Governor, WSDOT and community celebrate new I-405 lanes in Kirkland

On Tuesday, Oct. 30, WSDOT celebrated the on-time, on-budget completion of the I-405 Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 project during an opening ceremony with Gov. Chris Gregoire and our new Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond. WSDOT and our contractor, Kiewit Construction, recently completed construction of one new lane in each direction of I-405 between NE 85th and NE 124th Streets; two wetland restoration sites; an improved, fish-passable culvert under I-405 at Forbes Creek; and three new noise walls.

This project is the first step in the comprehensive plan to decrease I-405 congestion and improve commutes. The new lanes improve traffic flow and improve merging from NE 85th Street to northbound I-405 and from NE 116th Street to southbound I-405. Traffic flow improvements can help reduce congestion-related collisions like rear-ends and sideswipes.

This is the first completed project in the I-405 Corridor Program paid for by the Washington State Legislature's 2003 Nickel funds. Other projects in the corridor are funded by both the 2003 Nickel and 2005 Transportation Account funds. We plan to make additional improvements to I-405 in Kirkland beginning in 2009 with the funded SR 520 to I-5 Improvement project .

Statewide, WSDOT is continuing to move forward with the 10-year investment plan for the 2003 (Nickel ) Transportation Funding Package as well as the 16-year investment plan associated with the 2005 (TPA ) Transportation Funding Package. From April through June 2007 they completed 13 Nickel and TPA projects. Of the 13 projects, 11 (85%) were completed on-time and ten (77%) were completed on or under budget.

From April through June they also started construction on 19 more Nickel and TPA projects, including:

SR 167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project
SR 509/SR 518 Interchange Improvements
SR 518/SeaTac Airport to I-5/I-405 Interchange
As of June 30, 2007, 69 Nickel and TPA projects are in construction, and in the next six months, they intend to advertise for contractors on 24 more.

Upgrading the Seattle area traffic computer system

You may not have noticed, but WSDOT software engineers are in the process of updating the computer system that controls traffic mapd, freeway cameras, ramp meters, electronic message signs and travel times. Over the next few months WSDOT engineers will test the new system so that when the switch occurs on the first of the year, everything is expected to go smoothly.

During these tests, traffic data will not be available between Southcenter and Factoria along I-405 on the Web site. These sections of the color coded traffic map will appear gray and you won't be able to get travel times between Bellevue and Federal Way, and Bellevue and Tukwila. However, you'll still be able to see the camera views on this route. They'll conduct the tests during off-peak travel times, and they'll delay or reschedule the tests in the event of a significant traffic or weather event.