Date:  Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Contact: Stacy Trussler, I-405 Deputy Project Director, (425) 456-8563
Steve Peer, WSDOT Communications, (425) 301-2023

RENTON - WSDOT, City of Renton Mayor Denis Law, local officials and Uwajimaya executives celebrated the groundbreaking of the I-405, I-5 to SR 169 Stage 2 Widening and SR 515 Interchange Project (Renton Stage 2) at the grand opening of the new Uwajimaya store in Renton.

“We’re proud to start construction on the Renton Stage 2 Project, which will improve access to Renton businesses such as Uwajimaya,” said Paula Hammond, Transportation Secretary. “The project provides living wage jobs and when complete, will provide residents, visitors and freight haulers a less congested and safer freeway.

The Renton Stage 2 Project will improve one of the most congested areas in the state. As part of this $83.6 million project, funded by the 2003 and 2005 state gas tax packages, crews will widen the freeway to build new lanes on I-405 to help traffic flow near Renton and the state’s most congested interchange at I-405/SR 167. When complete in summer 2011 the Renton Stage 2 project crews will have built— 

• One new I-405 lane in each direction between SR 167 and SR 169. 
• A new half-diamond interchange at SR 515 (Talbot Road). The new interchange will include a new on-ramp to northbound I-405 from Talbot Road and an off-ramp from southbound I-405 to Talbot Road.
• A newly-reconstructed Benson Road bridge over I-405 to accommodate widened lanes.

“This is an exciting day for the City of Renton,” said Mayor Denis Law. “We are thrilled to be opening a new Uwajimaya store and starting construction on a project that will improve transportation in and around Renton.”

During the Uwajimaya event, Mayor Law and WSDOT officials outlined how the Renton Stage 2 Project will help improve access to Renton while providing jobs to project crews. In addition, crews working in Renton may shop and use services in the city, helping to keep the economy moving. In fact, prior to the Uwajimaya store opening, construction workers were some of the first customers to shop and sample food from the new store.

WSDOT is building the Renton Stage 2 project using a construction and design delivery approach known as design-build. The design-build contractor (Corridor Design-Builders Joint Venture between CH2M Hill and Merlino Construction) will design and construct the project under one contract, allowing crews to start construction early while the design is being completed.

Later this month, crews will begin clearing trees and brush along I-405 and Talbot Road. During construction drivers can expect to see nighttime lane and ramp closures, and should be prepared for a slight lane shift in the area to allow crews room to work safely.

For more information on the I-405 project in Renton, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i405/sr515interchange/. Photos of the event are on the WSDOT Flickr page.

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