Paving the way for East Link – prepare for weekend roadwork

During the weekend of Oct. 9 -12, the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit will resume work on I-90 as part of the Two-Way Transit project which is adding carpool lanes to the outer roadways in both of directions of I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue.

During the weekend-long closure, all westbound traffic between Bellevue Way and Rainier Avenue South will be reduced to one lane and detoured into the I-90 express lanes. The majority of the work takes place inside the tunnels and out of the view of drivers. However, there will be a few noticeable changes made following the previous westbound I-90 detours this spring, including two lanes exiting the express lanes in Seattle to help keep traffic moving through the work zone. Mercer Island drivers will continue to exit at East Mercer Way but will now have the option to use East Mercer Way or Island Crest Way to reach the island.

If you’re traveling across Lake Washington, check WSDOT’s Seattle traffic website or call 511 before you head out for the latest traffic information. Also, give yourself extra time to reach your destination. Four more weekend-long directional closures are scheduled to be completed before the end of 2015.

In mid-2017, Sound Transit contractors will begin work on the I-90 express lanes to operate exclusively for light rail as part of the East Link light rail project. The 14-mile East Link project, set to open in 2023, includes 10 new stations connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Overlake.