Drivers who use two northbound Interstate 405 on-ramps in north Renton will soon have more room on those ramps, helping relieve backups on city streets. A Washington State Department of Transportation project to improve the Northeast 30th and Northeast 44th streets on-ramps starts Sunday, Nov. 6.
Contractor crews from Graham Contracting Ltd. will widen each of the on-ramps. When the $1.1 million project is complete:
A lane will be added to the Northeast 30th Street on-ramp, creating two general purpose lanes and a bus-only lane. Crews will add a new retaining wall and improve drainage.
The Northeast 44th Street on-ramp will be restriped to create a regular lane and a new peak-use lane on the ramp shoulder, available during posted hours. In addition, the ramp meter will be moved closer to I-405. This will allow more traffic to line up on the ramp, reducing backups on Northeast 44th Street.
“More drivers using these ramps and they’re backing up onto the city streets,” WSDOT Project Engineer Mike Askarian said in a press release. “Adding room on the ramps will help drivers reach their destinations by easing congestion and improving traffic flow on city streets.”
During construction, drivers should be prepared for lane and ramp closures.
• At least one of the ramps will remain open at all times.
• Traffic shifts or shoulder closures are allowed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
• Single lane or shoulder closures are allowed 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Sundays through Thursdays, and from 7 p.m. Saturdays to 8 a.m. Sundays.
• Ramp closures are allowed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Sundays through Thursdays, and from 9 p.m. Saturdays to 8 a.m. Sundays. Ramp closure notices will be posted five days in advance.
The ramp improvement project will be complete in February 2017.
