Last I-90 bridge lane closure of 2016 this weekend

The Interstate 90 bridge crossing Lake Washington between Rainier Avenue South in Seattle and Bellevue Way in Bellevue will be reduced to one lane for the final time before the end of 2016.

The closure will occur this weekend from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday while contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation paint new high-occupancy vehicle lanes in the outer roadways of the Interstate 90 bridge.

The closure is expected to stress traffic on State Route 520 as drivers seek alternate routes across Lake Washington, WSDOT spokesperson Annie Johnson said. However, traffic will be less stressed this weekend than it might have been on others.

"This weekend is a great weekend to do this," Johnson said. "The Seahawks are playing Monday night football, the Huskies are away ... it's one of those rare weekends in Seattle where there aren't any special events happening."

The HOV lanes on the I-90 bridge are being installed to counteract rush hour delays to bus riders, carpoolers and other rideshare commuters traveling in the opposite direction of the bridge's reversible express lane.

This weekend, crews are sticking to work within the I-90 tunnels, upgrading lighting and electrical systems with some light concrete work. 

Weekend closures will return in January, Johnson said. The current phase of the upgrade campaign is expected to continue until mid-2017.