I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project

Project overview

Travelers on Interstate 405 between Renton and Bellevue experience one of the state’s worst commutes. The I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes project includes multimodal transportation and safety improvements to offer more reliable travel choices and keep drivers, transit riders and freight moving.

The Renton to Bellevue project will add new capacity to create a two-lane ETL system between SR 167 in Renton and Northeast Sixth Street in Bellevue. In general, the project will add one new lane in each direction and combine the existing HOV lane with the new lane to create a dual ETL system.

The new ETLs will connect to the existing express toll lane system between Bellevue and Lynnwood, as well as the SR 167 HOT lanes via the I-405/SR 167 Interchange Direct Connector, to create a 40-mile ETL system. This project is designed to improve speeds and trip reliability for all travelers and support the new I-405 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line between Lynnwood and Tukwila included in the voter-approved Sound Transit 3 package.

What to expect

Northbound SR-181 left turn lane to Southcenter Boulevard closed for 120 days beginning Aug. 25 for bridge improvements

The northbound State Route 181 left turn lane to Southcenter Boulevard in Tukwila will be closed starting at 11:15 p.m., August 18. A signed detour route will be in place, where northbound SR 181 travelers will continue to Fort Dent Way, use the on-ramp to southbound I-405, and take the Seattle/Southcenter Boulevard exit.

Work is dependent on good weather and may be rescheduled. Schedule updates will be available on WSDOT’s Travel Center map, the WSDOT mobile app and by signing up for King County email updates.

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Week of Aug. 17 – Aug. 23

City of Renton and Newcastle:

• Performing grading work and installing precast barriers near wall 3.30R. (5 nights: 8/18-8/22)
• Installing precast panels for noise wall 5. (3 nights: 8/19-8/21)
• Southbound I-405 will be fully closed from the North Southport Drive on-ramp to the Sunset Boulevard North / SR 169 off-ramp, 11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22 – 4 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25. Signed detours will be in place.

City of Bellevue:

• Installing drainage along the roadway near bridge 40ETL. (4 nights: 8/19-8/22)
• Installing drainage along northbound I-405 on-ramp under Main Street. (5 nights: 8/19-8/23)

Week of Aug. 25 – Aug. 30

City of Renton and Newcastle:

• Paving between wall 6.99L and bridge 25. (3 nights: 8/27-8/29)

City of Bellevue:

• None scheduled in this period.