Here’s a press release from WSDOT on the 520 project in Redmond. This is a great thing, as is the inclusion of the 36th street bridge over 520 in Redmond, adding another crossing and exit off the freeway, further reducing traffic congestion in Redmond.
REDMOND — Relief is in sight for commuters stuck in daily congestion on SR 520 in Redmond. WSDOT has awarded PCL Construction Services, Inc., a contract to widen SR 520 between SR 202 and West Lake Samamish Parkway.
During the next two years, this $37.7 million contract will employ approximately 370 workers.
Crews will add a merge lane and a carpool lane to SR 520, widening the highway from two lanes to four in each direction.
Traffic engineers estimate this will reduce peak morning commute times by 60 percent and reduce peak evening commute times by 75 percent. When this project is complete, carpools, vanpools and transit will enjoy a seamless HOV lane between the east end of the SR 520 floating bridge and SR 202.
This work is the final piece of the puzzle for improvements along the SR 202 / SR 520 corridor, which began in 2004.
WSDOT already has made major improvements in this area of King County. Last September, crews finished widening three miles of SR 202 from SR 520 to Sahalee Way in rural King County. Crews also completed a flyover ramp in February 2008 that eliminated the left turn for drivers going from SR 202 to SR 520.
Construction on the SR 520 widening is expected to begin in April and should be wrapped up in late 2011. For more information about this project, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520/WLakeSamPk_SR202/.
This post makes it sound like the 31st/36th street overpass project adds an exit from SR520. From what I’ve been able to see from the information on the City of Redmond website this is not the case. The overpass provides much needed connections between 148th Ave NE and the Overlake Village area. I like all aspects of the project but I don’t believe a freeway exit in this area is wise unless it is integral with a Link light rail station and replaces an exit at 148th. The current plans for the Overlake Village Link station which have at grade tracks on the south side of NE 20th St and a left turn across traffic at 152nd Ave NE are in my opinion a disaster.