Drivers in the Bothell and Woodinville area should be prepared for heavy traffic and long delays as the I-405 widening project enters a new phase, resulting in a series of weekend closures through mid-March. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is warning of these closures, which will impact both westbound and eastbound lanes of SR-522 at the I-405 interchange in Bothell. The closures are necessary to remove flyover ramps and widen the interstate, allowing construction to resume on the I-405/Brickyard to SR-527 Improvement Project.
The first closure will take place this weekend, with all lanes of westbound SR-522 closing at the I-405 interchange in Bothell. This is the first of several weekend closures planned as crews begin taking down the flyover ramps that once carried northbound I-405 traffic to SR-522. The removal of these ramps will open up the center of the interchange, allowing for the widening of I-405.
Here's the breakdown of the closure schedule:
- Feb. 20-21: All lanes of westbound SR 522 at the I-405 Interchange will close from 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, to 6 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, to remove the first section of the ramp over the westbound lanes of SR 522. Crews will start closing lanes as early as 8 p.m.
- Feb. 27-March 2: All lanes of eastbound and westbound SR 522 at the I-405 Interchange will close from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, to 4 a.m. Monday, March 2, to remove the remaining portion of the ramp over SR 522. Crews will start closing lanes as early as 9 p.m.
- March 6-9: All lanes of northbound and southbound I-405 in Bothell will close from Friday night, March 6, to Monday morning, March 9, to remove portions of the ramps over mainline I-405. Times for the closure will be released when the schedule is finalized.
- March 13-16: All lanes of northbound and southbound I-405 in Bothell will close Friday night, March 13, to Monday morning, March 16, to remove the remaining portion of ramps over mainline I-405. Times for the closure will be released when the schedule is finalized.
According to Lauren Penning, a WSDOT spokesperson, 'We need to take those ramps down with a series of weekend closures so that we can do it safely. We know it's really impactful for people, so we will be looking for opportunities to possibly open the road sooner, but we will need a lot of time to take these structures down.'
During the weekend closures, detour routes will be posted. However, WSDOT warned that these detour routes cannot carry the normal SR-522 or I-405 freeway volume. The traffic volume for I-405 and SR 522 (east of 405) on Saturdays and Sundays is as follows:
- Saturdays:
- I-405: 170,000 daily trips
- SR 522 (east of 405): 87,000 daily trips
- Sundays:
- I-405: 150,000 daily trips
- SR 522 (east of 405): 72,000 daily trips
But here's where it gets controversial... The closures will undoubtedly cause significant disruptions for drivers in the area. While WSDOT is aware of the impact and is looking for opportunities to open the road sooner, the removal of the flyover ramps is a complex process that requires a lot of time and careful planning. This is the part most people miss... The closures are necessary to ensure the safety of workers and the success of the project, but they will undoubtedly cause frustration and delays for drivers. So, what do you think? Are the closures justified, or is there a better way to approach this project? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
