Video: 92nd Street Overpass Crunched during Weekend 520 Bridge Closure, Next Closure Set

Washington State Department of Transportation crews demolished the 92nd Avenue Northeast overpass over the weekend as part of the project to widen and improve State Route 520.

You can check out the WSDOT's video on the work they completed over the weekend — and mark your calendar for the next weekend closure, scheduled for July 13-16 for construction and the annual bridge inspection.

Closures on SR 520 are of particular concern for Mercer Island residents as vehicles shift to Interstate 90 and cause traffic delays — especially on the weekend, when the I-90 center lane access allows only eastbound traffic.

Crews also installed the last 34 huge concrete girders needed for a similar lidded overpass at Evergreen Point Road in Medina. All 82 girders needed for the improved Evergreen Point Road overpass are now in place, according to the state. 

“Seeing that 82nd girder going in at Evergreen Point Road marks a great milestone for the project, and really shows the size and shape of the future lidded overpass overlooking Lake Washington,” said Brian Dobbins, SR 520 Eastside project construction manager for the Washington State Department of Transportation, in a prepared statement.

The Evergreen Point Road lidded overpass is expected to be completed in spring 2013. 

Construction and demolition this weekend required an estimated 150 workers throughout the corridor, according to the state.

This closure is related to the . The project, which is west of Evergreen Point Road to east of 108th Avenue NE in Bellevue will do the following:

• Widen SR 520 and create carpool lanes in both directions.
• Widen the shoulders, so disabled vehicles will not block the lanes of traffic.
• Create three landscaped lids over SR 520, two with access to new transit stops.
• Add a bike and pedestrian lane to SR 520.
• Create environmental improvements, including improvements to streams and noise barriers.

Overall, the project is part of a $4.65 billion plan to improve SR 520. The state legislature decided that $2.37 billion of the amount will be paid through state and federal funding and tolls. The rest has yet to be determined.

More information on the Eastside Transit and HOV Project can be found on the WSDOT website.