Join online for the quarterly project update meeting to learn more about the upcoming construction work, ask questions, and find out how to stay informed. The project team will hold this meeting via Zoom from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27. Register here: bit.ly/4cvC9Cc
Project overview
WSDOT, Sound Transit, and design-build contractor Graham Contracting, Ltd. 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 will also 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 – no matter how they get around.
What to expect
Upcoming new traffic alignment and nighttime lane closure on Northeast 85th Street for major construction work starting as early as June 14, 2025
As part of ongoing construction activities, Northeast 85th Street between Kirkland Way/114th Avenue Northeast and 120th Avenue Northeast will implement a new traffic alignment and nighttime lane closure starting as early as June 14, 2025. This will ensure the safety of crews and the traveling public while I-405 traffic is shifted to the direct access level. The lane shifts are not anticipated to affect the I-405 on and off ramps.
Residents and businesses near the project area may also continue to experience noise, dust, and vibration from construction work and equipment while crews complete work during these lane shifts.
Join online for the quarterly project update meeting on May 27 to learn more
At the meeting, there will be an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming construction work, ask questions, and find out how to stay informed. The project team will hold this meeting via Zoom from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27.
Register here: https://bit.ly/4cvC9Cc
Not able to make it? WSDOT will post a recording to the project webpage within one week after the meeting. Please feel free to register for the meeting even if you can’t attend, and we will email you the recording when it’s available.
Upcoming I-405 ramp and lane closures
Highway lane closures:
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Saturday, May 31: The right lane of northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 and milepost 20.0 nightly, from 9:30 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Thursday, May 29: Two Express Toll Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 and milepost 17.0 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
- Thursday, May 29 to the morning of Saturday, May 31: The right lane of southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 and milepost 17.0 nightly, from 8:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
Highway ramp closures:
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Friday, May 30: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed nightly, from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
- Thursday, May 29 to the morning of Saturday, May 31: The Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to southbound I-405 will be closed nightly, from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
- Friday, May 30 to the morning of Monday, June 2: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Local street closures:
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Saturday, May 31: The eastbound lanes of Northeast 85th Street from the southbound on-ramp to the northbound off-ramp will be closed nightly, from 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Saturday, May 31: The westbound lanes of Northeast 85th Street from the northbound on-ramp to the southbound off-ramp will be closed nightly, from 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
Upcoming nightwork
Week of May 25 – May 31
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Saturday, May 31 nightly, from 9:30 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: The right lane of northbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 17.0 and milepost 20.0 for sign bridge prep and barrier work.
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Thursday, May 29 from 8:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: Two Express Toll Lanes (ETLs) on southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 and milepost 17.0 for lighting maintenance and material export work.
- Thursday, May 29 to the morning of Saturday, May 31 from 8:00 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: The right lane of southbound I-405 will be closed between milepost 20.0 and milepost 17.0 nightly for electrical and barrier work.
- Tuesday, May 27 to the morning of Friday, May 30 nightly from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be closed nightly for drainage and barrier installation.
- Thursday, May 29 to the morning of Saturday, May 31 nightly, from 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.: The Northeast 85th Street on-ramp to southbound I-405 will be closed for noise wall demolition work.
- Friday, May 30 to the morning of Monday, June 2 from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.: The southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street will be for drainage installation.
- Tuesday, May 27 to Saturday, May 31, nightly 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.: The westbound and eastbound lanes of Northeast 85th Street from the northbound on-ramp to the southbound off-ramp will be closed nightly for stripping deck soffits and grading work.
The project will replace the existing two-level interchange at Northeast 85th Street with a three-level interchange and construct local improvements along Northeast 85th Street and its intersection with 114th Avenue Northeast/Kirkland Way.
