Paving project snarls I-405 northbound into Bellevue

A repaving project on Interstate 405 caused traffic jams in the northbound lanes Saturday, and things could be worse Sunday.

Even at 10:30 p.m. , the backup stretched more than one mile approaching the Eastside city of Newcastle, between Bellevue and Renton, after delays lasted up to one hour in the afternoon. At the narrowest point, traffic cameras show cars traveling in just one lane.

The state Department of Transportation is installing an experimental "quiet asphalt" mix in south Bellevue, as a small part of a $124 million freeway widening project.

At two earlier test sites on Interstate 5 in Lynnwood and Highway 520 near Bellevue, the new pavement worked well at first, but didn't withstand punishment from winter freezing and studded tires, so it became as loud as other pavement.

Sunday morning, the I-90 Express Lanes will close for the Danskin Triathlon until 10:30 a.m. Then, a Seattle Mariners baseball game against the New York Yankees, at 1:10 p.m., will increase afternoon traffic.

Ramps from northbound I-405 to both directions of I-90 will be closed all day, until 5 a.m. Monday, forcing drivers to detour through downtown Bellevue. Meanwhile in Seattle, the I-5 Express Lanes will point northbound all day to reduce the pressure on northbound I-405 — but that means more congestion for southbound drivers entering Seattle.

"Today was tough for drivers," said Lorena Eng, DOT regional administrator. "Tomorrow (Sunday) will be tougher. We're counting on drivers to use alternate routes tomorrow to get where they want to go."

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com