June 7, 2023
Additional I-90 Construction Work Ahead
WSDOT is conducting several necessary ramp closures that will impact traffic flow on Mercer Island, including a recently-announced closure related to the I-90 Sunset Creek fish passage project.

From 10:00pm - 5:00am overnight on the evenings of Monday, June 12, Tuesday, June 13, and Thursday, June 22, the northbound and southbound I-405 ramps to eastbound I-90 will be closed. Drivers will instead detour to Merer Island using the East Mercer Way exit to reroute.

Islanders can get additional details on these closures using WSDOT’s Real-time Travel Map.
Riley Cove Dedication Ceremony Takes Place
Yesterday afternoon, Islanders, friends, and family attended a ceremony to dedicate Riley Cove - this small bay off Lincoln Landing is now officially named after Huston (Hu) Riley, a lifelong resident of the Island and U.S. Army veteran in the 1st Infantry Division.

Riley was the subject of Robert Capa’s famous wartime photo of a lone American soldier fighting through the surf during the 1944 D-Day landing at Omaha Beach, featured on the cover of Life magazine. After returning from war, he remained involved in the Mercer Island community, including as an active member of the local VFW Post 5760 and the board of the Mercer Island Historical Society.

Riley's family, Historical Society representatives, Mayor Nice, and members of City Council spoke at the event, honoring Riley's contributions to the community and the hard work of all those involved in naming the body of water in his honor. Learn more by reading the MI Reporter's article covering the ceremony.
June: Pride Month and Juneteenth
In recognition of both Pride Month and Juneteenth, City Council issued two proclamations at yesterday's special hybrid meeting.

Proclamation No. 310 establishes June as Pride Month on Mercer Island, commemorating the June 28, 1969 Stonewall riots and supporting LGBTQ+ equality.

Proclamation No. 311 recognizes June 19 as Juneteenth on Mercer Island. Juneteenth, which takes place on June 19 each year, is recognized across the nation as a day to remember the history of systemic racism, slavery, and inequality in America.

You can watch the council meeting recording on the City Website.
An Update on Fire Services Proposals
At yesterday's special hybrid meeting, Mercer Island City Manager Jessi Bon and City staff presented an initial analysis of the proposals from two regional fire service providers: the City of Bellevue and Eastside Fire & Rescue.

This presentation provided Council with an opportunity to discuss the proposals and seek clarification on issues prior to the City Manager preparing a formal recommendation. You can learn more about this process and review the proposals on Let's Talk.
King County Sewer Work Continues
Crews completed the first phase of construction on North Mercer Way as part of the King County sewer line replacement project. Work will now transition to phase two, with North Mercer Way closed east of 81st Ave SE.

During phase two, there will be no eastbound turns onto North Mercer Way from 81st Ave SE and there will be no westbound turns onto North Mercer Way from the Mercer Isle Condos exit driveway. You can learn more about this project on the County's website.
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