Crews finished demolishing the Wilburton Tunnel over southbound I-405 in Bellevue this past weekend, one week ahead of schedule. All lanes were re-opened on Monday and the third weekend closure is no longer needed.

“A combination of careful planning, hard work, great weather and cooperation from the public gave us the perfect environment to complete this work a week ahead of schedule,” said I-405 Deputy Director Stacy Trussler. “I’d like to thank drivers who planned ahead for the closures and used alternate routes. They were as big a part of making this a success as the operator on the excavator crunching away the tunnel.”

In addition to the tunnel demolition work, crews used the total closure of southbound lanes to repair several sections of I-405 and complete preparation work to connect a new I-405 southbound bridge over I-90. This weekend’s work is part of the South Bellevue Widening Project, funded by the 2003 and 2005 transportation revenue increases.

Across the state, WSDOT has delivered 152 of the 391 projects funded by the revenue increases. In addition to the South Bellevue Widening Project, 70 other projects are under construction, and 33 will start in the next six months.

For more information, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov.