New car-pool lane means I-90 changes

Starting Friday, westbound Interstate 90 car poolers, van poolers and transit will be traveling in a new car-pool lane between Bellevue and Mercer Island. The new lane will mean some changes for motorists:

For traffic westbound from east of Interstate 405 or entering westbound I-90 from northbound I-405, a double white line will separate the car-pool lane from the general traffic lane between Bellevue Way Southeast and the entrance to the reversible lanes. The double white line is intended to prevent traffic from last-second merging and weaving before the reversible lanes' entrance. Drivers who cross the double lines could get a $124 ticket.

Car pools, van pools and transit should merge into the car-pool lane before Bellevue Way Southeast so they can enter the I-90 reversible lanes' entrance at East Mercer Way.

For drivers entering westbound I-90 at Bellevue Way Southeast, car-pool-lane traffic can use the new direct-access ramp and enter I-90 in the car-pool lane without having to merge across three lanes of traffic. The double white line is intended to restrict access from the car-pool lane to East Mercer Way on Mercer Island because of the short merging distance. Traffic exiting at East Mercer Way should use the general-purpose ramp.

Both lanes on the existing two-lane onramp from Bellevue Way Southeast to westbound I-90 will be metered. There is no longer a car-pool-bypass lane on the ramp.

The state Department of Transportation advises drivers to watch for new signs and new areas where vehicles will be merging.

The new car-pool lane is part of the first stage of the Transportation Department and Sound Transit's I-90 two-way transit and car-pool- operations project.

Transportation officials hope the new lane will keep traffic moving by increasing the number of westbound lanes from four to five between Bellevue Way Southeast and East Mercer Way, and from three to four between East Mercer Way and 80th Avenue Southeast on Mercer Island.