Expect major delays this weekend on 405

October 8, 2009 2:15 pm

Major delays are expected this weekend on southbound I-405 through Renton as crews narrow traffic to just two lanes for highway construction.

Drivers should prepare to use alternate routes or expect lengthy backups between State Route 167 and Southcenter.

“Our traffic experts tell us 30 percent of traffic needs to use alternative routes,” said Jon Harris, Washington state Department of Transportation project engineer. “If not, drivers could be stuck in traffic for up to an hour.”

During the closure, crews will remove and replace 34 old, cracked and worn out concrete panels in the far right lane.

Closure details

  • Crews will close the right lane on southbound I-405 between Oakesdale Avenue Southwest and State Route 181 (the West Valley Highway) starting at 10 p.m. today (Oct. 9) until 5 a.m. Monday.
  • During construction, the southbound I-405 carpool lane will be open to all traffic through the work zone.

    The off-ramp from southbound I-405 to SR 181 also will close nightly from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. today (Oct. 9) and Saturday.

  • Crews will remove and replace 34 damaged concrete roadway panels.
  • Two of three southbound lanes will remain open during the closure.
  • The I-90 express lanes will run westbound all weekend except between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday to relieve Seahawks traffic.

Drivers can stay on top of traffic by checking the Web at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic and by calling 511. Local television and radio stations will also have information about this high-impact closure.

The work depends on dry weather. If it rains heavily, the work will be rescheduled for the next weekend. At this time, the weather outlook is good. Crews will pour concrete in addition to lane striping and cleanup work.

The work is part of the $91.5 million I-405/I-5 to SR 169 Stage 1 widening project funded by the 2003 and 2005 gas tax increases. The transportation department and contractor crews are building a new lane in each direction on I-405 between I-5 and SR 167 and a new lane on southbound SR 167 between I-405 and Southwest 41st Street.

Seattle-bound drivers looking for alternate routes around the closure to can use SR 900 (Sunset Boulevard in Renton) or northbound I-405 to westbound I-90 to get to I-5. For alternate route maps and project information visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/I5toSR169/.