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Overnight lane closures coming on westbound I-90 as crews reinforce bridge in preparation for light rail

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Post-tensioning work scheduled for nights of July 20, 21, 22, 28 and 29


Sound Transit is about to complete a construction milestone on the Homer M. Hadley floating bridge across Lake Washington in preparation for East Link light rail. Starting July 20, crews working inside the bridge structure will begin post-tensioning work, tightening high-strength steel strands that will strengthen and extend the life of the bridge.
To complete the post-tensioning work safely, westbound I-90 is planned to be closed for several nights. I-90 westbound will be closed between Island Crest Way and I-5 overnight on: 

  • Friday, July 20 – Saturday, July 21 (11 p.m. – 7 a.m.) 
  • Saturday, July 21 – Sunday, July 22 (11 p.m. – 7 a.m.) 
  • Sunday July 22 – Monday July 23 (10:30 pm – 4:30 am)
  • Saturday, July 28 – Sunday, July 29 (11 p.m. – 7 a.m.)
  • Sunday, July 29 – Monday, July 30 (10:30 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.)

Post-tensioning will enable the bridge to withstand stronger winds and higher waves, as well as strengthen it to carry light rail tracks and vehicles. Since June 2017, crews have placed 10 steel reaction frames, each weighing 17,500 pounds, into each of the two pontoons at either end of the flat portion of the floating bridge. They have also installed approximately 3,600 feet of high-strength steel strands that attach to these anchor frames and connect the pontoons. Tightening these strands will compress and strengthen the pontoons. 
Construction of light rail on the bridge will continue through 2020. When it opens in 2023 East Link will extend light rail 14 miles from downtown Seattle to downtown Bellevue and the Overlake area of Redmond via Interstate 90, with 10 stations. The following year Sound Transit will open a 3.4-mile extension further east to new stations in Southeast Redmond and downtown Redmond.
For more information on the East Link Extension see: www.soundtransit.org/Eastlink