Football fans heading to Husky Stadium or CenturyLink Field next weekend should add some extra travel time into their game plans as work to add around-the-clock HOV lanes to Interstate 90 continues.
Beginning at 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, until 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, eastbound I-90 will be reduced to a single lane near Rainier Avenue South in Seattle, and all traffic will be routed into the express lanes.
During the lane reduction, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit will continue upgrading the operations and safety systems inside the Mount Baker and Mercer Island tunnels as part of the I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations project. The tunnel work must be completed before Sound Transit can begin work in 2017 to devote the I-90 express lanes to the 14-mile East Link light rail extension.
Drivers traveling east from Seattle should plan for lengthy delays along Interstate 5, eastbound State Route 520 and eastbound I-90.
The lane closures on I-90 will provide contractor crews with the space they need to upgrade the operations and safety systems in the eastbound tunnels. Crews have an additional weekend-long closure scheduled westbound Nov. 4-7, which is the last weekend-long closure in 2016
Traffic details
11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, until 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12
Eastbound I-90 traffic between Rainier Avenue South and Bellevue Way Southeast will be routed to the express lanes.
The eastbound I-90 exit to Rainier Avenue South will remain open.
The Rainier Avenue South on-ramps to eastbound I-90 will be closed. Drivers should follow the signed detour via South Dearborn Street and Fourth Avenue South.
Flammable materials will be prohibited in both directions of I-90. Drivers must use alternate routes such as Interstate 405 or state routes 520 or 522.
The I-90 Trail will not be affected.
Special events
University of Washington football vs. the University of Idaho at Husky Stadium
· 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
Seattle Seahawks vs. Miami Dolphins at CenturyLink Field
· 1:05 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
Help keep traffic moving
Thousands of vehicles travel across the I-90 floating bridge on a typical weekend. WSDOT needs drivers’ help to prevent regional gridlock:
Know before you go: check the Seattle traffic website, call 511 for real-time travel information and plan for delays and added travel time.
Allow extra time to travel eastbound on I-90 or on alternate routes.
Ride transit, carpool or use other alternative modes of transportation.
Travel early in the morning or later in the evening, or reschedule discretionary trips.
Expect congestion on alternate routes such as I-405, I-5 and SR 520.
During the day, drivers should expect increased congestion on local streets, especially Rainier Avenue South, Fourth Avenue South and South Dearborn Street in Seattle; and Bellevue Way Southeast in Bellevue.
