“Have you joined the tolling conversation? Help shape tolling in the 520 corridor.”
Edition 103, Aug. 11, 2008
In this issue:
- Keep up the good work drivers: Less traffic helped avoid backups last weekend on I-405
- What was accomplished on I-405 over the weekend?
- Share your ride and win prizes at Aug. 20 rideshare event in Bellevue
Keep up the good work drivers: Less traffic helped avoid backups last weekend on I-405
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. Drivers should slow down, use caution and pay close attention to signage while familiarizing themselves with the new changes on southbound I-405 in Bellevue.
What was accomplished on I-405 over the weekend?
Wilburton Tunnel removal in Bellevue
Highway crews successfully opened southbound I-405 in Bellevue at 4 a.m. Monday morning after working around the clock this past weekend to remove a portion of the Wilburton Tunnel. Crews removed roughly 5,000 tons of concrete and 180 feet of the 360 foot long structure. In addition to the demolition work, crews used the total closure of the highway to retrofit several sections of I-405 and re-stripe the roadway.
New Oakesdale bridge in Renton
Despite the rain on Saturday, crews successfully shifted southbound I-405 traffic onto the new bridge over Oakesdale Ave. SW in Renton. The heavy, early morning rain on Saturday delayed striping and the scheduled opening of two lanes, but crews took advantage of a break in the weather to complete the striping and get traffic onto the new bridge at 5:30 p.m., one day ahead of schedule. Crews will now be able to begin work to build the northbound I-405 portion of the bridge. Drivers may notice the southbound I-405 lanes between SR 167 and SR 181 are higher than the northbound I-405 lanes.
Share your ride and win prizes at Aug. 20 rideshare event in Bellevue
South King County residents who commute to downtown Bellevue are invited to a rideshare event to meet others from their area interested in carpooling or vanpooling to work. The event will take place from noon to 1 p.m., Aug. 20, at the Symetra Financial Center Conference Center at 777 108th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue.
King County Metro, the city of Bellevue and the Downtown Bellevue Association are hosting the event, which includes lunch, a $10 gift card and prizes. Learn more about how to sign up.
I-405 travel options
We’re helping you get around during I-405 construction.
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