WSDOT Completes Phase Two of Two-Way HOV Transit Project

The road construction across the East Channel Bridge that has contributed to additional traffic on Mercer Island is ending. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), work is now done on the second phase of the "I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations Project."

Stage One of the project, which opened in October 2008, provided a westbound HOV lane between Bellevue and Mercer Island. Stage Two includes a new direct access ramp and eastbound carpool lane between Mercer Island and Bellevue and helps improve bus travel times for King County Metro and ST Express buses. Stage Three is under final design and will make improvements to both westbound and eastbound I-90 between Seattle and Mercer Island. The three-phase project will eventually provide 24-hour HOV capacity in both directions across Lake Washington and help get I-90 ready for East Link light rail. 

WSDOT Dedication Ceremony Honors I-90 Improvements 

WSDOT is hosting a dedication ceremony to honor the completion of the second phase of this project on Thursday, March 29, at 11:00am at the East end of the Mercer Island Outdoor Sculpture Gallery located on the corner of 80th Avenue SE and Southeast 27th Street. The new direct access ramp and eastbound carpool lane between Mercer Island and Bellevue will open following the dedication event, in time for the afternoon commute.

In preparation for opening the new HOV lane, WSDOT will first need to close the 80th Avenue SE ramp after 3:00pm Sunday, March 25, to connect it to the outer roadway. It will remain closed to all traffic until 2:00pm March 29, when it reopens for carpools and buses only as a full-time on-ramp to eastbound I-90's new HOV lane.    

For additional information: www.soundtransit.org/I90Stage2 or
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i90/twowaytransit.

— Information from Washington State Department of Transportation