Plan ahead for road closures on Mercer Island

City and Sound Transit crews will close roads for construction work.

December 8, 2017 12:10 pm
Sound Transit crews will close the 80th Avenue off-ramp and a portion of the I-90 East- and Westbound HOV lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 9. Image courtesy of Sound Transit
Sound Transit crews will close the 80th Avenue off-ramp and a portion of the I-90 East- and Westbound HOV lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 9. Image courtesy of Sound Transit

Sound Transit sent a construction alert to Islanders on Dec. 7 as it prepares to start construction on Mercer Island’s East Link light rail station.

This week, crews will continue to pour the station’s sound walls, install communication fiber and move barrier to prepare for future station construction activities. This work will include both short- and long-term daily closures and limited daytime work on Dec. 9.

The work kicked off with a closure of the Island Crest Way Westbound HOV on-ramp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 8, as crews extended the barrier and installed temporary striping. Drivers could use the West Mercer Way and 76th Avenue Southeast westbound on-ramps during this closure.

The city of Mercer Island also scheduled a road project on Dec. 8 due to a favorable weather window. Work on a small but needed paving project on the 8400 block of SE 40th St. took place outside of rush hour, also from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One lane at a time was paved, with flaggers onsite directing traffic through the open lane.

On Dec. 9, Sound Transit’s contractor will continue to install communication fiber to support the future Mercer Island station. To safely complete this work, crews will close the 80th Avenue off-ramp and a portion of the Interstate 90 East- and Westbound HOV lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drivers will be able to use the Island Crest Way and East Mercer Way westbound off-ramps.

Additional I-90 HOV lane closures will occur near the work zone at Island Crest Way and the East Channel Bridge.

Beginning as early as Monday, Dec. 11, the Island Crest Way Eastbound HOV off-ramp will continue to close during daytime, off-peak hours as crews continue to form and pour concrete station walls. This work will prepare for future head house and platform construction. This closure will occur Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is anticipated to last through January 2018. Drivers can use the West Mercer Way and 77th Avenue Southeast eastbound off-ramps during this closure.

For more information, see soundtransit.org/eastlink or call the 24-hour construction hotline at 888-298-2395.

City crews will close one lane of the 8400 block of SE 40th St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 8. Photo courtesy of the city of Mercer Island

City crews will close one lane of the 8400 block of SE 40th St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 8. Photo courtesy of the city of Mercer Island