Date:  Sunday, July 05, 2009

Contact: Travis Phelps, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4788
Quick info link: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today

MERCER ISLAND – Major roadwork is under way on the I-90 floating bridge and drivers in the Seattle area should plan for long delays starting this afternoon. After 4 p.m. today, westbound I-90 will be reduced to one lane while crews restripe the freeway. By 5 a.m. tomorrow, all westbound traffic will be funneled into the two express lanes around the clock for two weeks. Severe congestion is expected.

“Now more than ever, commuters need to check the traffic conditions and have a backup plan before they leave home,” WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator Russ East said. “Otherwise, they could get stuck in delays of an hour or more on westbound I-90 in both the morning and afternoon. We need everyone’s help and patience to get through the next two weeks of tough traffic.”

This afternoon, crews are quickly restriping the westbound I-90 lanes in time for the Monday morning commute. Severe backups are expected for up to 70,000 daily vehicles that travel westbound I-90.

During construction, drivers can get the latest closure and traffic delay information on our What’s Happening Now page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/2009/today.

I-90 closures include:

• Sunday, July 5: At 1 a.m., the I-90 express lanes closed.
• Sunday, July 5: At 4 p.m., only one westbound I-90 lane will be open from Mercer Island to Seattle. Expect westbound delays.
• Sunday, July 5: From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, the I-90 bicycle pedestrian path will close for construction.
• Monday, July 6: By 5 a.m., all westbound I-90 traffic funneled into the two I-90 express lanes on Mercer Island. Expect severe delays.
• Monday, July 20: All lanes reopen in time for the commute.

Travel times of 30-60 minutes or more are predicted on I-90 from Bellevue to Seattle, and longer from Issaquah. Eastbound traffic also faces commute delays in the evening because the I-90 express lanes will be carrying only westbound traffic.

Peak morning traffic is normally about 7,000 vehicles per hour, while the two express lanes are only capable of carrying about 2,800 vehicles per hour. In the afternoon, peak traffic is normally about 7,000 vehicles per hour, and the three eastbound lanes are capable of carrying about 5,000 vehicles per hour.

Beating the backups during I-90 construction

Each of the alternate routes across and around Lake Washington is congested, and drivers should plan extra time for their commutes starting July 6.

The best bets include traveling I-90 westbound before 6 a.m. or avoiding traveling during peak commute times. Sharing the ride, using transit, working from home and taking a vacation all are ways some drivers can consider to beat backups and cut down on congestion.

Drivers headed to events in Seattle also should allow extra time in their trips. The Mariners begin a seven game home-stand Monday evening at Safeco Field.

Commuters also can ride a bike on the I-90 floating bridge bike path, which includes two temporary bridges built around the construction zone. The Cascade Bicycle Club is sponsoring bike pilots to guide commuters and has a “Bridging with Bikes” programs on July 10 and 17. More details are at their Web site, http://www.cbcef.org/.

WSDOT is replacing cracked expansion joints on westbound I-90 and the express lanes across the floating bridge. Engineers are concerned the joints could pose a safety concern if not replaced. WSDOT replaced the joints in the express lanes from May 4-16. The project costs $8.5 million and supports an estimated 80 jobs. For more information, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i90/HomerHadleyBridgeRepair.

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