Closures on I-90 prove there’s no such thing as a construction season anymore
Oct 22, 2015, 5:50 AM | Updated: 1:40 pm
The I-90 express lanes between Mercer Island and Seattle were permanently closed Monday. (WSDOT)
(WSDOT)
Drivers will be squeezed into the I-90 express lanes to get across Lake Washington this weekend.
The eastbound lanes of I-90 will be shut-down this weekend. It’s sixth directional closure for the freeway.
Drivers should start noticing some of the results of all this weekend work, according to Travis Phelps, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Transportation.
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“A lot of drivers looked up and noticed we had some gigantic holes now in the ceilings of the I-90 tunnels,” he said. “Some of the work is starting to become more apparent.”
As crews move through the tunnel, they will install 10,000-pound fans. Drivers will also notice the lighting above them is starting to change, crews rewire every light in the I-90 tunnel, Phelps said.
The state is doing this work to prepare for light rail to occupy the current express lanes. There will be another 23 weekend closures, just like this, over the next two years.
But that’s not the only work you’re going to have to navigate. You won’t be able to get to Highway 522 from northbound I-405 either.
“Both exists to 522 will be closed along with 160th,” Phelps explained
And the Montlake Bridge in Seattle will be closed as well. Necessary repairs to the deck are scheduled for the 90-year-old bridge.
Phelps says there is just so much work to do on the roads in the area that there is no such thing as a construction season anymore.
“Typically this time of year, we don’t have a lot of big traffic closures, but because of all the new things we’ll be kicking up some maintenance, plus some repairs to keep people safe,” Phelps said. “We’re hitting it all now and it will be a challenge for some folks.”
The eastbound I-90 closure begins Friday night and will last through Monday morning. The I-405 northbound ramp to 522 will also close Friday night, but it should open on Sunday. The Montlake Bridge closure begins Saturday morning and will continue through Sunday night.
Events this weekend include the Seattle Home Show at CenturyLink Field, and a Seattle Sounders game on Sunday afternoon. Both of those will be impacted by the closure of I-90 as people drive home.
