Crews are getting ready to take a major step towards improving access in downtown Bellevue. Large steel girders will swing into place starting next week to build a new NE 10th Street bridge across I-405.

Beginning the evening of Nov. 10, crews will close three lanes on I-405 between SE Eighth Street and SR 520 and ramps in downtown Bellevue. The work will take place on weeknights from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Nov. 25. Area ramps may close as early as 9 p.m. Detours will be posted.

“We’ve found a way to place the bridge girders without completely closing I-405.” said Brian Nielsen, WSDOT Construction Engineering Manager. Instead, after midnight, Washington State Patrol will perform up to two five-minute rolling slowdowns, which will allow crews time to place the girders onto the columns that will support the new bridge. After the rolling slowdowns, drivers can safely travel though the work zone, he said.

Drivers should expect short delays as nighttime freeway traffic is funneled down to one lane.

The NE 10th Street Bridge Project is a partnership with the city of Bellevue. The bridge will provide a direct connection between downtown Bellevue and the city’s growing hospital district and relieve congestion on NE Eighth Street.

For detailed lane and ramp closure information, see the project Web site: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i405/ne10thstreet/