I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program
The I-405, Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Sound Transit Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project is one of 150 projects that make up the WSDOT I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program.
The I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program stretches from Lynnwood to Sumner, forming the only north-south highway alternative to I-5 in the Puget Sound region. The area also continues to experience a huge growth in new residents and large businesses. This growth has created new jobs and economic benefits. But it has also made it more difficult to travel along the corridor.
Both the I-405 Master Plan and the SR 167 Corridor Plan recommend connecting I-405 and SR 167 to form a seamless corridor program with a variety of transportation options to address current and future needs. The combined plans provide a 20+ year vision for the corridor. The plans include new highway lanes, improved interchanges with local connections, expanded bus service including BRT, a two-lane express toll lane system (SR 167 HOT Lanes and the I-405 Express Toll Lanes), and local improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.
The I-405/SR-167 Program's goal is to make travel easy, safe, affordable, and reliable for everyone who uses the corridor to get around. Better transportation systems will improve our quality of life and economic future. Learn more about the I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program.
I-405, Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Sound Transit Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project
In May 2022, WSDOT chose three design-build contract proposers for the I-405, Northeast 85th Street Interchange, and Sound Transit Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project. In December 2022, the project team awarded the design-build contract to Graham Contracting, Ltd. Early construction activities began in early spring 2023.
The project design aligns with the I-405/SR 167 Program’s corridor-wide vision and Master Plan by:
- Building new ramps to Express Toll Lanes (ETLs) to improve travel on highway lanes and provide all travelers with a more reliable, convenient trip. These new ETL ramps will connect people to the continuous 50-mile I-405/SR 167 ETL system that WSDOT is constructing along the corridor.
- Adding a Sound Transit Stride bus rapid transit (BRT) station and providing connections to local transit services. BRT stations add transportation options that can carry a large volume of passengers safely, reliably, and affordably. With buses running as often as every 10 minutes, this new station will connect to Link light rail at Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tukwila, and other transit services provided by Sound Transit, Community Transit, and King County Metro.
- Involving and engaging with community members, businesses, and partners in the decision-making and design process. WSDOT, Sound Transit, the City of Kirkland, and King County Metro conducted regular community, business, and partner outreach to learn about community priorities for the project design. The project team will continue to keep everyone updated as construction progresses.
- Increasing livability for communities along the corridor. This project will make transit more accessible and improve mobility along the I-405 corridor and throughout the region. This project also supports the City of Kirkland’s 2021 - 2026 Capital Improvement Program, working to make the community safer, healthier, and more vibrant.
We completed the required environmental, operational, and safety reviews and initiated the necessary property acquisitions to move the project forward. Construction began in early 2023, and we anticipate the new interchange opening to traffic in early 2027.
Milestone
December 2022
Project team awarded the design-build contract to Graham Contracting, Ltd
Spring 2023
Early construction activities
Fall 2023
Significant construction activities start
Fall 2026
Substantial construction complete and portions of project open to traffic
Winter 2027
Expected project completion
The project is funded primarily by Sound Transit voter-approved funding. WSDOT will contribute $10M from toll revenue for Express Toll Lane (ETL) sections of the project.
About Stride Bus Rapid Transit
Sound Transit's Stride bus rapid transit is a new fast, frequent and reliable bus service connecting to light rail and to communities north, east and south of Lake Washington.
Northeast 85th Street Interchange Project: video of the interchange concept
This video provides an overview of the interchange concept. Improvements include a new STRIDE Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, connections for people who walk, bike or roll, and direct access to I-405 Express Toll Lanes. Construction began this year and runs through 2026/2027.
I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program
The I-405, Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Sound Transit Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project is one of 150 projects that make up the WSDOT I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program.
We are here to help!
To stay updated on this project, we encourage people to download the WSDOT app and sign up for our newsletter by emailing I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov.
People can also call our project hotline at 425-456-8585 for more information.
Construction questions, comments or complaints
For all construction-related questions, comments, or complaints, call the 24-hour construction hotline at 425-224-2423.
Stride Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) questions
For general questions about Sound Transit’s Stride BRT, call (206) 553-3412 or email brt@soundtransit.org.