Relief is in sight for commuters stuck in daily congestion on Highway 520. WSDOT has awarded PCL Construction Services, a contract to widen the road between SR 202 and West Lake Sammamish Parkway.

During the next two years, this $37.7 million contract will employ approximately 370 workers.

Crews will add a merge lane and a carpool lane to SR 520, widening the highway from two lanes to four in each direction.

Traffic engineers estimate this will reduce peak morning commute times by 60 percent and reduce peak evening commute times by 75 percent. When this project is complete, carpools, vanpools and transit will enjoy a seamless HOV lane between the east end of the SR 520 floating bridge and SR 202.

The work is the final piece of the puzzle for improvements along the SR 202 / SR 520 corridor, which began in 2004.

Construction on the SR 520 widening is expected to begin in April and should be wrapped up in late 2011.