Project Facts
- Adds one northbound lane from NE 70th St. in Kirkland to SR 522 in Bothell
- Adds one northbound lane from NE 195 St. to SR 527 in Bothell
- 50% increase in capacity northbound on I-405 between NE 195th St. and SR 527
May 2008
- This project is currently undergoing environmental review. Check back for information on upcoming public meetings this fall.
- Information is available on the Express Toll lanes alternative for this project.
- The I-405 Project Team is out in the community - check out our community calendar to see where we are presenting.
Overview
The SR 520 to I-5 Widening Project will complement the Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 project by adding one continuous north and southbound lane between NE 70th Street in Kirkland and SR 522 in Bothell. This project will also add a northbound lane between NE 195th Street and SR 527 and build a bridge at NE 132nd Street. It also constructs a grade separated ramp northbound between the NE 160th on-ramp and I-405 traffic exiting SR 522 to alleviate the existing weave.
The overall widening project combines funding from both the 2003 Gas Tax and the 2005 Gas Tax, bundling two major project elements: Kirkland Nickel Stage 2 and the similarly titled SR 520 to I-5 Improvement Project which includes the NE 124th St. to SR 522 and NB 195th St. to SR 527 elements; the NE 132nd St. Bridge improvements; and plans for express toll lanes.
Why is WSDOT
building these new lanes?
Afternoon and morning congestion in this area is heavy due to commuters heading to and from Bellevue, as well as from commuters leaving and entering the University of Washington Bothell campus and business parks in Bothell and Kirkland.
The End Result
The completed project adds additional traffic capacity on north and southbound I-405 and reduce traffic weaves between NE 160th Street and SR 522. This comprehensive project compliments the Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 project in relieving congestion on I-405 in the north end of the corridor.
Project Benefits
- Congestion relief. The new northbound and southbound lanes between SR 522 and NE 70th Street will reduce congestion by increasing capacity by one-third. A new northbound lane between NE 195th Street and SR 527 will reduce congestion by increasing capacity by 50%. This project also eliminates the traffic weave between NE 160th and SR 522.
- Safety. WSDOT will be grade separating traffic from NE 160th and SR 522, which will reduce sideswipe and congestion-related accidents. Entering and exiting traffic will no longer have to weave together. The increase in capacity northbound and southbound between SR 520 and SR 527 also reduces congestion-related accidents.
- Environment. WSDOT's I-405 Corridor Program team is designing SR 520 to I-5 Widening Project to avoid and minimize impacts to the environment.
What is the project timeline?
- The Kirkland Nickel Stage 2 improvements were cleared environmentaly through the Kirkland Nickel Project EA in March 2005.
- The SR 520 to I-5 Improvement Project EA began scoping activities on September 14, 2006.
- Construction expected to begin by late 2009
- Project completion expected by 2012
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. In addition to working closely with community councils and other local groups, the project team offers opportunities for public information and discussion. Please send the 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. Also, feel free to check this regularly updated web page for information. If you have comments or feedback please e-mail Colleen Gants in the public information department for the I-405 Corridor Program at colleen.gants@i405.wsdot.wa.gov.
Environmental Protection
WSDOT's I-405 Corridor Program team will complete an Environmental Assessment (EA) for portions of the SR 520 to I-5 Widening Project which were not cleared through the Kirkland Nickel Project EA. The SR 520 to I-5 Improvement Project EA will identify the effects of and mitigation for the following elements of the SR 520 to I-5 Improvement Project:
- Adding an additional northbound lane from NE 124th Street in Kirkland to SR 522 in Bothell;
- Adding an additional northbound lane from NE 195th Street to SR 527 in Bothell;
- Plans to eliminate weave congestion at the SR 522 interchange in Bothell, by raising the northbound I-405 off-ramp to SR 522 up and over the on ramp from NE 160th Street to northbound I-405; and
- Plans for implementation of an Express Toll lanes system between SR 520 in Bellevue and I-5 in Lynnwood.
The EA analysis will cover up to 20 different disciplines, including noise, air quality, fish and wildlife, wetlands, and parks and recreation. Throughout the process to complete the EA, the I-405 team is designing the project to avoid or minimize effects to the environment whenever possible. Our I-405 projects have benefits that improve the environment for people, wildlife, and habitat such as improved water quality, restored and enhanced stream and wetland habitat, and improving streams to allow for fish passage.
Please visit the
WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
WSDOT will be separating traffic (placing traffic on different ramps to and from interchanges) from NE 160th and SR 522, which will eliminate the traffic weave and reduce congestion. Congestion-related accidents – rear-end and side-swipe crashes – make up the largest percentage of accidents 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.
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the Tribes by using the process outlined in the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Washington Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan and Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
The NHPA was enacted to address the publics concern that many of the nation's historic resources were being overlooked in the public works project process. NHPA Section 106 requires government agencies such as WSDOT to evaluate the impact of all government-funded construction projects. Under the act, agencies maintain their own preservation program, and are required to incorporate advice from historic preservation professionals.
For more information, visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison Web page.
Financial Information
- Transportation 2003 Account (Nickel funding) - $104 million
- 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding) - $240 million
In 2005, the Washington State Legislature provided funding towards this project by passing the Transportation Partnership Funding package.
- Total Funding Available From All Sources - $344 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
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