Expect traffic delays between Seattle and Bellevue this weekend

Washington State Department of Transportation will reduce eastbound I-90 traffic to one lane near Rainier Avenue South as crews work on a project.

WSDOT and Sound Transit are adding high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to the outer roadways (existing general purpose lanes) in both directions of I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue. This collaboration is making vital improvements for traffic flow on I-90 while preparing the center roadway for Sound Transit's East Link light rail extension from Seattle to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond.

WSDOT released the following information on why it is working with Sound Transit on this project.

WSDOT is collaborating with Sound Transit to make the best use of tax-payer transportation dollars by moving more people, more efficiently through one of the state's busiest rush-hour commutes.

I-90 includes two reversible express lanes between Seattle and Bellevue for buses, carpools and vanpools. In the morning, traffic in the express lanes are westbound; in the evening they go eastbound. Buses and high-occupancy vehicles traveling opposite the express lanes must use the outer roadway. With no HOV lanes in outer roadway at the start of this project, buses and carpools experienced routine, rush-hour delays, undermining the benefits of ride sharing.

WSDOT and Sound Transit are adding an HOV lane in both directions of the outer roadway and new direct-access ramps for transit and HOVs on Mercer Island and in Bellevue.

Cox Media Group