Early tomorrow morning, the SR 525 on-ramp to southbound I-5 will be reduced from two lanes to one lane. The closure will last a year.
It’s part of a WSDOT project to build “braided ramps” that will separate traffic merging from I-405 and SR 525 to southbound I-5 from traffic exiting to 196th Street SW. The closure will give crews a safe work space with room to build the new ramps. They’ll also shift the southbound I-5 lanes toward the median and narrow the lanes to 11 feet.
The new braided ramps will eliminate the lane-weaving that can lead to congestion and collisions.
WSDOT says drivers should plan to leave early or choose an alternate route if they’ll be traveling through the area. They expect heavy congestion during the first few weeks as drivers adjust to the change and find alternate routes.
Carpools can use nearby on-ramps with HOV-bypass lanes at 164th Street SW, 196th Street SW and 44th Avenue West to access southbound I-5.
The entire project is expected to be completed in December 2011.
Disclosure: Lynnwood Today editor Mike Murphy is an employee of WSDOT.
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