Options available for Sammamish’s I-90 commuters
June 20, 2009
By Administrator
New, June 20 11:14 a.m.
Sammamish’s Interstate 90 commuters face the possibility of worse than normal congestion and delays in July as a section of the I-90 floating bridge will be closed for repairs.
The westbound lanes of I-90 over the floating bridge will be closed beginning July 5 Closures could last until July 28. Westbound Traffic will be routed to the center, carpool, lanes.
Officials warn of the potential for hour-long delays during that time as what is normally five lanes of morning rush hour traffic is condensed into two.
Afternoons are also expected to have westbound problems as three lanes become two.
Officials suggest talking with employers about working alternate schedules when possible. Transportation engineers predict the worst traffic will be on weekdays from 6-11 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. and on weekends from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Transportation and King County Metro are working to keep traffic moving. The two transportation agencies have special offers for commuters who use I-90, I-405 or the State Route 520 bridge.
WSDOT is offering a $20 MasterCard gift card to new people who register with rideshareonline.com. Current registrants can receive the gift cards too, by requesting updated ride matches by July 31. The supply of gift cards is limited to the first 3,000 registrants who routinely commute over the floating bridges on I-90 or SR 520, or on I-405.
King County Metro is offering free fares for three months on either its Metro VanPool, or VanShare programs. The free fares are for new VanPool or VanShare groups. To be eligible, groups must start between April 20 and July 20. The group must routinely commute in either direction on the I-90 or SR 520 bridges or on I-405.
Approved applicants must complete Metro’s online orientation course by June 29 and take delivery of their van by July 10. Commuters must have not participated in a public vanpool in the last 90 days.
More information about both programs is available online at www.rideshareonline.com.
For information about the closures in general, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2009/06/11_I90ConstructionNewTools.htm
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
