Date:  Friday, December 11, 2009

Contact: Jon Harris, Project Engineer, (425) 282-6826 (Renton)
Craig Kanaya, WSDOT Communications, (425) 456-8606 (Bellevue)

RENTON - The drive between Renton and Tukwila is less congested now that WSDOT contractor crews have opened a new lane in each direction on I-405, several months ahead of schedule. The new lanes opened this morning at 4 a.m. and stretch from I-5 to SR 167.

The new lanes – one in each direction - are part of the $91.5 million Renton Stage 1 – Widening Project funded by the 2003 and the 2005 gas tax increases.

“This is another example of our commitment to fighting traffic congestion, what we call Moving Washington. We are offering more choices, managing the system more efficiently, and, as we see today in Renton, adding capacity where it makes sense,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “The results speak for themselves, more people moving through the system, faster and more safely.”

WSDOT’s 2009 Congestion Report cites the Tukwila to Bellevue morning commute as the worst route in the state in 2008. According to the report, travel times for those commuters are two and a half times greater than it is for drivers using the same road during non-peak hours. These new lanes go a long way toward reducing congestion and cutting commute times.

“Morning commuters will benefit from the extra lanes at the south end of the I-405 corridor,” said Stacy Trussler, Eastside Corridor Deputy Director. “We’re easing congestion on this notorious bottleneck and adding capacity where it’s needed most.”

As part of this project, crews opened a new lane on southbound SR 167 in October. With the addition of the new northbound I-405 lane connecting to southbound SR 167 lane, drivers will see smoother traffic flow and reduced delays at this heavily congested interchange. Traffic engineers also expect reduced delays from northbound I-5 merging onto I-405.

“I’d like to thank commuters for their patience and our contractor for their hard work during construction” said WSDOT Project Engineer, Jon Harris. “Drivers have been waiting for the new lanes in the Renton and Tukwila area for many years and now the wait will finally pay off.”

Crews still need to put finishing touches on the project so drivers should expect non-peak hour lane and ramp closures until next spring. For more information on the project please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/I5toSR169/

Next in Renton

WSDOT’s work in the Renton area is not over. The next phase of construction, called Renton Stage 2, has been underway for the past five months. Crews will add a lane in each direction of I-405 between SR 167 and SR 169 and a new interchange at Talbot Road. The project improvements will open to traffic by 2011.

For more information on the Stage 2 project please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/SR515Interchange/

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