Mercer Island Residents who travel via Island Crest Way have experienced delays and backups as construction on the “road diet” has begun. Workers have removed the concrete center landscaped medians that were previously in the middle of the road in the area where it previously went from two lanes to four lanes, around the 5200 block. This is part of the process of widening the road, after which it will be changed into a three lane road, with traffic in two directions and a left turn lane. Workers have also removed the plants from around the mailbox near the turn for 90th Ave. S.E.

Two of the three lanes on Island Crest Way had to be closed in order to remove the medians, which forced all traffic into one lane. Now that these medians are removed, it will be easier for the contractor to keep two traffic lanes open during construction work hours.