Sound Transit work on Mercer Island will close a section of the I-90 Trail starting Thursday and lasting through Saturday.
And unfortunately, this stretch of N Mercer Way does not have bike lanes, so people biking will be directed to mix with car traffic. People walking will be directed to use a path on the street. It’s not a terribly busy road, so people comfortable with a little mixed traffic biking will be fine. But it’s not a great option for people of all ages and abilities.
The I-90 Trail is scheduled to be closed near N. Mercer Way and Shorewood Dr. Thursday, Feb. 6 – Saturday, Feb. 8 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Crews will be landscaping along the trail. Due to the weather-sensitive nature of this work, dates and times are subject to change.
There will be a bicycle and pedestrian detour available along N. Mercer Way to minimize impacts for trail users. Eastbound travelers will detour near Fortuna Dr., and westbound travelers will detour just before Shorewood Dr. To ensure safe use of the detour, please follow signage along the route. Cyclists are encouraged to share the roadway with vehicle traffic, and there will be a designated walkway for pedestrians. Parking along the route will be restricted.
What
Temporary closure of the I-90 Trail.When
Thursday, Feb. 6 – Saturday, Feb. 8 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.Where
I-90 Trail near N. Mercer Way and Shorewood Dr.More
- Cyclists will share the roadway with vehicle traffic along the N. Mercer Way detour.
- Pedestrians will detour to a designated walkway along N. Mercer Way.
- Plan ahead, leave early and allow extra time to reach your destination.
- Due to inclement weather or unforeseen issues, dates and times are subject to change.
Comments
3 responses to “Trail Alert 2/6-8: I-90 Trail detour on Mercer Island”
The detour route is about as comfortable as it can get. It’s got unobstructed sightlines, a low speed limit (25mph), wide shoulders with good pavement quality, and is part of one of the longest-standing major bike routes in the region, so drivers know to expect bikes. It’s as comfortable as most neighborhood greenways.
I wouldn’t be surprised if dramatically more bikes use this route currently than the trail through this section, which is relatively narrow and has an uncomfortable crossing at Shorewood Drive.
I already use this route when biking across Mercer Island to avoid the congestion in the sidewalk around the ST550/554 bus stops. As Andy said, it’s far more pleasant than the “official” route.
I commuted across Mercer Island five years ago. Never used the trail. It’s hillier than the street alternatives and it’a dangerous after dark.