Commuters on Eastbound Interstate 90 should brace for a bit of a slowdown near North Bend. Washington State Department of Transportation is dialing things back to a single lane for two nights. This lane reduction stems from the need to install traffic counting loops as part of the I-90/SR 18 Interchange Improvements project. Traffic at the State Route 18 interchange has been restricted since yesterday, likely causing delays for many.
According to the City of North Bend's official website, work crews were scheduled to begin closing lanes at 9 p.m. yesterday, aiming to reopen by 5 a.m. today. They will then shift to closing the two right lanes starting at 9 p.m. tonight, with the goal of finishing by 5 a.m. tomorrow. Motorists are advised to anticipate delays and plan accordingly to avoid being caught in traffic.
The necessity of dry weather conditions for this work means there's a chance schedules could change. The traffic loops are a crucial element of the broader endeavor to smooth out the flow of vehicles where I-90 and SR 18 meet, an area that's long been a problematic bottleneck for travelers.
The I-90/SR 18 Interchange Improvements project is nearing completion this fall. The work includes building a diverging diamond interchange and widening SR 18 to two lanes each way between I-90 and Deep Creek. Once finished, the project is expected to ease heavy traffic in this often-congested area, though drivers may face short-term delays during construction, as noted by the City of North Bend's official website.
