Fixing the Kirkland crawl (WSDOT Kirkland Nickel project)
Driving on I 405 at any time during the day, especially during commute times, can be aggrevating for sure. There are several "bottlenecks" that can back traffic for miles. One of the most aggrevating is the "Kirkland crawl", between Hyw 522 and NE 85th. In 2006, the WSDOT started the Kirkland Nickel project to widen the freeway between NE 124th and NE 85th, and the Totem Lake station project to relieve traffic congestion in this area.
The Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 Project is being built to improve personal and freight mobility and reduce foreseeable traffic congestion in a manner that is safe and reliable. It is one of 2003 gas tax funded projects that constitute the first step toward fulfillment of the I-405 Corridor Program.
The End Result
The Kirkland Nickel Stage 1 Project will reduce congestion through the "Kirkland Crawl," and complements the Sound Transit 128th Direct Access project, which began construction in June 2005. It will improve the 116th Street Interchange (pdf 314 kb). The Project will build an additional lane (pdf 330 kb) from NE 85th to NE 124th both Northbound and Southbound.
Kirkland Nickel Stage 2 Project will be constructed 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
- Improves safety by reducing congestion-related accidents
- Shortens periods of congestion by increasing travel speeds during peak commuter hours in the "Kirkland Crawl"
- Improves north and southbound merging conditions at NE 85th Street
- Installs a fish passage improvement on Forbes Creek
- Constructs five new noise walls and upgrades or relocates four existing walls
Here is some contstuction update information: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/KirklandNickelStage1/Construction.htm
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