Date:  Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Contact: Doug Haight, Project Engineer, 425-649-4429 (Bellevue)
Erin Bogenschutz, WSDOT Communications, 206-716-1165 (Seattle)
Linda Robson, Sound Transit Communications, 206-398-5149 (Seattle)

MERCER ISLAND –Last night, crews closed one lane of the I-90 reversible center roadway between Bellevue and Mercer Island as WSDOT and Sound Transit work to improve travel for HOVs and buses. Next week, drivers on westbound I-90 between Bellevue and Mercer Island, will wake up to varying lane striping and alignments.

These activities are part of WSDOT and Sound Transit’s work to add new 24-hour HOV lanes in each direction on I-90. The project includes building a new direct access ramp from I-90 to 80th Avenue SE for HOVs and buses.

One of two lanes of the center roadway from 80th Avenue SE and Bellevue Way will be closed until late June or early July. Drivers using the center roadway may see increased congestion, particularly during the evening commute.

Beginning Monday night, March 3, crews will re-stripe nearly two miles of westbound I-90 between Bellevue Way and 76th Avenue SE to shift the traffic lanes to the north. Striping work will take at least two nights. The work is highly weather sensitive and could be delayed. Crews will close up to two lanes of westbound I-90 each night. The first lane will close at 9 p.m., the second at 11 p.m. One lane will open by 4 a.m. with all lanes open by 5 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should expect to see changing lane widths and alignments until striping is complete.

Last May, crews shifted the westbound lanes of I-90 to the south to allow them room to widen the freeway to the north. Next week, crews will shift traffic onto the newly widened section to allow them room to work on the median and south side of the road. Crews are closing and moving lanes to create a safe work zone as they continue widening the freeway and constructing the new HOV direct access ramp at 80th Avenue SE.

This work is part of the I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations Project, under which WSDOT and Sound Transit are teaming up to add a new 24-hour HOV lane in each direction. Currently, buses and carpools traveling in the off-peak direction on I-90 get stuck in traffic because the reversible center express lanes only operate in the peak direction (westbound in the morning and eastbound at night). Stage 1 of the project will extend the westbound HOV lane on Mercer Island, add a westbound HOV exit at 80th Avenue SE on Mercer Island, and widen the Bellevue Way HOV ramp. Stage 1 construction is scheduled to be complete by early 2009. For more project information, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/TwoWayTransit.

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