Apr29
2015

'Seattle Times' Article Featuring I-90 Project

News
Event Date:
Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - 8:00pm

FACE-LIFT WORK IN SIGHT FOR I-90 TUNNELS

During a behind-the-scenes tour Tuesday, media members and WSDOT and Sound Transit employees view suspension cables that support the lid over Interstate 90 at Mount Baker in Seattle. The tunnels, which haven’t been upgraded since they were built in 1989, will be getting a much needed face-lift during two upcoming I-90 closures. Crews will work inside the Mount Baker and Mercer Island tunnels this weekend; eastbound I-90 traffic will narrow to one lane approaching the Mount Baker Tunnel from 11 p.m. Friday, May 1, until 5 a.m. Monday, May 4. All eastbound traffic will then be rerouted to the express lanes. WSDOT is advising drivers to plan ahead for delays on I-90 and I-5, and consider alternate routes like I-405 or Highway 520 to cross Lake Washington. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)

Seattle Times article written by Seattle Times Staff

A link to the full article can be found here.

"The I-90 tunnels have not been upgraded since they were built in 1989. They will be getting a much-needed face-lift beginning with this weekend’s eastbound closure; a westbound closure will take place May 15-18.

During a behind-the-scenes tour Tuesday, media members and WSDOT and Sound Transit employees viewed the suspension cables that support the lid over Interstate 90 at Mount Baker in Seattle. Some of the systems that help keep drivers safe in the event of a fire or other incidents in the I-90 tunnels were shown.

Work will be done retrofitting the huge fans inside the tunnels, 1,800 light fixtures will be replaced and 38 new cameras will be installed.

Link light-rail trains will eventually run where the I-90 express lanes are now. East Link light-rail construction on I-90 will begin in 2017 (after the current project is done), with 10 stations connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Overlake opening in 2023."