Five weeks of overnight SR 520 bridge closures start today

Late-night closures of the State Route 520 floating bridge are planned during the next five weeks as crews install equipment above the lanes for electronic tolling. Drivers need to plan ahead for detours across and around Lake Washington starting today.

Crews plan to close all eastbound lanes from Montlake Boulevard in Seattle to 92nd Avenue NE in Medina overnight Jan. 10-14. The bridge closes at 11:59 p.m. each night and reopens by 4 a.m. the following morning.

“This work is a major step to prepare for tolling the SR 520 floating bridge this spring,” said Craig Stone, WSDOT Toll Division Director. “Installing the equipment now allows us time to thoroughly test the toll collection system before we start tolling traffic to pay for a much-needed replacement bridge.”

During the closures, crews will install conduit, Good to Go! pass readers, photo tolling equipment and overhead electronic toll rate signs on and near the east highrise of the bridge.

Work and overnight closures continue into February, alternating between the eastbound and westbound lanes as crews shift their work zones. There also will be three weekends of overnight closures on Friday and Saturday nights beginning the weekend of Jan. 21-22. Those weekend closures begin at 11:59 p.m. and crews will reopen lanes by 7 a.m. on Saturdays and 7:30 a.m. on Sundays.

Drivers should plan to take alternate routes such as I-90, I-405, I-5 and SR 522.

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