Westbound I-90 Lane Closures Planned Near Issaquah In September

ISSAQUAH, WA — A few backups will be inevitable next month as state transportation crews close three westbound lanes of Interstate 90 for several days and nights of repaving work east of Issaquah.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, reducing I-90 to one lane for a few days will give workers a safe area to work around the clock and fully replace a 1,550-foot section of the highway.

"In this case, we're not just paving over the top of existing concrete, we're removing all of the concrete panels all the way down to the dirt, then repaving with asphalt," WSDOT wrote in a blog post Wednesday. "We need to do this because the nearly 45-year-old concrete is cracked to the point where repaving is not an option."

WSDOT said the stretch in question is situated near a coal mine that was sealed up before its construction. Water collecting in the mine made its way under the westbound lanes, which eventually caused the concrete panels to crack. On top of pouring several layers of fresh asphalt, crews will make improvements to drainage under the roadway.

Officials estimate the stretch of I-90 impacted by next month's westbound lane closures carries 29,000 vehicles each day, and funneling that traffic into a single lane will likely slow things down for commuters, especially at peak travel times. WSDOT recommends drivers who are able consider carpooling, using transit, working remotely or avoiding westbound I-90 during the morning commute.

Shortly after the repaving project is complete, separate closures will be scheduled to allow for bridge work near Preston.

Westbound I-90 reduced to a single lane near Issaquah next month:

Sept. 11, 2022 - Sept. 16, 2022

• Three westbound lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. Sept. 11 until 5 a.m. Sept. 16 to allow for repairs on the left side of I-90, east of Issaquah.

Sept. 18, 2022 - Thursday, Sept. 22

• Three westbound lanes will close again from 9 p.m. Sept. 18 until 5 a.m. Sept. 22 while crews replace pavement on the right side of the highway.