CHOKEPOINTS

Changes coming to I-405’s express toll lane system

Jan 21, 2016, 10:39 PM | Updated: May 7, 2016, 10:40 pm

Ever since the express toll lanes opened on I-405 in September 2015, the reviews have been mixed. Depending on who you ask, the lanes are either a plague or a pleasure. The Washington State Department of Transportation says, “we’ve been listening to suggestions for how we can improve the system.”

Now some of those suggestions are being acted on:

• Crews will be pulling back 425 feet of striping to allow additional room and time for drivers to exit the express toll lanes and merge over to I-5.

Related: Senator ups the ante on tackling Washington’s left lane campers

• “Exit Only” wording will be added to the pavement on the southbound express toll lanes at Northeast 6th Street in Bellevue to alert solo drivers that they need to merge to the right lane to continue south on I-405.

• Exit and enter points on I-405 between NE 195th Street and SR 527 are getting bigger. Crews will extend the access points by 400 feet to give drivers additional time to merge in and out of the system.

These adjustments are scheduled to begin as early as Thursday, Jan. 21, however some of the work is weather dependent.

Tell us about what slows you down every day

Chokepoints

chains...

Nate Connors

No snow, but chains required: WSP checks trucks on Snoqualmie Pass

WSP is conducting a chains emphasis patrol over Snoqualmie Pass on Tuesday and Wednesday.

2 days ago

I-5 Express Lanes remain northbound...

Chris Sullivan

I-5 express lanes reopen southbound after delays caused by signals issue

Even though Revive I-5 finished-up Sunday night and all lanes of northbound I-5 across the Ship Canal Bridge opened earlier than expected, the express lanes did not return to normal.

2 days ago

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (4)...

Nate Connors

WSDOT completes Tacoma Narrows Bridge repairs one week early

Pierce County commuters were handed some good news when WSDOT announced that it had completed repairs on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

5 days ago

Photo: Port Townsend/Coupeville ferry routes have been canceled....

Nate Connors

Mukilteo/Clinton ferry service to end early again for repairs

Mukilteo/Clinton ferry service will end early again Friday night as crews finish emergency repairs at the Mukilteo terminal.

5 days ago

wsdot vehicle fire...

MyNorthwest Staff

Semitruck carrying bananas catches fire, blocks lanes on southbound I-5 in Tacoma

A massive commercial vehicle fire is blocking lanes on southbound I-5 in Tacoma.

5 days ago

SR 167 crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

1 killed, 1 in custody after crash on SR 167 in Auburn

Southbound SR 167 is blocked in Auburn after a deadly three-car crash, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson.

5 days ago

Changes coming to I-405’s express toll lane system