BELLEVUE – The next stage of construction on the Sunset Creek fish passage project in Bellevue starts in late February, requiring long-term high occupancy vehicle lane and ramp closures on westbound Interstate 90.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close the westbound I-90 HOV lane between 142nd Place Southeast and I-405 for up to two years starting at 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26.
An extended closure of the HOV on-ramp from 142nd Place Southeast to westbound I-90 also begins Feb. 26.
Signed detours will guide people around the ramp closures. Sound Transit and King County Metro will reroute bus routes that serve the 142nd Place Southeast HOV on-ramp.
Closure details
Closing the westbound I-90 HOV lane and corresponding on-ramp paves the way for construction on a new bridge across Sunset Creek. Later this spring, crews will shift westbound I-90 traffic into the median, creating a work zone on the right side of the freeway to build the bridge.
Four westbound I-90 travel lanes will remain open during construction, which will not affect the nearby westbound I-90 on-ramps to northbound and southbound I-405.
Project details
Construction began last summer on the Sunset Creek fish passage project, which will replace culverts running beneath Southeast 36th Street, both directions of I-90 and Southeast Eastgate Way with four new bridges that restore natural stream conditions and remove barriers to fish passage.
Bridges are already under construction along Southeast 36th Street and eastbound I-90. Later this spring, eastbound I-90 travel lanes will shift to the right onto the new bridge, allowing for bridge construction to start on the left side of the eastbound freeway.