Interstate 405

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Interstate 405 is an urban loop encircling Seattle along a 30.32 mile long route from Tukwila in King County to Lynwood to Snohomish County. The commuter freeway heads east from I-5 and the freeway along SR 518 into Renton, where it turns north around Lake Washington to Newcastle and Bellevue.

I-405 meets I-90 in Bellevue by Mercer Slough Nature Park. North from there, I-405 passes east of Downtown en route to the freeway along SR 520 to Seattle and Redmond. Continuing north, the loop passes through the city of Kirkland before turning northwest through Bothell to I-5 at SR 525.

Interstate 405 Washington Guides

Seven miles of I-405 were completed by 1966 from Tukwila to May Creek at a cost of $12.623 million.1 Interstate 405 opened entirely with at least two lanes north to Lynwood by the end of 1969.2

Interstate 405 scenes
SE 8th Street at the diamond interchange (Exit 12) with I-405 in the city of Bellevue. Pictured here was an HOV-dedicated turn lane onto I-405 south. Construction associated with the I-405 expansion between Exits 12 and 10 (I-90) added an HOV-lane to the ramp from SE 8th Street east at 118th Avenue SE. 08/31/06
A two lane ramp (one general purpose, one HOV) joins Interstate 405 north from SE 8th Street from under the flyover to 116th Avenue SE north and the Lake Hills Connector east. 08/31/06
Beyond the SE 8th Street ramp to Interstate 405 north is the historic Wilburton Trestle, a railroad bridge dating back to 1904 along a defunct BNSF Railroad line.1 08/31/06
All traffic bound for Interstate 405 south departs SE 8th Street via a single turn lane. The entrance ramp expands to three lanes (two general purpose and one HOV). 08/31/06
Interstate 405 signage posted along 114th Avenue SE between the park and ride lot and SE 8th Street at Exit 12. 08/31/06

Sources:
  1. "Highway Improvements Tallied." The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, WA), September 14, 1966.
  2. "Modern Road Travel is Faster and Safer." The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, WA), May 24, 1969.
  3. Wilburton Trestle.


Photo Credits:

08/31/06 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 5
Interstate 90
State Route 520
State Route 525

Page Updated 07-10-2023.

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