More I-90 closures this weekend to add carpool lanes, Mt. Baker tunnel upgrades

WSDOT and Sound Transit will be working to complete the final phase of adding carpool lanes to the outer roadways to make room for light rail construction.

By Reporter Staff • February 26, 2015 6:29 pm

Eastbound I-90 drivers will see delays and detours this weekend, as cars are funneled into the express lanes for a construction project.

Contractor crews for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Sound Transit will begin work on the final stage of a project to add carpool lanes to the outer roadways of I-90 between Bellevue and Seattle. The work also sets the stage for light rail service across I-90.

The state is building bus and carpool lanes next to the regular lanes, a $188 million program, so the express lanes can be given over to Sound Transit light rail construction in 2017. Mercer Island’s light rail station is expected to open in 2023.

This weekend’s work will happen within the Mount Baker Tunnel and the Mercer Island lids. The lane closures will last from 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, according to a WSDOT press release sent Feb. 23.

During the weekend long closure, contractor crews from IMCO General Construction will detour eastbound I-90 traffic into the express lanes while they upgrade operations systems in the eastbound Mount Baker and Mercer Island tunnels. This is the first of up to 30 weekend directional closures of I-90 over the next 28 months. Traffic will be detoured to the I-90 express lanes during the directional closures.

Closure details:

Contractor crews will shift all eastbound I-90 traffic to the express lanes and close the ramp from Rainier Avenue South to eastbound I-90 from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Drivers wishing to access eastbound I-90 from Rainier Avenue South should follow the signed detour via South Dearborn Street and Fourth Avenue South. The exit from eastbound I-90 to Rainier Avenue South will remain open.Those traveling to Mercer Island should exit the express lanes at 77th Avenue S.E. or Island Crest Way.

Tools for drivers:

-Subscribe to WSDOT’s Eastside or Seattle Area News email updates.

-Visit WSDOT’s What’s Happening Now website for a 24-hour highway construction look-ahead.

-Get traveler information on your mobile device and view traffic cameras at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic.

-Find travel alerts at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts.

-Call 511 for traffic updates.

-Tune to highway advisory radio and watch electronic highway signs for information.