Observations from first week without I-90 express lanes
Jun 9, 2017, 1:28 PM | Updated: 2:14 pm
(WSDOT)
(WSDOT)
The first week of life without the I-90 express lanes is behind us.
The most noticeable change for the morning commute in the westbound lanes is that congestion starts about 45 minutes earlier. Westbound delays now begin around 6:45 a.m. They used to start around 7:30 a.m.
Backups now extend from I-405 all the way across Mercer Island to Lake Washington almost daily. Prior to the changes on I-90, it would take an accident to prompt that kind of congestion.
Delays were 13-15 minutes at their peak along I-90 this week. Normally, they range five to 10 minutes.
Drivers also noticed several backups on I-405 approaching I-90 in each direction, which never used to happen without an accident.
The City of Mercer Island reports its residents are delayed about five minutes, on average, from Island Crest Way to Rainier.
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