Published July 16 2014
Bellevue anticipates major traffic delays at several on-ramps when the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) closes three lanes of westbound Interstate 90, between Bellevue and Mercer Island, beginning Friday, July 18, at 9:30 p.m., until Friday, July 25, at 5 a.m.
The lanes need to be closed while crews replace two aging and deteriorating 92-foot-long bridge expansion joints on the East Channel Bridge.
The lane closures will affect many of Bellevue’s key on-ramps to westbound I-90. WSDOT traffic engineers estimate the best time to travel will be before 6 a.m., between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and after 7 p.m. Engineers also estimate more than half of the 85,000 drivers who use westbound I-90 each day will need to use another route. The I-90 Trail will still be open and both bicyclists and pedestrians will be escorted through the construction work zone.
"Drivers are urged to make alternate plans such as carpooling, vanpooling, telecommuting, using an alternate route, or adjusting their schedule to take advantage of off-peak travel times," said WSDOT Traffic Engineer Mark Bandy, "and, not waiting until Monday morning to plan your commute."
"Bellevue will be monitoring our traffic cameras for areas of congestion and will use our adaptive traffic signal system to address freeway traffic diversions as best we can," said Bellevue's Traffic Engineering Manager Mark Poch.
For more about WSDOT's project, here are links that will provide more details:
- WSDOT news release;
- The I-90 closure survival guide blog for the latest information, tips and updates before and during construction;
- WSDOT traffic control animations; and
- For Bellevue’s construction projects, please refer to @BvueTrans on Twitter. To receive weekly updates about Bellevue's traffic conditions, please refer to the city's Traffic Advisories webpage or Real Time Bellevue Traffic