The Department of Licensing office in Kirkland will close permanently at the end of September and merge with the Bellevue office, said Selena Davis, a spokesperson for the Washington State DOL.

The Kirkland office, located at 10639 N.E. 68th St., will consolidate with Bellevue and the department expects to open a new office at the end of September at 13133 N.E. Bel-Red Road in Bellevue.

The lease for the current Bellevue location, at 525 156th Ave. S.E., will run out next month, Davis said.

The new location – about a five-mile drive for Kirkland commuters – will occupy a 12,000 square foot facility in Bellevue, owned by Columbia West Properties. It will offer all DOL services, including enhanced driver licenses.

People worried about longer lines and wait times should rest assured, Davis added. When the department consolidated its Auburn location with Federal Way, Puyallup and Kent, wait times were actually reduced because of the extra staff, she said.

She added that Kirkland employees will be relocated to Bellevue.

The merge is part of the department’s larger effort to consolidate services in 25 statewide locations to meet cost-cutting measures called for by Gov. Chris Gregoire, according to the DOL Web site. The move is expected to save $2 million over two years.

The Bothell DOL, located at 18132 Bothell Way N.E., will also close at the end of September.

For more information, visit www.dol.wa.gov.