Busy weekend of roadwork starts Friday night, March 27 in Seattle and Bellevue

Beginning tomorrow night, March 27, work on two major Puget Sound area roadways is expected to affect traffic on both sides of Lake Washington until Monday morning, March 30.

The following is a release from the Washington State Department of Transportation:

Beginning tomorrow night, March 27, work on two major Puget Sound area roadways is expected to affect traffic on both sides of Lake Washington until Monday morning, March 30.

In Seattle, there will be numerous crews and closures on State Route 99 between Spokane Street and the Aurora Bridge for construction and the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s semiannual inspection. Closures on SR 99 begin at 7 p.m. on Friday night, March 27 and wrap up by 5 a.m. Monday morning, March 30.

Drivers heading across Lake Washington from the Eastside will see westbound Interstate 90 detoured to the express lanes as crews upgrade tunnel operations systems inside the westbound Mount Baker and Mercer Island tunnels as part of a project to add around the clock HOV lanes to I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue.

SR 99 closure details

7 p.m. Friday, March 27, until 5 a.m. Monday, March 30

  • SPU crews will close two northbound lanes and one southbound lane of SR 99 between Ward Street and Highland Drive from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Mondayfor utility work.
  • WSDOT and SDOT contractor crews will close both directions of SR 99 between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for utility work and sign bridge installation.

6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29

  • WSDOT bridge inspection crews will close both directions of SR 99 between Spokane Street and the Battery Street Tunnel to conduct a scheduled inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Westbound I-90 roadwork details

11 p.m. Friday, March 27, until 5 a.m. Monday, March 30

  • WSDOT and Sound Transit contractor crews will shift all westbound I-90 traffic between Bellevue Way and Rainier Avenue South to the express lanes from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
  • Drivers wishing to access Mercer Island will need to exit westbound I-90 at East Mercer Way. There are no westbound exits to Mercer Island from the express lanes.
  • Those wishing to travel from Mercer Island to Seattle should enter the express lanes at 77th Avenue Southeast or Island Crest Way.
  • Westbound I-90 drivers will be unable to exit to Rainier Avenue South and should follow the signed detour using Fourth Avenue South and eastbound I-90.
  • Drivers transporting flammable materials westbound across Lake Washington must use alternate routes such as Interstate 405 or state routes 520 or 522.

Special events:

Emerald City Comicon at the Washington State Convention Center

  • 10 a.m. to midnight Friday, March 27
  • 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, March 28
  • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 29

PBR Rodeo at KeyArena

  • 8 p.m. Friday, March 27
  • 6:50 p.m. Saturday, March 28

Taste Washington! at the CenturyLink Field Events Center

  • 2 p.m. daily Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29

WSDOT needs help from drivers to keep traffic moving

Drivers should plan ahead for construction and create a commuting strategy:

  • Allow extra time to travel through the work zone or on alternate routes.
  • Ride transit, carpool or use other forms of transportation.
  • Travel early in the morning or later in the evening, or reschedule discretionary trips.
  • Check the Seattle Traffic and travel times pages for updated traffic conditions.
  • Download WSDOT’s mobile app.