New ramps and I-405 interchange opening soon at Northeast 132nd Street in Kirkland

KIRKLAND - Relief is coming for drivers who regularly experience delays accessing Interstate 405 in Kirkland's Totem Lake area.

Weather permitting, crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will open the new Northeast 132nd Street on-ramp to northbound I-405 and southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 132nd Street on Monday, April 29.

The opening day may change as several construction activities including restriping the roadway require dry weather. If the contractor encounters a weather delay, work activities will move to the next available dry weather day.

The new interchange improvements, part of the I-405/NE 132nd Street Interchange project, complement the existing similar half-diamond interchange to the south at Northeast 116th Street. Improvements include:

• Reduce pressure on the heavily congested neighboring interchanges at Northeast 124th Street and Northeast 160th Street
• Roundabouts at two intersections and improves pedestrian and bicycle connections in the area
• Improved drainage, water quality and fish barrier correction to create over a half mile of new upstream fish habitat

"The planning for this project included a strong partnership with the city of Kirkland to bring new and improved access to its growing urban center, Totem Lake," said I-405/SR 167 Program Administrator Lisa Hodgson. "The Northeast 132nd interchange is another I-405 project funded by the state's Connecting Washington package and another project delivered from the I-405 Master Plan."

The project is expected to finish later this year.

The latest road closure information will be posted on the project website throughout the project duration.