Westbound on-ramp to SR 520 in Redmond to close for four months

The on-ramp to westbound State Route 520 from Redmond Way in Redmond will be closed for four months starting April 15 to make room for a future light rail line that will run at ground level beneath the on-ramp.

Sound Transit crews made the necessary adjustments to the eastbound off-ramp onto Redmond Way in June of last year, but were able to avoid an extended closure of that off-ramp by shifting traffic onto a temporary off-ramp. Sound Transit says that solution is not an option for the westbound on-ramp.

“Unlike the eastbound SR 520 off-ramp, crews do not have enough room to have both a temporary on-ramp and build the new on-ramp at the same time,” the department said in a news release. “So, project staff determined that the most viable way to perform this work is to close the westbound on-ramp for approximately four months.”

The closure of the westbound on-ramp could have large implications for drivers.

In 2016, Sound Transit estimated roughly 80,00 vehicles per day travel along State Route 520 near its interchange with Redmond Way. Sound Transit said drivers can expect delays in the area, and should plan ahead before leaving their homes.

There will be three detour routes.

The first will direct drivers off Redmond Way and onto 170th Avenue. From there, they’ll be directed to Bear Creek Parkway and will eventually arrive at Leary Way Northeast, where they’ll be able to access the highway.

The second will direct drivers from Northeast 76th Street onto 180th Avenue Northeast. Afterward, they’ll turn up onto Northeast 70th street and onto Redmond Way, where they will be able to access State Route 520 from the westbound on-ramp to the east of the highway.

The third will take drivers off Northeast 76th Street — just before the second detour route onto 180th Avenue Northeast — and onto 185th Avenue Northeast. From there, they’ll take a left onto Northeast Union Hill Road, which eventually links up with the highway.

The lite rail line being built near the interchange is part of a larger extension that will add four new rail stations to Redmond by 2024.