Removal of the Wilburton Tunnel will close southbound Interstate 405 in south Bellevue for three August weekends while giant hydraulic excavators crunch away at the 36-year old Wilburton Tunnel.

Crews will close southbound I-405 completely from Southeast 8th Street to I-90 from:

– 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 8 to 5 a.m., Monday Aug. 11

– 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15 to 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 18

– 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22 to 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25

Several ramps along I-405 will also be closed during the tunnel closure (same dates and times as above).

Removal of the Wilburton Tunnel, south of downtown Bellevue on southbound I-405 just north of I-90, is part of WSDOT’s I-405, South Bellevue Widening Project, designed to help relieve congestion on one of the region’s busiest stretches of highway. The tunnel must go to make room for two new lanes of roadway.

For more information, including detour maps, or to sign up for e-mail updates, see www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i405/112thAvetoSE8th.