With a closure on SR 18 looming, Seattle-area travelers should prepare for increased weekend congestion. This closure is to continue improvements on the State Route 18/I-90 interchange, which will begin on Thursday night.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close eastbound SR 18 between Issaquah-Hobart Road and the I-90/SR 18 interchange in Snoqualmie.
Eastbound SR 18 closure
Preparation work for an extended weekend closure of eastbound SR 18 began earlier in the week for the I-90 – SR 18 Interchange Improvements project. On Tuesday, April 21, crews closed one lane of eastbound SR 18 between Deep Creek and the I-90/SR 18 interchange while they removed approximately 8,500 feet of guardrail and concrete barriers. Eastbound SR 18 will be reduced to a single lane through Thursday, April 23.
The full closure of eastbound SR 18 for paving work is scheduled to begin as early as 9 p.m. Thursday, April 23. At least one lane of eastbound SR 18 is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, April 27, with additional work continuing in the eastbound right lane as crews reinstall guardrail, curbing, and stormwater drains through Thursday, April 30.
Issaquah-Hobart Road and Issaquah city streets are not suitable for semi-trucks and freight traffic. During the eastbound SR 18 closures, freight traffic should use alternate routes or follow the signed detour on westbound SR 169 to northbound I-405, then take eastbound SR 900 to eastbound I-90.
What travelers should expect
- Delays and backups along alternate routes near Issaquah during the eastbound SR 18 closure.
This work is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled. Schedule updates will be available on the project webpages, WSDOT’s Travel Center map, the WSDOT mobile app and by signing up for King County email updates.
[Featured Image by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash. Information provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)]
