Mayor Grant Degginger greets Gov. Chris Gregoire, in town Monday to announce that $30 million in federal stimulus funding will go to a project that will make Interstate 405 safer and less congested in Bellevue.

The state Department of Transportation's "Braided Ramps" project, intended to make it easier for motorists to safely enter and exit northbound I-405 between Northeast Eighth Street and State Route 520, is near the top of a list of dozens of projects targeted for funding statewide, part of Gov. Gregoire's Washington Jobs Now program.

In addition to Gov. Gregoire, others at the news conference Monday included U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, County Executive Ron Sims and mayors from cities up and down the I-405 and SR 167 corridors. The news conference was at Group Health Cooperative's new building, where an overpass will carry traffic on Northeast 10th Street across I-405. 

Mayor Degginger said that while Bellevue has not escaped the impact of the recession, it's important to look forward, make crucial infrastructure investments now and create jobs. He touted the city's entrepreneurial spirit and strong economic base. 

Mayor Degginger's speech   Sen. Murray's speech   Gov. Gregoire's speech

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