Gov. Gregoire opens SR 202 doubling traffic capacity

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2008

REDMOND � Gov. Chris Gregoire joined commuters, construction workers and local officials today in celebrating the completion of the state Route 202 widening project that stretches three miles, from SR 520 to Sahalee Way.

These improvements that double the capacity of SR 202 and add the flyover ramp to SR 520 will provide much-needed congestion relief and keep up with a growing population in east King County.

�The project is a huge improvement, not only in terms of congestion relief, but also in terms of safety,� Gregoire said. �This successful project was completed one year early and will significantly reduce the commute so workers from the Sammamish Plateau can get back to their families sooner and safer.�

While reducing congestion and fixing multiple intersections, the project also addressed an environmental challenge by creating one of the largest wetlands in state history. A 13-acre former dump site was converted to an area for fish and wildlife.

�We�ve received a lot of great feedback from drivers who are thrilled with how this project turned out,� Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said. �Some of the e-mails are from commuters who say they are shaving as much as 20 minutes from their morning trip.�

The SR 202 project is part of a corridor plan designed to keep traffic moving in east King County. Earlier this year, the Washington State Department of Transportation opened a new fly-over ramp that stretches from SR 202 to westbound SR 520. The new ramp is carrying 15 to 20 percent more traffic during the morning commute.

With the elimination of the two left turn lanes onto SR 520, vehicles can navigate more smoothly, which reduces collisions. In a few weeks, WSDOT will break ground on the plan�s next phase: widening SR 520 from West Lake Sammamish Parkway to SR 202. The work is expected to improve the evening commute in much the same way as improvements celebrated today make to the morning commute.

As of July 31, WSDOT has successfully completed 165 of the 391 projects funded by the 2003 Nickel Package and 2005 Transportation Partnership. Another 66 projects around the state are under construction, with 43 more on the way in the next six months.

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