I-90 HOV ramps close for East Link construction

The East Link Extension project will close HOV ramps at Island Crest Way up until March 29.

March 20, 2019 1:30 am
Construction crews work on the Mercer Island Station, preparing for the eventual East Link connection that will extend Seattle’s light rail to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond. Kailan Manandic/Staff Photo
Construction crews work on the Mercer Island Station, preparing for the eventual East Link connection that will extend Seattle’s light rail to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond. Kailan Manandic/Staff Photo

Sound Transit work crews will continue construction on the Mercer Island Station, closing the Island Crest Way eastbound HOV off-ramp and the Island Crest Way westbound HOV off-ramp.

Workers will close both ramps from March 18 through 22 and close the on-ramp into next week, March 25-29. The crews will work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sound Transit officials are asking locals to “plan ahead, leave early and allow extra time to reach your destination.”

The closures and construction projects are related to the East Link Extension, set to open in 2023. Specifically, crews will continue installing metal framing and pouring concrete duct banks at the Mercer Island Station and 80th Avenue Southeast entrance.

Sound Transit officials also warn that due to inclement weather or unforeseen issues, dates and times are subject to change.

At the end of construction, the East Link will be 14 miles long with 10 stations from Seattle’s International District to Judkins Park, across I-90 to Mercer Island and south Bellevue, through downtown Bellevue to the Bel-Red area and end at Redmond Technology Station.

The Mercer Island Station will sit in the center of Interstate 90 near the Mercer Island Park-and-Ride and Mercer Island Town Center. The station will have two entrances at 77th Avenue Southeast and 80th Avenue Southeast with access for pedestrians and cyclists from the nearby Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail.

Sound transit projects travel times from Mercer Island to downtown Bellevue to be 10 minutes; Mercer Island to the University of Washington to be 20 minutes; South Bellevue to the Sea-Tac Airport to be 50 minutes; and Redmond Technology to downtown Bellevue to be 10 minutes.

Lines will run at 6 minute intervals during peak hours.

The Mercer Island station will also feature public art from Seattle-based artist Beliz Brother. The peice will be displayed in each head house staircase leading to the station platform, suspended in the air. Some of her previous work can be found at www.publicartarchive.org/work/illumine-0 and is described as exploring “how ideas or stories can be told through the elements of architecture: materials, form, color, scale and light.”