Politics & Government
Opening of New 12th Street Bridge Paves the Way for I-405 Closure In April
The first half of the new 12th Street Bridge was opened this week, paving the way for I-405 Closures in April.
The first half of the new NE 12th Street Bridge was opened last week, according to the Washington Department of Transportation, hitting a milestone toward the full closure of Interstate 405 the first weekend in April.
Interstate 405 in Bellevue will be from 11 p.m. Friday April 1 to 4 a.m. Monday April 4 so crews can remove the old NE 12th Street Bridge, according to the WSDOT. Drivers should plan ahead for delays.
The bridge removal and replacement is part of the larger Bellevue Braids project that affects streets and roads through Bellevue, Interstate 405 and State Route 520.
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The new bridge, expected to be complete by summer 2012, will be higher, wider and longer than the old bridge so it can make way for new northbound ramps headed to SR 520 and I-405. The new NE 12th Street Bridge also will feature a pedestrian and bicycle lane separated from traffic.
“We’re building the new NE 12th Street Bridge in stages to keep traffic flowing smoothly in Bellevue during construction,” said Seema Javeri, WSDOT Project Engineer for the I-405/SR 520 Bellevue Braids Project. Crews will build the second half of the new bridge after tearing down the old bridge.
Find out what's happening in Bellevuewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The $107.5 million Bellevue Braids project is funded by a combination of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding and the 2005 gas tax.
I-405 closure details April 1- 4
To remove the old bridge and ensure the safety of drivers, crews plan to completely close I-405 in both directions between N.E. Eighth Street and SR 520 in Bellevue for 53 hours the first weekend in April.
The full closure will begin at 11 p.m., Friday, April 1 and the highway will reopen to traffic by 4 a.m., Monday, April 4. To help prevent region-wide gridlock, drivers should delay discretionary trips, take alternate routes, and plan for delays throughout the Eastside and the Seattle area, according to the Washington Department of Transportation.
For a WSDOT's Q&A on the closure, click .
-- Information from Washington State Department of Transportation
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