Date:  Monday, May 04, 2009

Contact: Noel Brady, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4788 (Seattle)
Quick info link: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today

Traffic engineers warn of tough afternoon commute and Tuesday morning storm

SEATTLE – Drivers made it through the first morning commute of the 19-day I-90 express lane closures. WSDOT contractor crews have closed the express lanes to replace cracking expansion joints. The $8.3 million project supports 80 jobs.

Morning traffic

The morning commute was exactly what traffic engineers predicted. Interstate 90 drivers added 15 minutes to the typical commute time between Bellevue and Seattle throughout the morning as verified by WSDOT’s in-road traffic sensors.

Issaquah to Seattle at 8:20 a.m. was the worst of the worst. Divers who left Issaquah at 8 a.m. spent about 51 minutes in the car, about 25 minutes more than average. Issaquah commuters can reduce their travel time by leaving earlier or taking alternate routes.

Evening traffic

www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/

The evening commute will be tough if drivers don’t plan ahead. Eastbound drivers who count on those eastbound evening express lanes will not have those extra lanes. Drivers should consider leaving work early, late or going around Lake Washington on I-405 or SR 522. The Mariners are playing at home at Safeco Field at 7 p.m. so traffic may be heavy around the stadiums.

Tomorrow morning’s commute may be hampered by the storm system moving across the area. Please check the Web or tune into local television or radio tomorrow morning before heading out.

Progress on the job

Contractor crews got to work on I-90 at 11:30 p.m. They brought their equipment onto the road and plan to start noisy concrete chipping work around 2 p.m. today. The work will last several days. |

We will replace the expansion joints in the express lanes in May and the westbound mainline joints in July.
 

What should drivers do?

• Plan for 15- to 30-minute delays on I-90.
• Check the Web for the latest information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today.
• Check the Seattle traffic map to pinpoint and avoid congestion www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle
• Use the overhead freeway signs and the 511 driver information line to get up-to-the minute information on the road.
• Call our I-90 information hotline at 206.440.4444. The hotline is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Leave a message and your call will be returned.

For more detailed closure information on these projects and other work this weekend, drivers should bookmark www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009 and check the “What’s happening right now” link.

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