.gif)
Interstate 605 (Washington)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 605 is the common designation given to several proposals for a new auxiliary route
of the Interstate Highway System
bypassing Interstate 5
(I-5) and I-405
in the US state of Washington. Proposals have been heard from since the 1960s, including highway
s connecting from I-5 all the way to the Canadian-American border, and some just between I-5 and I-90. The Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) has no projects designated I-605 at this time. However a project to convert State Route 18 (SR 18) to a limited-access freeway is under construction currently.
. Residents however forced the highway to the east banks of the lake after voicing their concerns. Residents on the east side of the lake voiced similar concerns and the plan was later dropped.
In 1998, the Washington State Legislature
ordered a $500,000 study to investigate the benefits of extending Washington State Route 18 north to Everett through the Snoqualmie Valley
. The plan was dropped as the study found that on average only five minutes would be saved over current routes. In 2002, Bellevue Square
owner Kemper Freeman Jr. made his support known for a new freeway linking Snohomish County
via the Snoqualmie Valley.
Another $500,000 study was ordered in 2003 by the legislature, creating a new commerce corridor to link Lewis County in the south to the Canadian – American border in the north. However the study showed that a highway existing north of Interstate 90 was not economically feasible. The study proposed a toll road
only for trucks, since the presence of passenger cars would discourage truck drivers from using the new alternate route. The highway was estimated to cost between $13.5 and $19 billion.
area. WSDOT however is widening Washington State Route 18 (SR 18) between I-5 and I-90, with only the segment between the Issaquah Hobart Road and I-90 yet to be completed, creating a full limited access freeway between I-5 and I-90, southeast of Interstate 405
. While SR 18 has been a part of some I-605 proposals, it does not allow drivers to bypass the Greater Seattle area.
Auxiliary route
In road transportation, a special route is a prefixed and/or suffixed numbered road that forms a loop or spur of a more dominant route of the same route number and system. The dominant route is generally referred to as the "parent" or "mainline", while special routes are also unofficially or...
of the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
bypassing Interstate 5
Interstate 5 in Washington
Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
(I-5) and I-405
Interstate 405 (Washington)
Interstate 405 in Washington is a stretch of freeway that bypasses Seattle east of Lake Washington. The northern terminus is in Lynnwood and the southern terminus is in Tukwila...
in the US state of Washington. Proposals have been heard from since the 1960s, including highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s connecting from I-5 all the way to the Canadian-American border, and some just between I-5 and I-90. The Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) has no projects designated I-605 at this time. However a project to convert State Route 18 (SR 18) to a limited-access freeway is under construction currently.
Proposals
Some of the first plans for a new Interstate Highway freeway, bypassing I-405, surfaced in 1968. The first proposal was to create a new highway between I-405 and the west banks of Lake SammamishLake Sammamish
Lake Sammamish is a freshwater lake east of Seattle in King County, Washington, United States. The lake is long and wide, with a maximum depth of and a surface area of . It lies east of Lake Washington and west of the Sammamish Plateau, and stretches from Issaquah in the south to Redmond in...
. Residents however forced the highway to the east banks of the lake after voicing their concerns. Residents on the east side of the lake voiced similar concerns and the plan was later dropped.
In 1998, the Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
ordered a $500,000 study to investigate the benefits of extending Washington State Route 18 north to Everett through the Snoqualmie Valley
Snoqualmie Valley
The Snoqualmie Valley is a farming and timber-producing region located along the Snoqualmie River in Western Washington, United States. The valley stretches from the confluence of the three forks of the river at North Bend to the confluence of the Snoqualmie River and the Skykomish River, forming...
. The plan was dropped as the study found that on average only five minutes would be saved over current routes. In 2002, Bellevue Square
Bellevue Square
Bellevue Square is a shopping center in Bellevue, eight miles east of Seattle. The mall has 180 retail stores, including anchors JCPenney, Macy's, and Nordstrom, specialty stores like LEGO, Tiffany and Co. the Apple Store, Armani Exchange and Williams-Sonoma, Lacoste, and restaurants like P.F....
owner Kemper Freeman Jr. made his support known for a new freeway linking Snohomish County
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
via the Snoqualmie Valley.
Another $500,000 study was ordered in 2003 by the legislature, creating a new commerce corridor to link Lewis County in the south to the Canadian – American border in the north. However the study showed that a highway existing north of Interstate 90 was not economically feasible. The study proposed a toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
only for trucks, since the presence of passenger cars would discourage truck drivers from using the new alternate route. The highway was estimated to cost between $13.5 and $19 billion.
Related projects
WSDOT, as of 2006, has no plans to construct any new freeways in the Puget SoundPuget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
area. WSDOT however is widening Washington State Route 18 (SR 18) between I-5 and I-90, with only the segment between the Issaquah Hobart Road and I-90 yet to be completed, creating a full limited access freeway between I-5 and I-90, southeast of Interstate 405
Interstate 405
Interstate 405 may refer to:* Interstate 405 , a bypass of Los Angeles, California* Interstate 405 , a loop in Portland, Oregon* Interstate 405 , a bypass of Seattle, Washington...
. While SR 18 has been a part of some I-605 proposals, it does not allow drivers to bypass the Greater Seattle area.