Brace yourself, Bothell and Woodinville drivers – your weekend commutes are about to get a whole lot more frustrating. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has announced a series of weekend closures on I-405 and SR-522 through mid-March, and it’s all part of the ongoing I-405 widening project. But here’s where it gets tricky: these closures aren’t just minor inconveniences – they’re full-lane shutdowns that will significantly impact traffic flow. And this is the part most people miss: the detour routes WSDOT will provide simply can’t handle the usual volume of these busy highways, meaning delays are almost guaranteed.
This weekend marks the beginning of the chaos, with all westbound lanes of SR-522 closing at the I-405 interchange in Bothell. This is just the first in a series of closures aimed at dismantling the flyover ramps that once directed northbound I-405 traffic onto SR-522. Why? To clear the way for widening I-405, a critical step in resuming construction on the I-405/Brickyard to SR-527 Improvement Project. It’s a necessary step, but one that’s sure to test drivers’ patience.
Here’s the closure schedule you need to know:
- February 20-21: All westbound SR-522 lanes at the I-405 Interchange will close from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. Crews will begin lane closures as early as 8 p.m. to remove the first section of the ramp over SR-522.
- February 27-March 2: Both eastbound and westbound SR-522 lanes at the I-405 Interchange will close from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday. This closure, starting as early as 9 p.m., will allow for the removal of the remaining ramp portion over SR-522.
- March 6-9 (tentative): All northbound and southbound I-405 lanes in Bothell will close from Friday night to Monday morning to dismantle parts of the ramps over the mainline highway. Exact times will be announced later.
- March 13-16 (tentative): Another full closure of northbound and southbound I-405 lanes in Bothell is scheduled for Friday night to Monday morning to remove the final ramp sections. Again, specific times are pending.
“We need to take those ramps down with a series of weekend closures so that we can do it safely,” explained Lauren Penning, a WSDOT spokesperson. “We understand the impact this will have on drivers, so we’re exploring ways to reopen the roads sooner if possible. But dismantling these structures is a time-consuming process.”
Controversially, some drivers are already questioning whether these closures are truly necessary or if there’s a less disruptive way to achieve the same goals. What do you think? Is this the best approach, or should WSDOT reconsider its strategy? Let us know in the comments.
In the meantime, plan ahead and expect delays. Detour routes will be clearly marked, but remember: they’re not designed to handle the usual traffic volume. For context, WSDOT shared typical weekend traffic numbers with KOMO News:
Saturdays:
- I-405: 170,000 daily trips
- SR-522 (east of I-405): 87,000 daily trips
Sundays:
- I-405: 150,000 daily trips
- SR-522 (east of I-405): 72,000 daily trips
So, while these closures are a headache, they’re a crucial step toward improving the region’s infrastructure. But the question remains: at what cost to drivers’ sanity? Share your thoughts below – we’d love to hear how you’re preparing for the upcoming traffic turmoil.
