Eastbound I-90 drivers between Seattle and Bellevue are already feeling the impact of major bridge work that began this month. The East Channel Bridge, which connects Mercer Island to Bellevue, is down to fewer lanes around the clock while crews replace a worn-out expansion joint. Work is expected to last until the morning of Saturday, Oct. 5.
As part of the project, the East Mercer Way on-ramp is closed for the first week, and the eastbound 80th Street HOV on-ramp will stay closed until the work wraps up. WSDOT warns commuters to plan for an extra 20 to 35 minutes during peak travel times. Traffic backups are also spilling onto Mercer Island streets, especially Island Crest Way.
Transportation officials say the work couldn’t wait. The current joint has already failed, forcing a temporary shift in traffic. Crews are racing to finish the replacement before winter, when further deterioration could create bigger problems.
This latest disruption comes as Eastside commuters continue waiting for the full opening of Sound Transit’s East Link Extension. In August, Sound Transit confirmed the opening date has been pushed back again—now targeted for April 25, 2026, according to the agency’s June 2025 progress report.
The delay affects the stretch of the 2 Line that crosses Lake Washington on I-90, including new stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island. Earlier projections pointed to early 2026, and before that, late 2025. The agency cites ongoing construction work, additional testing, and operator training as reasons for the revised schedule.
Parts of the 14-mile line are already open. Service launched in April 2024 between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station, followed by new stops in Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond in May 2025. When the full extension is complete, riders will be able to take light rail from Redmond through Downtown Bellevue and across Lake Washington into Seattle.
