The state transportation department is a step closer to opening new Interstate 405 lanes that will help relieve one of the worst bottlenecks along the I-405 corridor, the drive from Renton to Tukwila.

Northbound traffic begins shifting onto a new I-405 bridge over Oakesdale Avenue Southwest on Saturday night. The work requires lane closures on northbound I-405 between the West Valley Highway and State Route 167 as crews pave and paint lane stripes. Two lanes close at 10 p.m. Crews plan to have two lanes open by 3 a.m. and reopen all lanes by 2 p.m.

Drivers using northbound I-405 to go to Renton River Days should plan a little extra time for their trip on Sunday afternoon.

“Shifting northbound traffic onto the bridge represents a major project delivery milestone,” said Stacy Trussler, I-405 deputy project director for the Washington state Department of Transportation. “The Renton Stage 1 Project directly addresses congestion relief, which is a key commitment in our Moving Washington strategic plan. I-405 carries 143,000 people a day through the Renton and Tukwila area. It’s critical to our economy and keeping traffic moving.”

This fall, a new lane opens in both directions on I-405 between I-5 and SR 167, along with a new lane on southbound SR 167 between I-405 and Southwest 41st Street.

Crews also began construction on I-405 between SR 167 and SR 169 on Monday as part of the I-405, I-5 to SR 169 Stage 2 – Widening and SR 515 Interchange Project. Crews will build a new lane on I-405 between SR 167 and SR 169, a new on-ramp from Talbot Road to northbound I-405, an off-ramp from southbound I-405 to Talbot Road and reconstruct the Benson Road bridge over I-405.

Here’s information about the I-405 project between Interstate 5 and State Route 169.