Project overview
As part of the state's fish recovery efforts, WSDOT has made it a priority to reconnect waterways where our roads act as barriers to fish passage. In western Washington, that means building hundreds of fish passable structures under state highways in the next decade to create habitat gain essential for meeting our fish recovery goals. WSDOT is building bridges over Sunset Creek along both directions of I-90, Southeast Eastgate Way and Southeast 36th Street in Bellevue. These bridges will replace culverts that block fish passage and allow natural stream conditions to return in Sunset Creek. This work will happen in stages until early 2027.
What to expect
I-90 travelers and users of local roads can expect:
- Lane shifts on eastbound and westbound I-90 between 142nd Place Southeast and I-405.
- Long-term HOV lane closures on both directions of I-90 between 142nd Place Southeast and I-405.
- A single lane of alternating traffic on Southeast 36th Street into early 2025.
- A six-month full closure of Southeast Eastgate Way scheduled to start in early 2025 once bridge construction on Southeast 36th Street is complete.
This project is combined into a single contract with two other fish passage projects on SR 161 and SR 202 and 203. Construction is scheduled to occur from 2023–2027. The work on I-90 began in the spring of 2023 and remains active.
By building four new fish passages under I-90, Southeast Eastgate Way and Southeast 36th Street, we can restore natural stream conditions in Sunset Creek and open spawning habitat to help several fish species recover.
