Published June 9 2014
The bumpiness, ruts and cracks drivers experience on southbound Interstate 405 through the heart of Bellevue will soon be a thing of the past.
Beginning Monday, June 9, the state Department of Transportation will begin a $5 million project to repave the southbound lanes from State Route 520 to Southeast Eighth Street. Contractor crews will also partially repave the ramps from southbound I-405 to both directions of SR 520 and the ramp from eastbound SR 520 to southbound I-405.
"This section of I-405 hasn't been repaved since 1995," said WSDOT project engineer Mark Sawyer. "New pavement will add another 15 years to the lifespan of the road, allowing it to continue handling the heavy traffic through Bellevue."
Southbound I-405 through Bellevue carries approximately 175,000 vehicles a day. Increasing traffic and the region's rainy weather have contributed to the deterioration of the interstate.
To complete the work, contractor C.A. Carey Corporation will remove the top two inches of the roadway. Areas requiring more substantial repairs will be excavated down to the fill dirt and then rebuilt. The contractor will then spread and compact new asphalt before adding high visibility striping. Crews will also place new traffic detection loops, replace some highway lighting features, build foundations for new signs and replace or repair guardrail. Additional work includes relocating and rebuilding center barriers to create space for the eventual addition of express toll lanes.
Lane closures
The work will require overnight closures of multiple lanes Mondays through Thursdays, 8 p.m.-5 a.m. Ramps in the project area may close nightly 8 p.m.-5 a.m. There may also be some extended weekend lane and ramp closures. No full weekend closures are planned for this project. Nightly lane and ramp closure information will be available on the I-405 construction update report.
Construction will be complete in fall 2014. More information is available on the project website