Closures coming with I-90 summer construction

Bridge deck rehabilitation, slope stabilization and lane additions between North Bend and Vantage are expected to cause delays.

By Mallory Kruml • June 12, 2024 3:50 pm
Snoqualmie Pass. Photo courtesy of WSDOT
Snoqualmie Pass. Photo courtesy of WSDOT

Several Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) projects along Interstate 90 are expected to cause significant delays this summer.

WSDOT saw double the number of work zone crashes in 2023 compared to the previous year — 10 of which resulted in fatalities — and is asking drivers to slow down and remain calm and alert, especially around the following construction sites.

North Bend to Hyak

The need for slope stabilization three miles east of Tinkham Road on I-90 will require a single-lane westbound closure 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the fall. The two left lanes will remain open.

Minor delays are expected at several I-90 locations in both directions between North Bend and Hyak, as crews will also work to fix bridge decks. Lane restrictions and daytime traffic lane shiftsare expected, according to WSDOT.

Snoqualmie Pass

Crews began phase three of the $335 million, 15-mile project along I-90, from the Cabin Creek and West Easton interchanges, to “increase traffic capacity and improve safety by adding a new lane in each direction, replacing concrete pavement, stabilizing curb slopes, building wildlife crossings, and improving sight distances and traffic safety,” according to WSDOT.

Two eastbound traffic lanes have shifted to the westbound side of I-90 between mileposts 68 and 70 and will remain in place for several years. WSDOT warns drivers of narrow lanes and shoulders throughout the bypass.

Drivers will see full one-hour closures an hour before sunset multiple times a week to make way for rock blasting between August and October.

Cle Elum

Eastbound single-lane closures and minor delays are expected on I-90 in Cle Elum as crews work to repair bridge decks, according to WSDOT.

Vantage Bridge

WSDOT began the $79 million, three-year I-90 Vantage Bridge deck replacement project this spring after detecting signs of deterioration in 2019. Crews will work to maintain the structural integrity, ensure the safety of the highway and extend the life of the bridge located east of Ellensburg, according to WSDOT.

Drivers will be restricted to one lane in each direction, seven days a week, with the following holiday exceptions:

Fourth of July: All lanes will be open from 7 a.m. on July 1 to 8 p.m. on July 8.

Labor Day: All lanes will be open from 7 a.m. on Aug. 30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 3.

Especially long eastbound delays are expected on Fridays, followed by westbound delays on Sundays, according to WSDOT.

For updates on construction schedules around the Valley and state, download the WSDOT Traffic App or check out the agency’s social media. A map of the projects is available on the WSDOT website.