WSDOT tries to improve I-90 closure just in time for big Mariners crowds
Apr 16, 2015, 5:23 AM | Updated: Apr 18, 2015, 6:54 am
WSDOT says if you want to get your King Felix bobblehead Saturday night, leave yourself plenty of time get across Lake Washington. (WSDOT image)
(WSDOT image)
A beautiful, sunny weekend in Seattle with so many springtime events – seems like the perfect time to close the westbound lanes of I-90 between Mercer Island and the city.
The state is once again closing the lanes to spend the weekend working inside the Mercer tunnel and the Mount Baker Tunnel. Drivers will be forced to squeeze into the Express Lanes to get across Lake Washington.
This is the second, full westbound closure. The first created a nightmare for people trying to get to Mercer Island. Because there was only one exit to the island during the closure, drivers were swerving through barrels and the construction zone trying to get where they needed to go.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is trying to prevent similar issues this weekend with better signs and directions.
“As you’re going across the East Channel Bridge, you’re going to have two lanes,” said Annie Johnson with WSDOT. “The right lane is going to be Mercer Island. The left lane to Seattle. People heading from Bellevue Way to the Island are also going to be able to take that Bellevue Way general purpose ramp, stay in that lane and exit straight to East Mercer.”
The other major difference between this weekend and the last closure is a full Mariners home schedule. Saturday night is King Felix Bobblehead night – expected to draw big crowds.
“If you want to get your bobblehead, leave yourself plenty of time get across the lake,” Johnson said. “There’s also a Sunday afternoon Mariners game and a Snoop Dogg concert at 8 p.m. Sunday at the WaMu Theater.”
Drivers should prepare for long backups on I-405 approaching I-90 and getting from I-405 across Mercer Island.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel for drivers.
“After this weekend, we have two more (closures) scheduled,” Johnson said. “After that, our contractor will take a break from the weekend closures for the summer. They’ll still be working, but they won’t have any of these weekend directional closures until the fall.”
Just in time for Seahawks season.
The next two closures are currently scheduled for May 1-4 eastbound and May 15-18 westbound. In total, there are 30 closures scheduled over the next two years as the state adds HOV lanes to the outer lanes on the I-90 bridge.
Sound Transit will then take over the Express Lanes and begin building light rail across the lake.
