Up to three lanes of northbound I-405 will be reduced from State Route 520 to Northeast 85th Street from 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 to 5 a.m. Thursday, May 15.
Up to two lanes of southbound I-405 will be reduced overnight from Northeast 124th Street to Northeast 85th Street starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 15 until 4:30 a.m. Friday, May 16.
Eastbound and westbound Northeast 85th Street will be fully closed from Kirkland Way/114th Avenue Northeast and 120th Avenue Northeast beginning 11 p.m. Friday, May 16 to 5 a.m. Monday, May 19. See below for all detour routes.
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
Northbound and southbound I-405 nightly lane reductions in Kirkland for traffic switch, May 13-16
Northbound and southbound Interstate 405 in Kirkland will have overnight lane reductions, May 13-16. Crews will shift I-405 traffic to the new bridges.
Northbound I-405 lane reductions, May 13-15
Up to three lanes of northbound I-405 will be reduced from State Route 520 to Northeast 85th Street at the following times:
- 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 to 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 14
- 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 to 5 a.m. Thursday, May 15
Northbound I-405 travelers will use the new bridge starting the morning of Thursday, May 15.
Southbound I-405 lane reductions, May 15-16
Up to two lanes of southbound I-405 will be reduced overnight from Northeast 124th Street to Northeast 85th Street starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 15 until 4:30 a.m. Friday, May 16.
The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed nightly at the following times:
- 10 p.m. Thursday, May 15 to 4 a.m. Friday, May 16
Southbound I-405 Express Toll Lanes travelers will use the new bridge starting the morning of Friday, May 16.
Travelers are advised to drive carefully and follow the signs through the work zone.
This work is weather-dependent and is subject to change. Schedule updates will be available on the project webpage, WSDOT’s Travel Center map, the WSDOT mobile app and by signing up for King County email updates.
Northeast 85th Street fully closed for bridge demolition, May 16-19
Eastbound and westbound Northeast 85th Street will be fully closed from Kirkland Way/114th Avenue Northeast and 120th Avenue Northeast beginning 11 p.m. Friday, May 16 to 5 a.m. Monday, May 19. Crews shifted Interstate 405 traffic to the new bridges in previous weeks. Crews will demolish the old bridges as well as:
- Smooth the pavement on the southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street to prepare for striping.
- Demolish the noise wall near the Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to southbound I-405.
- Install a new gas line across the northbound and southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street.
- Install a new waterline at the intersection of Northeast 85th Street and 114th Avenue Northeast.
Detour information
The detour maps for the full closures of Northeast 85th Street can be found by clicking on the links below:
- Northeast 85th Street vehicle detour routes
- Northeast 85th Street pedestrian and cyclist detour routes
- Northeast 85th Street to northbound I-405 on-ramp closure detour routes
- Northbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street closure detour routes
- Northeast 85th Street to southbound I-405 on-ramp closure detour routes
- Southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street closure detour routes
Expect increased congestion and plan for additional travel time during these weekends. Use alternate routes and travel during off-peak hours.
Travelers are advised to drive carefully and follow the signs through the work zone.
This work is weather-dependent and is subject to change. Schedule updates will be available on the project webpage, WSDOT’s Travel Center map, the WSDOT mobile app and by signing up for King County email updates.
Upcoming I-405 ramp and lane closures
Highway lane closures:
- Monday, May 12 to the morning of Thursday, May 15: Three right lanes of northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 and milepost 20.0 nightly, from 10:30 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, May 13 to the morning of Friday, May 16: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 to milepost 20.0 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, May 13 to the morning of Friday, May 16: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 to milepost 17.0 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 17: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 to milepost 17.0 from 8:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 17: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 to milepost 20.0 from 8:30 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday, May 17 to the morning of Sunday, May 18: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 to milepost 20.0 from 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Saturday, May 17 to the morning of Sunday, May 18: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 to milepost 17.0 from 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Highway ramp closures:
- Monday, May 12 to the morning of Friday, May 16: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed nightly, from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19: The southbound I-405 offramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19: The Northeast 85th Street onramp to southbound I-405 will be closed from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m. Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19: The Northeast 85th Street onramp to northbound I-405 will be closed from 11:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19: The northbound I-405 offramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed from 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.
Local street closures:
- Monday, May 12 to the morning of Monday, May 19: Northeast 85th Street will be reduced to one lane from 114th Avenue Northeast/Kirkland Way and 120th Avenue Northeast.
Upcoming nightwork
Week of May 11 – May 17
- Tuesday, May 13 to the morning of Friday, May 16 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 to milepost 17.0 for barrier setting and striping work.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 17 from 8:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 to milepost 17.0 for bridge demolition.
- Saturday, May 17 to the morning of Sunday, May 18 from 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 to milepost 17.0 for bridge demolition.
- Tuesday, May 13 to the morning of Friday, May 16 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 to milepost 20.0 for lane shifts.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 17 from 8:30 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 to milepost 20.0 for bridge demo.
- Saturday, May 17 to the morning of Sunday, May 18 from 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 to milepost 20.0 for bridge demo.
- Monday, May 12 to the morning of Thursday, May 15 nightly, from 10:30 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: Three right lanes of northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 and milepost 20.0 for lane shits.
- Tuesday, May 13 to the morning of Friday, May 16 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.: Two Express Tolls Lanes (ETLs) on northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 to milepost 20.0 for lane shits.
- Monday, May 12 to the morning of Friday, May 16 nightly, from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be for drainage and barrier installation.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed for drainage work and bride demo.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.: The Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to southbound I-405 will be closed for bride demo.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19 from 11:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.: The Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to northbound I-405 will be closed for bride demo.
- Friday, May 16 to the morning of Saturday, May 19 from 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: The northbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed for bride demo.
- Monday, May 12 to Friday, May 16, nightly 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 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.
- Friday, May 16 to Monday, May 19 from 11:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.: Northeast 85th Street will be closed between Kirkland Way/114th Avenue Northeast and 120th Avenue Northeast for bridge demo.
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.
