I-90 bridge crunch begins: Only one westbound lane for a week



SEATTLE -- Traffic backups for westbound I-90 began almost immediately Friday night as the highway was reduced to one lane, creating a bottleneck that will continue for a week as crews replace failing expansion joints on the bridge over Lake Washington.

Lanes and ramps began closing at about 9:15 p.m. Friday on I-90, I-405 and Bellevue Way for the July 18-25 construction work.

The I-405 ramps to westbound I-90 are temporarily closed until 5 a.m. Drivers will be detoured to 148th Street S.E. and returned to westbound I-90.

The westbound I-90 exit to East Mercer Way is temporarily closed until 5 a.m. Drivers will be detoured to Island Crest Way.

The Bellevue Way ramp to westbound I-90 is closed until 3 a.m. All drivers may use the HOV ramp.

Westbound I-90 near Bellevue Way will be reduced to one lane until 5 a.m. on July 25.

For detailed lane and ramp closures through July 25, check the project’s lane and ramp closures<http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/wbEastChnlBrdgExpJointRpr/LaneAndRampClosures.htm> page.