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Eastbound I-90 reduced to one lane in Seattle Oct. 23-26

Publish Date
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WSDOT and Sound Transit Joint News Release

Drivers on eastbound Interstate 90 across Lake Washington will want to plan ahead for another weekend of road work. 

Beginning at 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit will reduce eastbound I-90 to one lane near Rainier Avenue South. All eastbound traffic will be rerouted to the express lanes until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26. 

Drivers traveling to the eastside of Lake Washington should plan for lengthy delays along Interstate 5, eastbound State Route 520 and eastbound I-90 in downtown Seattle. Those heading to CenturyLink Field or downtown Seattle from the south should consider using alternate routes. 

The lane closures on I-90 will provide contractor crews space to upgrade the operations and safety systems in the eastbound Mount Baker and Mercer Island tunnels. The tunnel work is needed before Sound Transit begins work in 2017 to devote the I-90 express lanes to the 14-mile East Link light rail extension.

In preparation for East Link, the now-underway I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations project preserves the three general-purpose lanes in each direction while adding all-day carpool lanes with direct access ramps for transit, carpools and vanpools. 

Closure details
11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26

  • Eastbound I-90 traffic between Rainier Avenue South and Bellevue Way Southeast is routed to the express lanes from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
  • The eastbound I-90 exit to Rainier Avenue South will remain open.
  • The Rainier Avenue South on-ramps to eastbound I-90 will be closed. Drivers will follow the signed detour via South Dearborn Street and Fourth Avenue South.
  • Flammable materials will be prohibited on eastbound I-90. Drivers must use alternate routes such as Interstate 405 or state routes 520 or 522.
  • The I-90 trail will not be affected during the closure.

Special events

  • Seattle Home Show at the CenturyLink Events Center: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25.
  • Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field: 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.

Keep traffic moving 
Thousands of vehicles travel on I-5 through downtown Seattle and across the I-90 floating bridge on a typical weekend. Drivers can help prevent gridlock:

Know before you go: check the Seattle traffic website, call 511 for real-time travel information, and plan for delays and added travel time. 

  • Allow extra time to travel through the work zone or on alternate routes.
  • Ride transit, carpool or use other alternative modes of transportation. 
  • Travel early in the morning or later in the evening, or reschedule discretionary trips. 
  • Those heading to CenturyLink Field or downtown Seattle from the south should consider using alternate routes such as East Marginal Way South, Airport Way South or Fourth Avenue South; or state routes 99, 509 and 599.
  • Expect congestion on alternate routes such as I-5, I-405 and SR 520; and on city streets such as Rainier Avenue South, Fourth Avenue South and South Dearborn Street in Seattle.