Interstate 405 (Washington)

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Interstate 405
Auxiliary route of I-5
Defined by RCW 47.17.595, maintained by WSDOT
Length: 30.30 mi[1] (48.76 km)
Formed: 1964
South end: I-5/SR 518 in Tukwila
Major
junctions:
SR 167 in Renton
SR 900 in Renton
I-90 in Bellevue
SR 520 in Bellevue
SR 908 in Kirkland
SR 522 in Bothell
North end: I-5/SR 525 in Lynnwood
State highways in Washington
< SR 401 SR 409 >
Lists: current - 1937-70 - 1964 renumbering

Interstate 405 (abbreviated I-405, and colloquially referred to as 405 or four-oh-five) in Washington is a 30-mile 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. Its official name is "Renton Freeway", though it is not so signed. Interstate 405 was laid over a branch of Primary State Highway 1. The speed limit for the entire freeway is 60 mph (96.6 km/h).

The highway is referenced in the Death Cab for Cutie's song "405", on their 2000 release, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes.

[edit] 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.[2]

Currently underway is the Nickel Project, which in 2003 originally included three planned improvements for I-405:[3]

  • 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,[4] 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.[2]

The web site "Road to Ruin" ranks the widening of I-405 as the fourth most wasteful highway project in the United States.[5]

[edit] Exit list

County Location Mile[1] # Destinations Notes
King Tukwila 0.00 SR 518 west – Burien, Sea-Tac Airport Continuation beyond I-5
0.00 I-5Seattle, Tacoma, Portland Southbound exit and northbound entrance
0.34 Southcenter Boulevard – Southcenter Mall Southbound exit and northbound entrance
0.96 1 SR 181 south (West Valley Highway) – Tukwila
Renton 2.30 2 SR 167 (Rainier Avenue South) – Renton, Kent, Auburn Signed as exits 2A (south) and 2B (north) southbound
3.99-
4.47
4 SR 169 south / SR 900 west (Bronson Way) – Renton, Maple Valley, Enumclaw South end of SR 900 overlap
5.37 5 SR 900 east (Sunset Boulevard Northeast) / Park Avenue North – Issaquah North end of SR 900 overlap
6.48 6 Northeast 30th Street
7.44 7 Northeast 44th Street
Bellevue 9.23 9 112th Avenue Southeast – Newcastle
10.15 10 Coal Creek Parkway – Factoria
11.02 11 I-90Mercer Island, Seattle, Spokane
12.76 12 Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Northeast
13.54 13A Northeast 4th Street
13.68 Northeast 6th Street HOV access only
13.81 13B Northeast 8th Street
14.82 14 SR 520Seattle, Redmond
Kirkland 17.43 17 Northeast 70th Place
18.08 18 SR 908 (NE 85th Street) – Redmond, Kirkland
19.82 20A NE 116th Street Northbound exit and southbound entrance
20.30 20B Northeast 124th Street Signed as exit 20 southbound
20.6 Northeast 128th Street HOV access only[6]
22.61 22 Northeast 160th Street
Bothell 23.52 23 SR 522 to US 2Bothell, Seattle, Woodinville, Monroe, Wenatchee Signed as exits 23A (east) and 23B (west) southbound
24.46 24 Northeast 195th Street, Beardslee Boulevard
Snohomish 26.73 26 SR 527Bothell, Mill Creek
30.30 I-5Seattle, Lynnwood, Vancouver, BC Northbound exit and southbound entrance
30.30 SR 525 north – Mukilteo Continuation beyond I-5

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Washington State Department of Transportation, State Highway Log, 2006
  2. ^ a b I-405 - Renton To Bellevue Project SR 169 to I-90. Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
  3. ^ Nickel Funding Package Enacted for Transportation by the Washington State Legislature. Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  4. ^ I-405 New 2005 Funded Projects. Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  5. ^ Taxpayers for Common Sense. Road to Ruin. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
  6. ^ Washington State Department of Transportation. I-405 - Totem Lake Freeway Station. Retrieved on 2008-03.