This weekend, Interstate 90 detours return again with an eastbound closure, allowing the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to undertake light rail preparations inside the Mt Baker and Mercer Island tunnels.

Starting at 11 p.m. on Friday, WSDOT will funnel eastbound traffic from Seattle to the center express lanes for construction purposes. The closure will end by 5 a.m. Monday. Go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/TwoWayTransit/weekendclosures for other scheduled closures.

Islanders can exit the eastbound express lanes at Island Crest Way or 77th Avenue Southeast. Drivers wishing to reach Bellevue from Mercer Island can enter the mainline eastbound I-90 roadway at Island Crest Way or East Mercer Way.

Four weekend-long lane reductions across Lake Washington, including the one this weekend, remain before the scheduled June changes.

Following the completion of remaining work and coordination, WSDOT and Sound Transit are scheduled to open a new HOV lane in each direction of I-90 between Mercer Island and Seattle in early June and permanently close the express lanes, allowing Sound Transit to start construction of the East Link light rail extension.

“We are in the home stretch for these directional closures,” said WSDOT Project Engineer Aleta Borschowa. “We appreciate the patience from travelers during the past two years and are excited to wrap up work and open the new HOV lanes.”

Other upcoming weekend lane reductions are: April 21–24 (westbound), May 5–8 (westbound) and May 12–15 (eastbound).