September 17, 2015

Toll lanes on I-405 set to open Sept. 27

On Friday night crews could start laying down double stripes for new express toll lanes on Interstate 405 that are expected to open Sept. 27.

WSDOT is creating a 17-mile toll corridor from Bellevue to Lynnwood. There will be two toll lanes in each direction between Bellevue and Woodinville, and one toll lane in each direction between Woodinville and Lynnwood.

Flatiron earlier this year finished widening I-405 between Bellevue and Lynnwood to accommodate the toll lanes under a $155.5 million design-build contract. The new lanes are being combined with existing HOV lanes between Bellevue and Woodinville to create two toll lanes in each direction.

Specialized Pavement Marking, a Flatiron subcontractor, will paint northbound stripes on Friday and Saturday nights, and southbound stripes on Sunday and Monday nights. The 300,000 linear feet of striping will need good weather to dry.

WSDOT is installing about 150 signs in the corridor to show entry and exit points for the toll lanes, what the current toll is and other information.

The toll lanes will have limited access points, and driving over the double white lines could result in a $136 ticket.

Tolls are expected to range from 75 cents to $4, with an upper limit of $10. Carpools of three or more equipped with a Flex Pass transponder can use the lanes for free.

An animated video of what a trip on the new system will look like can be found at GoodToGo405.org.

The project is the first phase of a 40-mile express toll corridor that will run from Auburn to Lynnwood on Highway 167 and I-405. Most of that corridor is expected to open in late 2023 or early 2024.