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The right through lane of I-405 South in Renton has recently been marked as “Exit Only,” meaning all drivers headed to Tukwila and I-5 must merge into the passing lane. (The far left lane is an HOV lane not open to single occupancy vehicles, and the right lane in this picture is an exit.).
Since it’s completion in 1971, I-405 has always had at least two “through” lanes in Renton: the “right lane” or “slow lane” on the right, and the “passing lane” on the left. Safety shoulders and an HOV lane were added later, but motorists have always had at least two through lanes.
Until this month, when a new sign appeared that sends all through traffic into the passing lane on I-405 South through Renton. The right “through” lane is now clearly marked by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as an “Exit Only” lane, meaning drivers in this lane are required (by law) to take the exit. But are they in this case? Strangely, the roadbed remains unchanged, and the right lane continues on the freeway mainline as it always has. So are drivers who are heading to I-5, southcenter and the airport really required to merge into the passing lane, or was this just a goof up by the DOT? Unfortunately, the answer may not really matter as much as the fact that drivers are processing this question while they are supposed to be paying close attention to the cars around them, not trying to interpret a new sign that makes little sense.
When about half of the drivers decide they must move left while the other half see no reason to, we have a recipe for confusion, chaos, accidents and road rage. The consensus in my household is that these two signs probably should have been stacked above the far right exit lane, or at least the “Exit Only” arrow should be pointed at the far right exit lane.
If WSDOT really wants for all through drivers on I-405 to move into the passing lane at this point, they should add a new reader sign explaining why such a change is required. They should also launch a public information campaign. Otherwise, they should fix the sign before it causes an accident.
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