Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 Project extends from NE 85th Street to NE 124th Street in Kirkland.
View construction photos
Project Facts
- One new northbound and southbound lane between NE 85th and NE 124th Streets
- Improvements to the NE 116th Street interchange
- Improved fish passage under I-405, three wetland mitigations sites; and three new noisewalls
May 2008
- Construction is complete for the I-405 Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 Project
Why is WSDOT
Improving I-405 in Kirkland?
The Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 Project is WSDOT's first step toward completing the comprehensive plan to decrease I-405 congestion and improve commutes through the corridor.
The End Result
WSDOT and its design-build contractor, Kiewit Construction, recently completed:
- One new lane in each direction of I-405 between NE 85th and NE 124 Streets;
- Three wetland mitigation sites;
- A wider I-405 bridge over NE 116th Street;
- Improvements to the I-405/NE 116th Street Interchange (pdf 314 kb);
- An improved, fish-passable culvert under I-405 at Forbes Creek; and
- Three new noise walls.
WSDOT will begin constructing the Kirkland Nickel Stage 2 project in 2009 as an element of the larger SR 520 to I-5 Widening Project. Stage 2 will address an additional lane northbound from 70th to 85th and southbound from SR522 to NE 124th and NE85th to SR520.
Project Benefits
Congestion relief. Improves traffic flow in the area known as the "Kirkland Crawl" and improves merging from NE 85th Street to northbound I-405 and from NE 116th Street to southbound I-405.
Safety. Traffic flow improvements help reduce congestion-related collisions such as rear-ends and side-swipes.
Environment. Improves fish passage under I-405 at Forbes Creek, improves wetlands near I-405 at Forbes Lake, and constructs three new noise walls.
What is the project timeline?
- 5% footprint design began in July 2003
- Project design began in November 2003
- The Kirkland Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Assessment published in Spring 2005
- Construction contract signed October 2005
- Construction completed October 2007
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. In addition to contacting your respective community councils with whom the I-405 project team is working closely, the project team will be offering opportunities for public information and discussion. Send the project team an e-mail if you would like to be added to the project mailing list. You will be kept posted via e-mail on the project's status and on further participation opportunities as the project progresses. You may also check this regularly-updated project website. Learn more about staying involved (pdf 1.5 mb).
Learn more about the Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 Project:
Environmental Protection
With the passage of a Nickel gas tax, the I-405 project is moving forward to review and implement the Nickel projects. Environmental teams of professionals are in the field, conducting site-specific environmental assessments (EA) consistent with the corridor environmental impact statement (EIS). Learn more about the environmental improvements (pdf 216 kb) for the Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 Project.
Watershed Based Planning
Building new lanes on I-405 will create additional surface water runoff that must be captured and cleaned before it reaches a stream system This is typically accomplished with stormwater detention ponds; however, detention ponds are expensive to build and provide only the minimal required benefits. A better solution is a wetlands restoration site, which captures surface water upstream from the highway and detains it in a more natural environment. This maximizes benefits to the watershed at the same or less cost. This approach also analyzes the entire watershed, focusing on the whole rather than only at the sites of impact and minor adjustments at those sites.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
By adding new lanes between NE 85th and NE 124th Streets, WSDOT is improving traffic flow in the area known as "the Kirkland Crawl" and merging conditions from NE 85th Street to northbound I-405 and from NE 116th Street to southbound I-405. Improved traffic flow helps reduce rear-end and side-swipe accidents which make up the largest percentage of collisions on I-405.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
This project will not affect tribal reservations lands. The I-405 Corridor Program works closely with tribes throughout the environmental process to ensure that the project avoids or minimizes any effects on archaeological sites, tribal traditional cultural properties, and natural resources. WSDOT will follow an Unanticipated Discovery Plan if unknown archaeological materials are encountered during construction.
Financial Information
- Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel Funding) - $82 million construction contract
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Colleen Gants
I-405 Project Team Office
600 - 108th Avenue NE
Suite 405
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-456-8500
colleen.gants@I405.wsdot.wa.gov
MS: NB82-250
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