Progress on Northeast 85th Street and upcoming full closure

By Julie Moon

Since breaking ground in fall 2023, significant progress has been made on the I-405/Northeast 85th Street and Inline BRT Station Project including:

• replacement of a city watermain in Kirkland,
• construction of future Interstate 405 bridge approaches, and
• installation of bridge foundations and columns.

Crews are preparing for a full weekend closure of Northeast 85th Street this November. Crews will set bridge girders up to 156 feet long over Northeast 85th Street for the new southbound I-405 bridge. The bridge girders for the northbound I-405 bridge will be scheduled for installation in 2025.

Bridge girders are concrete beams that support the driving surface and are a main structural component of a bridge. There are 16 bridge girders that will support the future I-405 bridges over Northeast 85th Street. This complex work requires a weekend closure to help keep construction workers and the public safe.

Upcoming full closure details

Northeast 85th Street between Kirkland Way/114th Avenue Northeast and 120th Avenue Northeast will be closed in both directions beginning 11 p.m. Friday, November 15 to 4 a.m. Monday, November 18. Crews will begin reducing lanes as early as 9 p.m. The I-405 on- and off-ramps from Northeast 85th Street will also be closed.

Signed detours will be in place for travelers. The detour maps for the closures can be found by clicking on the links below:

• Northeast 85th Street vehicle detour routes (The linked image shows map of the vehicular detour route during the Northeast 85th Street closure. Eastbound travelers will take Sixth Street Southeast, Northeast 68th Place and 120th Avenue Northeast to continue onto eastbound Northeast 85th Street. Westbound travelers will use 120th Avenue Northeast, Northeast 68th Place, and Sixth Street Southeast to continue onto westbound Northeast 85th Street.
• Northeast 85th Street pedestrian and cyclist detour routes (The linked image shows map of the pedestrian and cyclist route during the Northeast 85th street closure. Eastbound travelers will use the crosswalk at Kirkland Way/114th Avenue Northeast if needed, turn right to go south on the pedestrian path near the southbound I-405 on-ramp, keep left to go south on 116th Avenue Northeast, turn left to go east over the pedestrian bridge, turn left to go east on Northeast 80th Street, and turn left to go north on 120th Avenue Northeast. Westbound travelers will turn left to go south on 120th Avenue Northeast, turn right to go west on Northeast 80th Street, turn right to go over the pedestrian bridge, turn right to go north on 116th Avenue Northeast, keep right to continue north on the pedestrian path near the southbound I-405 on-ramp, and use the crosswalk at Kirkland Way/114th Avenue Northeast if needed.)
• Northeast 85th Street to northbound I-405 on-ramp closure detour routes (The linked image shows map of the detour route for the northbound I-405 on-ramp closure from Northeast 85th Street. Eastbound travelers will take Central Way, Sixth Street South, and use the on-ramp at 116th Avenue Northeast. Westbound travelers will take 124th Avenue Northeast and use the on-ramp at Northeast 124th Street.)
• Northbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street closure detour routes (The linked image shows map of the detour route for the northbound I-405 off-ramp closure from Northeast 85th Street. Northbound I-405 travelers will take Exit 20A and 124th Avenue Northeast to get back onto Northeast 85th Street.)
• Northeast 85th Street to southbound I-405 on-ramp closure detour routes (The linked image shows map of the detour route for the southbound I-405 on-ramp closure from Northeast 85th Street. Southbound I-405 travelers from eastbound Northeast 85th Street will take Sixth Street Southeast, Northeast 68th Place, and use the on-ramp at Northeast 70th Street. Southbound I-405 travelers from westbound Northeast 85th Street will take 120th Avenue Northeast and use the on-ramp at Northeast 70th Street.)
• Southbound I-405 off-ramp to Northeast 85th Street closure detour routes (The linked image shows map of the detour route for the southbound I-405 off-ramp closure from Northeast 85th Street. Southbound I-405 travelers going eastbound Northeast 85th Street will take Exit 17, Northeast 70th Street, and 120th Avenue Northeast to get on Northeast 85th Street. Southbound I-405 travelers going westbound will take Exit 17, Northeast 68th Place, and Sixth Street Southeast to get on Central Way.)

Expect increased congestion and plan for additional travel time during these weekends. Use alternate routes and travel during off-peak hours. Details and updates of the full closure will be posted on the project webpage. The schedule is subject to change due to the nature of construction.

New lane alignment on Northeast 85th Street until spring 2025

Earlier this summer, crews restriped, set up barriers and shifted traffic on Northeast 85th Street to create space for a construction work zone. We expect this lane configuration to be in place until mid-2025.

Looking ahead

The next major construction on the project will include a new lane alignment. In February, drivers will start using the new permanent I-405 bridges over Northeast 85th Street. The new northbound and southbound lanes will be to the outside of the existing lanes. Those older inside lanes will later be demolished. In the future, direct-access and inline BRT stations will be built where the old lanes were. The new bridges will be twice as long as the old bridges. This allows them to span the new middle level roadways and all the general lanes on Northeast 85th Street.

Adjusting to traffic changes takes time, so it's important to stay focused on the road and mindful of the drivers around you. Please ensure your full attention is dedicated to driving to maintain safety for everyone on the road.

Check out the WSDOT real-time travel map for up-to-date information. If you have any questions and/or you would like to sign up for project updates, please email I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov. Stay informed by subscribing to WSDOT updates for King County.