Several ramps to eastbound I-90 in Seattle closed overnight next week, March 19-20

This news release was issued jointly by the Washington State Department of Transportation, Sound Transit.

SEATTLE – Overnight drivers on Interstate 5 and Rainier Avenue South who need to access eastbound Interstate 90 in Seattle should plan ahead for a slightly longer trip early next week. Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit will close several ramps to eastbound I-90 overnight Sunday, March 19, and overnight Monday, March 20, to create a temporary work zone in the median of I-90 near Rainier Avenue South.

Closure details
Sunday, March 19, through the morning of Tuesday, March 21

• At 9 p.m. nightly, the southbound Rainier Avenue South ramp to eastbound I-90 will close.
• At 10 p.m. nightly, the northbound I-5 ramp to eastbound I-90 will close.
• At 11 p.m. nightly, the southbound I-5 ramp to eastbound I-90 will close.
• All ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. the following morning.

The work is weather dependent and could be rescheduled in the event of rain. During the closures, drivers should follow the signed detour to reach eastbound I-90.

This work is part of the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit's I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations project which preserves the three general purpose lanes while adding all-day carpool lanes to I-90 and direct access ramps for transit, carpools, and vanpools. In mid-2017, Sound Transit contractors will begin work on the I-90 express lanes to operate exclusively for light rail as part of the East Link light rail project. The 14-mile East Link project, set to open in 2023, includes 10 new stations connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Overlake. 

Puget Sound area drivers can get real-time traffic information on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app, by tracking the WSDOT traffic Twitter feed, and get advanced information from the What's Happening Now page.