Drivers crossing Lake Washington, including those headed into Seattle for a Saturday night Kenny Chesney concert and Sunday’s Race for the Cure, should plan ahead to avoid potential congestion this weekend when State Route 520 closes for construction.
The Washington State Department of Transportation will close all lanes and ramps of SR-520 between Montlake Boulevard in Seattle and Interstate 405 in Bellevue starting 11 p.m., Friday, May 31. All lanes and ramps will reopen by 5 a.m., Monday, June 3.
During the closure, crews will shift westbound lanes to the south between 92nd Avenue Northeast and west of 84th Avenue Northeast, and to the north near Evergreen Point Road in Medina. The shift makes room for the next phase of SR-520 widening and leaves room for crews to build a new westbound transit stop in the highway median at Evergreen Point Road. A similar eastbound transit stop is already under construction at that location.
“This summer is a critical construction season for us. We appreciate the patience of runners and concertgoers as we build new lanes, ramps and overpasses for a wider, safer 520,” said Brian Dobbins, construction manager for WSDOT.
SR-520 closure details at a glance
– Both directions of mainline SR-520 and all connected ramps between Montlake Boulevard in Seattle and I-405 in Bellevue will be closed from 11 p.m., Friday, May 31, to 5 a.m., Monday, June 3.
– Two sections of SR-520 will remain open to traffic: I-5 to Montlake Boulevard and areas east of I-405.
– Drivers can use Interstate 90 or alternate routes around Lake Washington.
Closure information and detour maps are online. Night work is planned, so residents near the work zone might hear construction noise.
SR-520 Eastside project overview
Crews working on the Eastside Transit and HOV Project are widening SR-520 to six lanes between Medina and Bellevue, rebuilding interchanges, constructing highway lids and transit stops in the center of the highway and installing fish-friendly culverts.
In 2010, WSDOT awarded a $306 million design-build contract to Eastside Corridor Constructors, a joint venture of Granite Construction Company and PCL Construction Services. The completed Medina-to-Bellevue corridor is scheduled to open to traffic in December 2013.
More information about the SR-520 Eastside project is online at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/MedinaTo202/default.htm.
