East Mercer Way On Ramp to I-90 Eastbound Closing September 18 at 8pm for 6 to 8 Days

Mercer Island, WA, August 28, 2025 – The East Mercer Way on-ramp to I-90 eastbound and the HOV on-ramp at 80^th Ave SE will be closed starting Thursday, September 18 at 8pm.

The on-ramps are being closed so the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) can complete essential roadway repairs and replace failing expansion joints on the East Channel Bridge.

• The closure of the East Mercer Way on-ramp to I-90 eastbound is expected to last 6 to 8 days. WSDOT is targeting September 23 to September 25 for the East Mercer Way on-ramp to reopen.
• The closure of the HOV on-ramp at 80th Ave SE to I-90 eastbound is expected to last 16 days. WSDOT will reopen the HOV on-ramp on October 5.

Drivers heading eastbound on I-90 (toward Bellevue/Issaquah) and coming from East Mercer Way have two options: 

1. Navigate to Island Crest Way and use the I-90 eastbound on-ramp; or 
2. From East Mercer Way, use the I-90 westbound on-ramp, exit at Island Crest Way, and then use the I-90 eastbound on-ramp 

MISD Bus Riders

To mitigate congestion and to help get our students to school on time, please:

• Avoid off-island trips eastbound if possible (AKA work from home if you can)
• Watch the Transact Portal (https://routing.app-garden.com/mercerislandwa/#) or EZ A2B app for changes to your bus route (we are making many minor routing / timing changes to avoid congestion)
• Be patient please
• Let MISD Transportation know where we are not performing up to expectation (mot.dispatch@mercerislandschools.org or 206.236.3338); we will continue to make changes as necessary to address the closures

The City of Mercer Island is expecting significant traffic congestion due to these closures and recommends community members plan accordingly. The City of Mercer Island has a FAQ and more information on the on-ramp closures on their website.

The decision to close these on-ramps during these time frames was made by WSDOT. More information on the work being done on the East Channel Bridge can be found on the WSDOT website.

Download City of Mercer Island On-Ramp Detour Map