4:15 a.m., Monday, Aug. 18
Crews reopened southbound I-405 to traffic at 3:20 a.m. WSDOT thanks drivers for helping to minimize backups and keep traffic moving during the past two weekends.
6:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
This will be the last report for the evening. Crews have finished sweeping the roadway and will begin to restripe the roadway within the next hour.
Southbound I-405 will reopen to traffic at 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 18.
We've posted new photos from today's work on Flickr. You can find them online at www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157606579897286.
5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
Crews continue to sweep the roadway. The majority of demolition equipment has left the construction zone. Crews are sweeping the roadway and will begin restriping the roadway at 8 p.m.
Traffic on northbound I-5 remains heavy between downtown Seattle and Northgate Way.
3:45 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
Work to demolish Wilburton Tunnel over southbound I-405 in Bellevue this weekend is officially one week ahead of schedule. This means the third scheduled closure of southbound I-405 is no longer needed.
Traffic on northbound I-5 remains heavy between Boeing Field and the Ship Canal Bridge. Northbound I-405 continues to be a great option for drivers wishing to avoid backups.
1:45 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
We've posted new photos from today's work on Flickr. You can find them online at www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157606579897286.
You can also visit our Web site to see the latest traffic conditions
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/seattle/default.htm
and map out alternate routes. You can find real time travel times at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/traveltimes/.
12:10 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
Northbound I-5 is congested from Albro Place to downtown Seattle.
Traffic is congested on SR 520 from Bellevue Way to the lake.
The I-90 center roadway are open again after the Danskin triathlon.
The southbound I-5 express lanes are backed up several miles.
Congestion will likely continue to pick up through the afternoon. Drivers are urged to use alternate routes and/or delay and reschedule trips if possible.
Northbound I-405 is a good option for drivers headed north. Many drivers are avoiding I-405 all together. Northbound I-405 is not closed.
10:40 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
Crews continue to make great progress and the third weekend-long lane closure may not be necessary. We'll know more later today. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we're on schedule to reopen southbound I-405 at 5 a.m. on Monday.
Crews are focusing their efforts on digging out the east wall footing and grading the hill on the west side of I-405.
Northbound I-405 continues to be a great option for drivers.
8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 17
Despite the storm last night, crews made good progress. We have finished removing the west tunnel wall and are working on the removing the east wall.
The I-90 center roadway is closed until noon today for the Danskin triathalon.
While southound I-405 remains closed until 5 a.m. Monday, northbound I-405 is not and remains a good option for drivers.
Regardless of where you’re heading this weekend, remember to “Know Before You Go.” Visit our web site to see the latest traffic conditions
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/seattle/default.htm and map out alternate routes. You can also find real time travel times. www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/traveltimes/
7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
This will be the last report for the evening, with reports picking up at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 17.
Crews have cleared a good portion of the debris from the construction zone. They will work through the night to demolish the bridge walls and bridge footings.
Traffic remains heavy on northbound I-5 between Boeing Field and Ship Canal Bridge. Drivers can expect additional congestion tonight as drivers travel home from the Seahawks game.
Regardless of where you’re heading this weekend, remember to “Know Before You Go.” Visit our web site to see the latest traffic conditions
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/seattle/default.htm
and map out alternate routes. You can also find real time travel times. www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/traveltimes/
5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
Crews are still working to clear bridge debris from the workzone, and have begun work to demolish the support walls.
Drivers can still expect congestion on both I-5 and SR 520. Traffic is light on northbound I-405 and remains an excellent alternate route for drivers traveling through the Puget Sound.
3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
Work crews are making good progress in clearing concrete, and the project team is pleased with how things are going. While the roof is down, crews still have to clear the debris and demolish both support walls.
As for the other work on I-405, crews are still on schedule and making steady progress.
Traffic volumes are building on I-5 through downtown Seattle in both directions, as well as on SR 520, as drivers make their way to the Seahawks game and other events. Traffic is light on northbound I-405 and continues to be an excellent alternate route for traveling north through central Puget Sound.
11:50 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
Demolition milestone
We reached a big milestone late this morning when crews brought down the roof of the tunnel.
They're now clearing away big chunks of concrete and rebar, while the excavators continue to break away the bridge abutments.
While the roof coming down marks an important moment, there is a lot more work to be done.
Crews must still demolish more than a hundred feet of tunnel wall and the abutments. That process will take longer than breaking apart the roof.
We have also uploaded some new pictures of today's demolition. You can find them at
www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157606579897286/
Traffic Congestion
Traffic continues to build on northbound I-5 into Seattle. The backup extends from Spokane Street north to SR 520.
On southbound I-5, the express lanes are particularly heavy with a two mile backup. The general purpose lanes are slightly better.
Westbound SR 520 is extremely congested right now as drivers exit south I-405 to avoid the closure in Bellevue.
10:45 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
Traffic building
Traffic is beginning to build in and around the downtown Seattle core.
There's approximately a 2 mile backup on the I-5 southbound express lanes. Traffic is backed up to Mercer Street. The express lanes will be southbound throughout the weekend to accommodate the extra traffic from I-405.
Congestion will likely continue to pick up through the afternoon, particularly as people head to the Seahawks game at 6 p.m. Drivers are urged to use alternate routes to reach Qwest Field.
9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
Crews are making great progress
Demolition crews are hard at work this morning, focusing a lot of their attention on the roof of the tunnel. Fifty to sixty feet of the roof remains. Our big crunchers are demolishing it from both the north and south now.
However, there's more than a hundred feet of tunnel wall that needs to be demolished. Tearing down the walls is a slower process.
Traffic is moving along very well this morning. Surface street traffic in Bellevue is already beginning to pick up. The city will have police officers at intersections to direct and keep drivers moving through downtown.
5:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16
Demolition work continues
Crews are making good progress and are on schedule in this second week of demolition. So far this morning they have brought down approximately 50 additional feet of the tunnel.
11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15
Second weekend closure under way
Crews have closed southbound I-405 between SE 8th Street and I-90 to continue demolition of the Wilburton Tunnel. They'll begin by bringing in 500 tons of sand to protect the roadway from falling debris.
8:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 15
Preparing for the second weekend closure
The second full closure of southbound I-405 near Bellevue is just hours away now. The lanes will close at 11 pm, but prior to that a number of ramps between SE 8th Street and I-90 will be closed and that could catch some drivers off guard.
Here are the ramps that will be closed tonight:
- 9 p.m. - NE 6th Street ramp to southbound I-405
- 10 p.m. -NE 8th Street, NE 4th Street, and SE 8th Street ramps to southbound I-405
- 11 p.m. - eastbound SR 520 to southbound I-405
These ramps will remain closed through the weekend.
3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 13
Big weekend, big events
There are several big events happening this weekend around Puget Sound and drivers will want to plan extra travel time and alternate routes to get around the region.
Seahawks game
On Saturday, the Seahawks will play the Chicago Bears at Qwest Field. Fans heading to the game, especially from south of Seattle, should consider alternate routes to reach the stadium in time for the 6 p.m. kickoff. The I-5 express lanes will be open to southbound traffic all weekend to accommodate drivers who would normally use I-405. Last weekend, traffic headed north into Seattle backed up to Albro Place.
Besides leaving early for the game, we’re urging drivers to exit I-5 early and take SR 599, the Boeing access road and other surface streets to reach the stadium. Overhead electronic signs on the freeway will help alert drivers to the best routes. Drivers who are headed north of Seattle should remain on I-5.
Seattle Danskin Triathlon
Also on Saturday, 4,000 women participating in the Seattle Danskin Triathlon must pick up their race packets at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then, they head over to Seattle to drop off their bikes at Genesee Park. This will create extra traffic throughout the day on the SR 520 floating bridge. The race itself starts on Sunday at 6:45 a.m. During the race, the I-90 express lanes will be closed from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. when the lanes will reopen to eastbound traffic.
Northbound I-405 is open to traffic
Another good option is northbound I-405 if you’re headed to Lynnwood and points north. Traffic was relatively light on that route last weekend. The demolition work in the southbound lanes doesn’t affect northbound traffic
Regardless of where you’re heading this weekend, remember to “Know Before You Go.” Visit our web site to see the latest traffic conditions
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/seattle/default.htm
and map out alternate routes. You can also find real time travel times. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/traveltimes/
5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12
We're doing more than just demolishing the tunnel
As we count down toward the second full weekend closure of southbound I-405, WSDOT is using this time to do other important work on the freeway.
Among the many projects: setting girders for a new bridge over I-90, seismic retrofitting, electrical work and pavement repair.
The pavement repair is necessary because the segment of freeway between SE 8th Street and the I-90 interchange is more than 40 years old. Drivers have probably heard a “thumping” sound as they drive through this area. That’s because the freeway is made up of panels and the joints between them have deteriorated.
To fix them, crews cut slots in the concrete and then insert steel dowel bars between panels. It’s called “dowel bar retrofitting.” It will stabilize the panels and reduce the thumping sound.
For a complete listing of the night time closures this week, please visit our I-405 construction update web page
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/conupdates
2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 11
Where did all the traffic go?
WSDOT crews in Bellevue and Renton would like to thank drivers who helped alleviate backups during construction this weekend. Because drivers carpooled, chose alternate routes or took the bus, backups were less than expected on I-405.
Last weekend, as crews removed a portion of the Wilburton Tunnel, southbound I-405 carried two-thirds less vehicles than an average weekend.
Traffic on SR 520 doubled last weekend as drivers used the suggested detour route to avoid southbound I-405 through Bellevue. Other alternate routes that saw increased traffic included Bellevue city streets such as Bellevue Way, Richards Road and 148th Street.
Other major routes like I-5 though Seattle saw heavier than normal traffic between the Michigan Street and the Ship Canal Bridge.
WSDOT needs drivers’ continued help to minimize traffic impacts for the next two weekends, Aug. 15-18 and Aug. 22-25 as crews remove the rest of the Wilburton Tunnel. Southbound I-405 will be closed at 11 p.m. each Friday night and open 5 a.m. each Monday morning.
4 a.m., Monday, Aug. 11
Crews have opened southbound I-405 from SE 8th Street to the I-90/I-405 interchange. Over the weekend, crews were able to remove 50 percent of the Wilburton tunnel, which is about 180 feet. Crews will continue to work for the next two weekends, Aug. 15-18 and Aug. 22-25, to remove the rest of the Tunnel. Southbound I-405 will be closed from SE 8th Street to I-90 at 11 p.m. each Friday night and open 5 a.m. each Monday morning.
8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 10
Crews are on the final stretch to completing their first weekend of work - more to come the next two weekends
This will be the last report for the evening, with reports picking up at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16
Crews finished demolition work for the weekend and will continue clean up work tonight. They are also working to inspect pavement under the tunnel and to restripe the roadway. All lanes will reopen to traffic at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning.
4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 10
I-5 northbound Seattle traffic congestion increasing: Traffic congestion is starting to build heading into downtown Seattle on northbound I-5. Traffic is backed up six miles between the Albro and Madison exits. The I-5 express lanes are running southbound all weekend to help out I-405 drivers diverting around the Wilburton Tunnel closure. Plan for slow downs and consider alternate routes to avoid delays, including SR 99, Airport Way, Fourth Avenue S. and First Avenue S.
3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 10
Crews are busy cleaning up sand and debris: Crews finished with demolition work for this weekend on the Wilburton tunnel and started clean up operations at 2:30 p.m. today.
Last night crews reached the cold joint. This is the point 185 feet from the south end of the tunnel where there is a clean break with no exposed rebar or rough concrete. We are stopping at the cold joint because if we go beyond that point we get into exposed rebar. Stopping at the cold joint gives us the most stable structure.
The new section of concrete pavement is done at the I-405 approach to I-90 bridge: Final joint prep work and joint sealing is under way. Crews are placing an asphalt wedge at the transition. We should finish pavement and joint work by 8 p.m., and striping by midnight. Weather is a concern, but we have backup temp marking that are less weather dependent and will allow us to get it done by Monday morning.
12 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 10
I-5 Seattle traffic congestion increasing: Traffic congestion is starting to build on northbound I-5 going into downtown Seattle. The I-5 express lanes remain in the southbound direction through the weekend to accommodate I-405 drivers diverting around the Wilburton Tunnel closure.
11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 10
Crews make good progress on demolition: The demolition team is still working to remove the east wall of the tunnel even as a steady stream of dump-trucks haul debris away.
Crews are on schedule to open the southbound lanes by 5 a.m. tomorrow.
Other freeway improvements underway: Crews working to widen I-405 in Renton and Tukwila finished shifting southbound traffic onto a new bridge over Oakesdale Avenue SW. This area is still an active construction zone with newly shifted lane stripes and slightly uneven pavement. Drivers should slow down and use extra caution when driving through Renton and Tukwila.
Dowel bar retrofitting on concrete panels of southbound I-405 both north and south of the Wilburton Tunnel will resume this morning. Crews are scheduled to work until 11 p.m.
Be ready for heavy traffic this afternoon: Traffic remains light this morning, but drivers should expect increasing delays as Mariners fans head into downtown Seattle for a 1 p.m. game.
8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 10
Demolition continues on schedule: Crews continued to make progress overnight. Crews are demolishing the east wall of the tunnel and will continue until about 6 p.m. Sunday, when work will shift to a cleanup operation so we can reopen all lanes of southbound I-405 by 5 a.m. Monday.
Crews will stop at what is known in construction lingo as a cold joint. This is the point where there is clean concrete and no exposed rebar.
Work is on schedule. Our contractor tells us the toughest work is yet to come, though.
Pavement repairs resume: Crews are taking advantage of the southbound I-405 closure to improve the freeway pavement between SE 8th and I-90. This includes grinding the pavement to provide a smoother ride with enhanced friction and repairing the bumps at the joints where concrete panels meet. Crews will continue this work through this evening, and drivers can expect a smooth ride come Monday morning.
Keep it up, drivers: Drivers really pitched in on Saturday, minimizing delays on southbound I-405 and on city streets in Bellevue. We need your help today or we could see some of the predicted congestion occur. Drivers should leave early for the early afternoon Mariners game and expect backups especially on westbound SR 520 and I-90, and both directions of I-5. The I-5 express lanes are running southbound all weekend, so delays could be especially heavy on northbound I-5. Consider alternate routes to the ballgame, including SR 99, Airport Way, Fourth Avenue S. and First Avenue S.
8 p.m.
First day accomplishments strong - more to come this weekend and next two.
This will be the last report for the evening, with reports picking up at 8 a.m. Sunday.
Work is progressing on the Wilburton tunnel and drivers have helped out by taking alternate routes or postponing trips. Thank you. And, please keep it up until Monday and the next two weekends.
The rain didn't slow down the Wilburton project team - in fact rain helps demolition projects to keep the dust down. Paving and striping is a different story. The rain did delay the opening of the lanes in south Renton. All lanes are now open on southbound I-405 between SR 169 and SR 181. The crews may be out late in this area doing some clean up work. Please pay attention to signs in this area until you get used to the new alignment.
The Mariners game will impact traffic in the usual places. Keep checking the WSDOT website and calling 5-1-1 to get the most up-to-date traffic information.
Sunday, the Wilburton team will be clearing debris to get the roadway open for traffic by 5 a.m. Monday. This is a big job - it includes picking up 500 tons of sand (six inches deep on the road) that protected the roadbed during demolition.
Drivers should slow down, use caution and pay close attention to roadway signs especially in areas where workers are present. We are asking drivers to “Give ‘em a Brake” in active work zones. To read more facts and tips on driving through work zones, please visit WSDOT's "Give 'Em A Brake" Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Safety/Brake/.
7:30 p.m.
All southbound I-405 lanes in Renton are open
Despite bad weather crews were able to shift all three lanes on southbound I-405 between SR 167 and SR 181 onto the new bridge over Oakesdale Ave. SW. at 5:30. Crews also reopened the southbound SR 167 to southbound I-405 ramp. The work was originally expected to close at least one lane on southbound I-405 and the southbound SR 167 to southbound I-405 ramp until Sunday afternoon.
Crews had planned to have two lanes of southbound I-405 open to traffic by 9 a.m., but were hampered by rain, which prevented them from placing stripes and other pavement markings. Drivers experienced delays through the area. Crews were able to open a second lane by 4 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
WSDOT reminds you to "Give 'em a Brake"
The rain is coming down heavy off and on at the Wilburton tunnel site. At this point, it won't seem to slow down the project team. They are on schedule and traffic in the area is a bit heavier than normal, but no major backups at this point. The rain did slow down the striping operation and the opening of lanes on southbound I-405 between SR 169 and SR 181
Also with the rain coming after a long dry spell, we have seen a few incidents, including rollovers, on other highways in the Puget Sound area. Please slow down and drive for conditions
The Mariners traffic is picking up a bit in the usual places. Keep checking the WSDOT website and calling 5-1-1 to get the most up-to-date traffic information.
Drivers should slow down, use caution and pay close attention to roadway signs while they become better familiar with the changes on southbound I-405 in Renton. We are asking drivers to “Give ‘em a Brake” in active work zones or when they see maintenance workers. To read more facts and tips on driving through work zones, please visit WSDOT's "Give 'Em A Brake" Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Safety/Brake/.
3 p.m.
Two lanes now open on southbound I-405 in Renton; traffic moved to new Oakesdale Avenue Bridge
Two of three lanes on southbound I-405 in Renton are now open to traffic. Crews are working to complete tasks so they can open the third and final lane to traffic. We expect to open the third lane in a few hours.
Traffic is slow on northbound I-5 into downtown Seattle and on westbound SR 520 from I-405 to the bridge deck.
Drivers heading to the 7:05 p.m. Seattle Mariners game should expect heavier than normal weekend traffic and leave themselves extra time.
1 p.m.
Renton lane openings delayed; now likely between 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Crews are still working to complete tasks required to safely switch traffic onto the new I-405 Oakesdale Avenue Bridge. Two of three lanes on southbound I-405 in Renton remain closed. Rain prevented crews from completing some critical work this morning on the project. Rolling slowdowns and the traffic shift are currently expected to occur before 2:30 p.m., weather and construction progress permitting. Drivers should expect increasing delays.
12:40 p.m.
Traffic on northbound I-5 is heavier than normal; I-5 express lanes remain southbound all weekend
Watch for heavy northbound traffic through Seattle. We’re keeping the I-5 express lanes in the southbound direction for the entire weekend to help accommodate the extra traffic diverted from I-405. As a result, traffic is heavier than usual northbound because we usually reverse the express lanes to that direction on weekend afternoons.
Don’t miss the first pitch: allow extra time and plan alternate routes to the Mariner’s game
If you’re heading out to the ballgame from the Eastside or north of Seattle, remember that southbound I-405 is closed in Bellevue and allow extra time for traffic on other routes.
South end Mariner's ticket holders take note
If you’re traveling to the game tonight from south of Seattle, you should also allow extra time and plan alternate routes. With the I-5 express lanes in the southbound direction tonight, northbound drivers heading into Seattle will experience heavier than usual traffic. Depending upon traffic conditions, be prepared to exit northbound I-5 at State Route 599, Boeing Access Road and Michigan Street to get to the game.
Noon
Making the most of the southbound I-405 closure
While crews work to complete two high profile projects on I-405 (Wilburton Tunnel in Bellevue and opening the new Oakesdale Avenue Bridge in Renton), they are also completing other much-needed work in the area. Here’s an update of our other I-405 construction:
> north of the I-90 bridge – crews are building the connection necessary to move traffic from the old southbound bridge to the new bridge.
> south of Wilburton Tunnel – crews are grinding pavement to smooth the road surface.
> north of the Wilburton Tunnel – crews are extending the life of the concrete road surface by installing metal dowels. They are tying adjacent concrete roadway slabs together by cutting slots in the slabs, installing metal dowel bars, then filling the slots with concrete. Tying the slabs together in this way helps reduce the risk of cracking, potholes and other damage that occurs when adjacent concrete slabs clash under the weight of traffic.
> SE 8th ramp – crews have cut open pavement to install drainage.
> Just north of the I-405/I-90 interchange – crews are replacing the bridge approach, which is the connection between the road surface and a bridge structure. Over time, bridge approaches can sink, creating a bump.
11 a.m.
I-405 Renton traffic delays building; rolling slowdown expected between noon and 1 p.m
Traffic is stop and go on southbound I-405 in Renton from Sunset Boulevard to SR 167 (West Valley Highway). Two of three lanes remain closed to traffic. Traffic volumes are building and drivers should currently expect delays of at least 30 minutes if they plan to travel through the work zone.
Crews had planned to have two lanes of southbound I-405 open to traffic by 9 a.m., but were hampered by rain, which prevented them from placing stripes and other pavement markings. Crews are now placing temporary stripes and buttons on the pavement. They will then prepare to move southbound traffic from the existing bridge onto the new Oakesdale Avenue Bridge, which will require rolling slowdowns. The rolling slowdowns and traffic shift are currently expected to occur between noon and 1 p.m., weather and construction progress permitting. Drivers should expect increasing delays.
10 a.m.
I-405 Renton - traffic slows at Sunset Blvd.: Traffic is stop and go on southbound I-405 in Renton from Sunset Boulevard to SR 167 (West Valley Highway). Expect at least 15 minute delays if you plan to travel through the work zone. Traffic continues to move smoothly on southbound I-405 north of the Wilburton Tunnel, at the I-405/SR 520 interchange and on local Bellevue arterials.
Bellevue and Renton construction: In Bellevue, crews continue to make good progress on Wilburton Tunnel demolition. In Renton, rain has prevented crews from placing pavement markings. Instead of waiting for dry weather to arrive, the project team has adjusted their plan and will now use temporary striping and pavement markers. Crews had expected to get two of three southbound lanes of I-405 open by 9 a.m. but are now expecting to do so by noon, weather permitting.
7 a.m.
Traffic flowed smoothly overnight: Traffic moved smoothly on detours overnight, however, as traffic volumes grow this morning, drivers should plan ahead and expect delays. Summer rain may increase the risk of traffic incidents on alternate routes. Drivers should increase their following distance and take care on wet roadways this morning.
Construction underway: Overnight, crews covered southbound I-405 in 500 tons of sand which measured about six inches deep to protect it from falling debris. Crews then set up a fleet of track hoes beside and on top of the tunnel. They then began breaking up the concrete at the south portal of the tunnel. Crews are making good progress and are on schedule in this early phase of work.
Friday, August 8
I-405 southbound south of Bellevue closed for three weekends while crews remove the Wilburton Tunnel: This is the first of three weekends of traffic closures to remove the tunnel. Additional southbound I-405 closures are planned for August 15-18 and August 22-25.
Construction begins: Crews closed all southbound lanes of I-405 in Bellevue from S.E. 8th Street to I-90. Crews set up the work zone and prepared to begin removing the Wilburton Tunnel starting with the portal at the south end of the tunnel. Most drivers only see this portal in their rear view mirror. Crews placed about 500 tons of sand on I-405 to protect the road surface from falling debris as they demolish the tunnel.