Project overview
WSDOT, Sound Transit, and design-build contractor Graham Contracting, Ltd. are working to reconstruct and improve the I-405/Northeast 85th Street interchange. This project design supports Sound Transit's Stride Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), improves transit connections on Northeast 85th Street, and provides direct access to the I-405 Express Toll Lanes (ETLs).
With the City of Kirkland’s support, WSDOT and Sound Transit chose Northeast 85th Street for this project because it is a main connection between Downtown Kirkland, Redmond, and I-405. Working together, WSDOT, the City of Kirkland, and Sound Transit developed this project to improve accessibility for transit riders along the I-405 corridor and throughout the region and improve mobility and people who walk, bike, or roll.
The current interchange has two levels: the bottom level for local traffic on Northeast 85th Street and the top level for freeway traffic on I-405.
Project improvements along the lower level include local road improvements along Northeast 85th Street and its intersection with 114th Avenue Northeast/Kirkland Way.
The newly constructed middle level of the interchange is a multimodal hub. The hub will improve access and save time for transit riders, carpoolers, ETL users, and people who walk, bike, or roll. Transit riders will benefit from a new BRT station in the median of the northbound and southbound lanes, with connections to local bus stops. Pedestrians and cyclists will have wider sidewalks and better connections to BRT and the regional transit network. Carpoolers and ETL users will have direct-access ramps to the ETL system on I-405.
The project will also include fish barrier corrections, noise walls, and new stormwater facilities.
Once finished, this project will offer safer, more reliable transportation options for Kirkland residents, neighbors, and commuters – no matter how they get around.
What to expect
For the most up-to-date information about travel impacts, check out our real-time travel map. We also encourage people to stay informed by subscribing to our email updates or calling our construction hotline with questions, concerns or for more information at 425-224-2423.
Additional upcoming I-405 ramp and lane closures
Highway lane closures:
Monday, March 24 to the morning of Saturday, March 29: The right lane of southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 and milepost 17.0 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
Highway ramp closures:
Monday, March 24 to the morning of Tuesday, March 25: The southbound I-405 offramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
Monday, March 24 to the morning of Sunday, March 30: The Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to northbound I-405 will be closed nightly, from 11:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
Local street closures:
Monday, March 24 to the morning of Saturday, March 29: The eastbound lanes of Northeast 85th Street from the southbound on-ramp to the northbound off-ramp will be closed nightly, from 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
Monday, March 24 to the morning of Saturday, March 29: The westbound lanes of Northeast 85th Street from the northbound on-ramp to the southbound off-ramp will be closed nightly, from 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
Upcoming nightwork
Week of March 23 – March 29
Monday, March 24 to Friday, March 28, nightly 9:00 p.m. to 5 a.m.: The westbound and eastbound lanes of Northeast 85th Street from the northbound on-ramp to the southbound off-ramp will be closed nightly for construction on the new bridge structures.
Monday, March 24 to Friday, March 28, nightly 8:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.: The right lane of southbound I-405 from milepost 20.0 to milepost 17.0 will be closed nightly for guardrail removal and grading.
Monday, March 17 to the morning of Saturday, April 5, nightly weekdays from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m. and weekends from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed nightly for drainage installation, striping installation and barrier placement.
The project will replace the existing two-level interchange at Northeast 85th Street with a three-level interchange and construct local improvements along Northeast 85th Street and its intersection with 114th Avenue Northeast/Kirkland Way.
