I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project

Project overview

Travelers on Interstate 405 between Renton and Bellevue experience one of the state’s worst commutes. The I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes project includes multimodal transportation and safety improvements to offer more reliable travel choices and keep drivers, transit riders and freight moving.

The Renton to Bellevue project will add new capacity to create a two-lane ETL system between SR 167 in Renton and Northeast Sixth Street in Bellevue. In general, the project will add one new lane in each direction and combine the existing HOV lane with the new lane to create a dual ETL system.

The new ETLs will connect to the existing express toll lane system between Bellevue and Lynnwood, as well as the SR 167 HOT lanes via the I-405/SR 167 Interchange Direct Connector, to create a 40-mile ETL system. This project is designed to improve speeds and trip reliability for all travelers and support the new I-405 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line between Lynnwood and Tukwila included in the voter-approved Sound Transit 3 package.

What to expect

Multiple directional closures along I-405/SR 167 corridor, July 11-14

Travelers should plan for closures on southbound Interstate 405 in Kirkland, northbound I-405 in Renton, and southbound State Route 167 in Kent from Friday, July 11 to Monday, July 14. Crews will be completing complex construction activities for three projects along the I-405/SR 167 corridor:

• I-405/Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Inline BRT Station Project
• I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project
• SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project

What to expect

Travelers should expect on Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13:

• Heavy traffic on the Eastside on northbound and southbound I-405
• Heavy traffic on southbound SR 167 in Kent 

Detour routes cannot accommodate normal I-405 and SR 167 traffic volume, so travelers are advised to “know before you go," travel during off-peak hours or, if possible, delay discretionary travel to help minimize backups.

Closure details

Northbound I-405 in Renton will be closed from SR 169 (Exit 4) to Sunset Boulevard Northeast from 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 11 to 4 a.m. Monday, July 14. Crews will install drainage and replace overhead sign structures and pavement panels. A signed detour route will be in place.

The following ramps will be closed:

• SR 169 on-ramp to northbound I-405
• Northbound I-405 off-ramp to Sunset Boulevard Northeast (Exit 5)

Southbound I-405 in Kirkland will be closed from Northeast 124th Street to Northeast 70th Place from 11 p.m. Friday, July 11 to 4 a.m. Monday, July 14. Crews will pave southbound I-405. A signed detour route will be in place.

The following ramps will be closed:

• Northeast 116th Street on-ramp to southbound I-405
• Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to southbound I-405
• Southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street 

Southbound SR 167 in Kent will be closed from SR 516/Willis Street and South 277th Street from 11:59 p.m., Friday, July 11 to 4 a.m. Monday, July 14. Crews will replace bridge joints and resurface the Green River bridge. A signed detour route will be in place.

The following ramps will be closed:

• Willis Street on-ramp to southbound I-405
• Southbound I-405 off-ramp to South 277th Street

Work is dependent on good weather and may be rescheduled. Schedule updates will be available on the project webpages, WSDOT’s Travel Center map, the WSDOT mobile app and by signing up for King County email updates.

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Upcoming night work

• Full closure of northbound I-405 from SR 169 off-ramp to Southport Drive on-ramp. (3 nights: 7/11-7/13)
   

• Full closure of Northeast 44th Street, on- and off-ramps from southbound I-405 and off-ramp from northbound I-405 will be closed. (3 nights: 7/18-7/21)