion relief - Drivers will get onto and off the freeway faster, easier and safer.
• Environment - We will upgrade stormwater storage and treatment facilities to ensure water quality for fish and other wildlife.
What is the project timeline?
Engineers and planners are researching and working with local communities to refine the scope of this project. The estimated timeline for the southbound braided ramps are:
September 2006 - We started design
March 2010 - We will advertise the project for competitive bidding
June 2010 - We expect to begin construction
December 2011 - We expect to complete construction
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following fund sources:
- 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding) - $59.5 million
- Total Funding Available From All Sources - $59.5 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Mark Allison
Project Manager
Phone: (206) 440-4330
E-mail: allisom@wsdot.wa.gov
or
Meghan Soptich Pembroke
WSDOT Communications
Phone: (206) 440-4704
E-mail: pembrom@wsdot.wa.gov
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