Public invited to open houses on I-405 improvements between Renton, Bellevue

People who are interested in future improvements on the Interstate 405 corridor should mark their calendars. The Washington State Department of Transportation will host two neighborhood open houses in early September to provide updates on the I-405 Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes project.

People who are interested in future improvements on the Interstate 405 corridor should mark their calendars. The Washington State Department of Transportation will host two neighborhood open houses in early September to provide updates on the I-405 Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes project.

With funding from last summer’s Connecting Washington package, WSDOT plans to add new capacity in both directions of I-405 between State Route 167 in Renton and Northeast Sixth Street in downtown Bellevue. One new lane in each direction will be paired with the existing carpool lane to create a two-lane express toll lane system. The completed lanes will connect to the express toll lane system between Bellevue and Lynnwood, as well as the SR 167 High Occupancy Toll lanes, creating a 40-mile system of express toll lanes designed to improve speeds and trip reliability for all travelers.

This project also includes reconstruction of several interchanges, new noise walls, fish passage culvert upgrades and bicycle-pedestrian trail improvements in the area. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2019.

The first open house will run from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 at Bellevue City Hall, 410 110th Ave. NE.

The second event will run from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Renton High School, 400 S. Second St.

No formal presentation will be provided. Attendees are welcome to come and go at their leisure during the two-hour events. Both meeting locations are accessible by public transit.