SEATTLE — New ramps allowing direct access between the Montlake neighborhood and the state Route 520 bridge opened Monday morning, along with a brand new intersection.
A new four-way stop and the HOV ramps between westbound SR 520 and the Montlake neighborhood opened at 5 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) believes the new lanes and intersection will help with congestion in the area.
Over 74,000 vehicles a day come over westbound 520, and 30% of those drivers use Montlake Boulevard, according to WSDOT spokesperson Steve Peer.
"Big day for them," Peer said.
Peer said buses and single drivers can expect to see improvement with traffic congestion.
"Any time we can have an HOV lane that takes buses and three-plus carpoolers out of the general use lanes, it really really helps," he said. "This will have a ripple effect in the Montlake neighborhood because there are new lanes going to and from these facilities, so it will open up traffic in many ways around the area."
Peer said it typically takes drivers days to weeks to get used to new traffic configurations. A police officer will be at the intersection for the first few days helping to direct traffic.
The HOV lanes and the new intersection are part of a multi-year project to improve transportation for cars, pedestrians and bicyclists along the Montlake-SR 520 corridor. The work is also making the bridge more earthquake-safe.
The project is expected to be completed sometime in 2024. WSDOT began the work on the Montlake/SR 520 project in 2018.