Date:
Monday, February 06, 2006
Contact:
Doug Haight, Project Engineer, (425) 649-4429 (Bellevue)
Laura Johnson, WSDOT Communications, (206) 254-7625 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – At the end of this week, drivers in Bellevue will regain north-south access across I-90 at 142nd Place SE. The bridge is scheduled to reopen to motor vehicle traffic at noon Friday, Feb. 10, after crews finish demolition of sidewalks and railings this week.
Monday through Thursday nights, Feb. 6-9, crews will close up to three lanes in each direction of I-90 from the I-405 interchange to 150th Avenue SE, leaving one lane open in each direction. Lane closures will begin at 7 p.m. each night, with up to three lanes in each direction closed by 11 p.m. All westbound lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. each morning. All eastbound lanes except the HOV lane will be open by 9 a.m. each morning.
In addition, the HOV lanes in both directions will be closed around the clock Monday through Friday, except during rush hours: the westbound HOV lane will open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. each morning and the eastbound HOV lane will open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. each evening.
All lanes (northbound and southbound) of the 142nd Place SE bridge over I-90 and SE Eastgate Way will reopen to traffic at noon on Friday, Feb. 10.
The two-lane bridge has been closed since Jan. 9 for demolition of the sidewalks and railings, which makes way for crews to connect new freeway ramps to the center of the bridge. Crews have also been closing freeway lanes overnight for the past month to protect drivers from debris during demolition.
The $38.9 million I-90 Eastgate Direct Access Project is fully funded by Sound Transit. WSDOT is building the new transit ramps in the I-90 median so that buses can enter and exit the HOV lanes at 142nd Place SE without merging across general-purpose lanes. This will provide buses a more direct connection to the Eastgate Park-and-Ride, improve transit speed and reliability, and make trips faster and safer for all drivers. WSDOT and Sound Transit plan to open the ramps this summer.
For more information visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/EastgateAccess.
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Drivers can now get real time traffic and weather information by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. This new traveler information system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline that managed 4.6 million calls each year. Callers can also use 5-1-1 to get statewide construction, mountain pass condition, and state ferry system information, as well as toll free numbers for passenger rail and airlines. TTY users can call 1-800-833-6388.
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