Graham Contracting Upgrading I-405/85th St. Interchange

Graham Contracting Ltd., WSDOT and Sound Transit are working to reconstruct and improve the I-405/Northeast 85th Street interchange. This project design supports Sound Transit’s Stride Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), improves transit connections on Northeast 85th Street and provides direct access to the I-405 Express Toll Lanes (ETLs).

With the city of Kirkland’s support, WSDOT and Sound Transit chose Northeast 85th Street for this project because it is a main connection between Downtown Kirkland, Redmond and I-405. Working together, WSDOT, the city of Kirkland and Sound Transit developed this project to improve accessibility for transit riders along the I-405 corridor and throughout the region and improve mobility and people who walk, bike, or roll.

The current interchange has two levels: the bottom level for local traffic on Northeast 85th Street and the top level for freeway traffic on I-405.

Project improvements along the lower level include local road improvements along Northeast 85th Street and its intersection with 114th Avenue Northeast/Kirkland Way.

The newly constructed middle level of the interchange is a multimodal hub. The hub will improve access and save time for transit riders, carpoolers, ETL users and people who walk, bike or roll. Transit riders will benefit from a new BRT station in the median of the northbound and southbound lanes, with connections to local bus stops. Pedestrians and cyclists will have wider sidewalks and better connections to BRT and the regional transit network. Carpoolers and ETL users will have direct-access ramps to the ETL system on I-405.

The project also will include fish barrier corrections, noise walls and new stormwater facilities.

Once finished, this project will offer safer, more reliable transportation options for Kirkland residents, neighbors and commuters.

Project Background

The I-405, Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Sound Transit Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project is one of 150 projects that make up the WSDOT I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program.

The I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program stretches from Lynnwood to Sumner, forming the only north-south highway alternative to I-5 in the Puget Sound region. The area also continues to experience a huge growth in new residents and large businesses. This growth has created new jobs and economic benefits. But it has also made it more difficult to travel along the corridor.

Both the I-405 Master Plan and the SR 167 Corridor Plan recommend connecting I-405 and SR 167 to form a seamless corridor program with a variety of transportation options to address current and future needs. The combined plans provide a vision for the corridor for the next 20 years. The plans include new highway lanes, improved interchanges with local connections, expanded bus service including BRT, a two-lane express toll lane system (SR 167 HOT Lanes and the I-405 Express Toll Lanes) and local improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.

The I-405/SR-167 Program’s goal is to make travel easy, safe, affordable and reliable for everyone who uses the corridor to get around.

In May 2022, WSDOT chose three design-build contract proposers for the I-405, Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Sound Transit Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project. In December 2022, the project team awarded the design-build contract to Graham Contracting, Ltd. Early construction activities began in spring 2023.

The project design aligns with the I-405/SR 167 Program’s corridor-wide vision and Master Plan by:

• Building new ramps to Express Toll Lanes (ETLs) to improve travel on highway lanes and provide all travelers with a more reliable, convenient trip. These new ETL ramps will connect people to the continuous 50-mile I-405/SR 167 ETL system that WSDOT is constructing along the corridor;
• Adding a Sound Transit Stride bus rapid transit (BRT) station and providing connections to local transit services. BRT stations add transportation options that can carry a large volume of passengers safely, reliably and affordably. With buses running as often as every 10 min., this new station will connect to Link light rail at Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tukwila, and other transit services provided by Sound Transit, Community Transit and King County Metro;
• Involving and engaging with community members, businesses and partners in the decision-making and design process. WSDOT, Sound Transit the city of Kirkland and King County Metro conducted regular community, business and partner outreach to learn about community priorities for the project design. The project team will continue to keep everyone updated as construction progresses;
• Increasing livability for communities along the corridor. This project will make transit more accessible and improve mobility along the I-405 corridor and throughout the region. This project also supports the city of Kirkland’s 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Program, working to make the community safer, healthier, and more vibrant.
  

  The I-405, Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Sound Transit Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project