Interstate 405 (Washington)

Infobox road
state=WA
alternate_name=Renton Freeway
name_notes=
type=I
route=405
maint=

---

length_mi=30.30
length_round=2
length_ref=cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/TDO/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/HwyLog2006.pdf|title=State Highway Log - Planning Report - SR 2 to SR 971|date=2006|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|accessdate=2008-08-16]
length_notes=
established=1964
direction_a=South
terminus_a=jct|state=WA|I|5|SR|518|city1=Tukwila
junction=jct|state=WA|SR|167|city1=Renton
jct|state=WA|SR|900|city1=Renton
jct|state=WA|I|90|city1=Factoria
jct|state=WA|SR|520|city1=Bellevue
jct|state=WA|SR|908|city1=Kirkland

direction_b=North
terminus_b=jct|state=WA|I|5|SR|525|city1=Lynnwood
counties=
spur_type=I
spur_of=5
previous_type=WA
previous_route=401
next_type=WA
next_route=409

Interstate 405 (abbreviated I-405, and colloquially referred to as "405" or "four-oh-five") in Washington is a convert|30|mi|km|sing=on loop route that bypasses Seattle east of Lake Washington. The northern terminus is in Lynnwood and the southern terminus is in Tukwila. The highway runs through what has since become the "Eastside" technology center of Bellevue and Kirkland, making it an often congested commuter path. I-405 is known for its meandering "S-curves" through Renton. It intersects with Interstate 90 and a number of major state routes. Interstate 405 was laid over Secondary State Highway 2A.

Route description

I-405 begins as a continuation of Washington State Route 518 (SR 518) at the junction with Interstate 5 in Tukwila and almost immediately after the change to I-405, a High-occupancy vehicle lane begins, and continues to almost the end of the highway. The freeway continues on an easterly path, passing the newly renovated Westfield Southcenter shopping mall and crossing the Green River before approaching an interchange with SR 181. After the exit, the former Longacres race track, now owned by Boeing,cite news|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19900927&slug=1095248|title=Boeing Buys Longacres -- Site May Be Company Headquarters; Some Racing Possible Elsewhere|last=Lane|first=Polly|coauthors=Smith, Sara|date=1990-09-27|publisher="The Seattle Times"|accessdate=2008-09-27] and new Sounder commuter rail station for Tukwilla is passed, and I-405 starts to head north-east towards a cloverleaf interchange with SR 167 and Rainier Blvd, which is the first exit in Renton. After the interchange with SR 167, the freeway, after a series of infamous s-curves, which become a traffic bottle neck durring rush hour,cite news|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020630&slug=bumper30m0|title=Straight talk on S-curves, traffic lingo|last=Gilmore|first=Susan|date=2002-06-30|work=Bumper to Bumper|publisher="The Seattle Times"|accessdate=2008-09-28] turns to a northernly direction and intersects SR 169 and one direction of SR 900. A hybrid diamond interchange/partial cloverleaf interchange serves the other direction of SR 900 and the Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park and a new development called The Landing.

Climbing Kennydale Hill, I-405 intersects N 30th St and Kennewick Place NW, which serves north Renton, and Kennydale, before quickly descending to another hybrid diamond/partial cloverleaf interchange with NE 44th Street, which provides access to Newcastle. I-405 now closely follows Lake Washington, and enters a wooded section until an interchange with Lake Washington Boulevard which serves both a park and ride station and the community of Newport Hills. The final interchange before I-90 is a diamond interchange serving Coal Creek Blvd.

Factoria Mall is east of I-405 as it approaches a full cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 90 which provides access to Seattle, Mercer Island, as well as the Eastgate neighborhood of Bellevue and Issaquah. Mercer Slough is west of I-405 as it heads towards downtown Bellevue. Current construction projects have now demolished the Wilburton Tunnelcite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008116688_webtrafficnotice15m.html|title=I-405 lane closures, other traffic headaches loom this weekend|publisher=Seattle Times|accessdate=2008-08-16] which use to cover the southbound side of I-405 until Summer 2008.

The historic Wilburton Trestle passes I-405 as a diamond interchange with SE 8th street connects the freeway to South Bellevue and the Lake Hills area. In quick succession is a short diamond interchange with NE 4th street before a full cloverleaf with NE 8th Street, serving downtown Bellevue and the Overlake Medical Center, as well as an HOV only left exit to the Bellevue Transit Center and NE 6th street. SR 520 which provides access to Medina and Redmond, home of the Microsoft Corporation is the next interchange, with a half cloverleaf interchange with several fly-over ramps to allow complete access to and from SR 520.

Bridle Trails State Park borders the freeway on the east side, while Watershed Park and Northwest University are on the western side of the freeway as it approaches NE 70th Place, serving Houghton and Snyders Corner before approaching a full cloverleaf with SR 908 serving Kirkland. An incomplete interchange with NE 116th street comes before I-405 connects to Totem Lake via an interchange with NE 124th street. NE 160th street is the next interchange before I-405 crosses over the Sammamish River and connects to SR 522 which provides access to downtown Bothell and Woodinville. An interchange with NE 195th street provides access to the local business park and the University of Washington Bothell branch.

Entering Snohomish County at mile post 25, I-405 enters a wooded area before coming to an interchange with the Bothell-Everett Highway (SR 527), which is the final interchange before I-405 terminates at an interchange between Interstate 5 and SR 525.cite map|url=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=tukwila,+wa&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=47.607089,-122.405548&spn=0.316654,1.517487&z=10|publisher=Google Maps|cartography=NAVTEQ|accessdate=2008-08-16|title=Interstate 405 (Overview)]

As of 2007, the most heavily traveled section of I-405 near SE 8th Street in downtown Bellevue, with an daily average of 200,000 cars per day traveling through this segment.cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/Annual_Traffic_Report_2007.pdf|title=2007 Annual Traffic Report|publisher=Washington Department of Transportation|accessdate=2008-08-16] . This number was slightly lower in 1997, with 190,000 cars per day,cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/Atr97.pdf|title=1997 Annual Traffic Report|publisher=Washington Department of Transportation|accessdate=2008-09-27] but has dramatically increased since the first measurement in 1967, with 32,600 cars per day traveling through Bellevue.cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/1970_ATR.pdf|title=1970 Annual Traffic Report|publisher=Washington Department of Transportation|accessdate=2008-09-27]

History

The first road connecting most of the eastside communities, Secondary State Highway 2A (SSH 2A),cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/AFDDA538-123B-43F8-A166-B30BAA34C492/0/40yearsReport.pdf|title=40 Years With the Washington State Department of Highways |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|accessdate=2008-09-28] was already in existence since at least 1927. SSH 2A connected US 10 and US 410 in Renton to the north, through Kirkland and Bothell, connecting back to US 99 in Everett.cite map |publisher=Rand McNally |title=Official Auto Tails map, Washington, Oregon |url=http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~33783~1171499:Spokane-and-vicinity--Seattle-and-v |year=1927 |inset=Seattle and Vicinity |accessdate=2008-09-27] In 1964, the system of Primary and Secondary state highways was removed in favor of signed routes, and PSH 2A was renumbered SR 405. The first segment of the interstate to open was between Renton and Tukwilla on September 3, 1965. By 1971, SR 405 was renumbered to Interstate 405 after it was completely improved to Interstate Highway standards.Fact|date=September 2008

One of the major construction projects on the highway was straightening the s-curves in Renton. This project was began in 1990, and was estimated to cost $70 million. Also during this time the portion of the highway between I-5 and South Renton was being repaved and HOV lanes were being added.cite news|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19900925&slug=1095048|title=S-Curves On I-405 To Be Set Straight -- First, Water Pipes Will Be Rerouted|last=Aweeka|first=Charles|date=1990-09-25|publisher="The Seattle Times"|accessdate=2008-09-28]

Future

Originally intended as a bypass to I-5 through Seattle, I-405 has experienced a large increase in traffic volume since its construction. I-405 is now the most congested freeway in Washington State, particularly the segment between State Route 169 and I-90.cite web | url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/RentontoBellevue/ | title=I-405 - Renton To Bellevue Project SR 169 to I-90 | publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation | accessdate=2007-04-07]

Currently underway is the Nickel Project, which in 2003 originally included three planned improvements for I-405:cite web | url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/A5AA153E-8928-412C-809E-EBE24DE88662/0/HighwayNickelList.pdf | title=Nickel Funding Package Enacted for Transportation by the Washington State Legislature | publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation | accessdate=2007-12-06]
* The construction of one lane in each direction between SE 8th and I-90, replacing the Wilburton Tunnel.
* The construction of one northbound lane from NE 70th to NE 124th, and one southbound lane from SR 522 to SR 520.
* The construction of one northbound lane from SR 181 to SR 167, and one southbound lane from SR 169 to SR 167.

In 2005, the "Renton to Bellevue Project" was added as part of the Nickel Project,cite web | url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/corridor/newfunding/ | title=I-405 New 2005 Funded Projects | publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation | accessdate=2007-12-06] and would have added two lanes in each direction between SR 169 and I-90. However, in November 2007, voters rejected the ballot measure which would have provided the additional funds necessary for this project. At this time the project is still largely unfunded. The web site "Road to Ruin" ranks the widening of I-405 as the fourth most wasteful highway project in the United States. The project is designed to help traffic move smoother on I-405.cite web|author=Taxpayers for Common Sense|url=http://www.taxpayer.net/road2ruin/roads/index.htm|title=Road to Ruin|accessdate=2007-12-06] Dead link|date=July 2008

Exit list

References

External links

* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/ WSDOT I-405 Construction updates]