SEATTLE -
Day four of construction on I-90 got underway Thursday, as as crews worked to replace the bridge's aging expansion joints. The DOT says drivers should continue to take alternate routes and travel outside of peak times to keep travel times low.
Thursday night's Mariners game against the Texas Rangers could also cause problems. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. Drivers should expect heavier than normal traffic around the stadium before and after the game.
The DOT says contractor crews are making good progress chipping away the concrete near the joints. Working simultaneously on both joints, they expect to continue chipping and cutting away the old steel in preparation for replacing the expansion joints this weekend.
This weekend crew will replace expansion joints with new steel joints. DOT officials say that'll better withstand the bridge's heavy traffic. The new steel joins are on a barge right now and will move through the Ballard locks then through the Ship Canal beneath the bridges. After that they'll move through Lake Washington where the DOT will open the drawspan on the 520 bridge to get the joints to the worksite.
All westbound traffic on I-90 is currently being funneled into the express lanes from July 6-20 while crews remove and replace two massive steel expansion joints on the westbound outer roadway. Drivers should expect delays of 30-60 minutes during peak commute times.
WSDOT has released this construction timeline for I-90:
Monday July, 6 5:00 am - All Westbound I-90 traffic funneled into the two I-90 express lanes on Mercer Island (Expect Severe delays)
Monday July, 20 - All lanes open in time for the commute
Drivers who rely on I-90 are told to:
-Allow extra travel time during construction.
-Leave early, before 6:00am on weekdays
Thursday night's Mariners game against the Texas Rangers could also cause problems. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. Drivers should expect heavier than normal traffic around the stadium before and after the game.
The DOT says contractor crews are making good progress chipping away the concrete near the joints. Working simultaneously on both joints, they expect to continue chipping and cutting away the old steel in preparation for replacing the expansion joints this weekend.
This weekend crew will replace expansion joints with new steel joints. DOT officials say that'll better withstand the bridge's heavy traffic. The new steel joins are on a barge right now and will move through the Ballard locks then through the Ship Canal beneath the bridges. After that they'll move through Lake Washington where the DOT will open the drawspan on the 520 bridge to get the joints to the worksite.
All westbound traffic on I-90 is currently being funneled into the express lanes from July 6-20 while crews remove and replace two massive steel expansion joints on the westbound outer roadway. Drivers should expect delays of 30-60 minutes during peak commute times.
WSDOT has released this construction timeline for I-90:
Monday July, 6 5:00 am - All Westbound I-90 traffic funneled into the two I-90 express lanes on Mercer Island (Expect Severe delays)
Monday July, 20 - All lanes open in time for the commute
Drivers who rely on I-90 are told to:
-Allow extra travel time during construction.
-Leave early, before 6:00am on weekdays
