Date:
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Contact:
Joy Carpine, WSDOT Communications, (206) 491-6974 (cell), (206) 464-1186 (Seattle)
Amy Grotefendt, SR 520 Communications, (206) 295-9846 (cell)
SEATTLE – Today, the Washington State Department of Transportation outlined a path forward for the SR 520 Project that responds to public comments, advances design and engineering, and completes the environmental process. The plan to move the project forward was presented at the SR 520 Executive Committee meeting at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle on June 26. WSDOT will share the same plan with the public at open houses on:
- Tuesday, June 26, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Bellevue High School, 10416 Wolverine Way, Bellevue
- Thursday, June 28, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Stevens Elementary School, 1242 18th Avenue East, Seattle
WSDOT will also participate in a mediation process along with the University of Washington, Seattle neighborhoods, and other interest groups. The outcome will be a project impact plan for the west side corridor by the end of 2008. As required by ESSB 6690, a finance plan will also be prepared and submitted to the Legislature and Governor in January 2008.
“We look forward to participating in the mediation process for the west side of the corridor, which is the remaining design issue to decide,” said Ron Paananen, WSDOT Project Director.
The project issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement last fall, followed by a public comment period. WSDOT heard questions in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement from the public about plans to reduce construction effects on local communities, construction plans, traffic on local streets, and the bridge’s west-side design.
WSDOT is responding to those questions by working with Eastside jurisdictions on mitigation and design plans, continuing planning for construction effects along the entire corridor, and advancing engineering for the floating bridge. The project team will produce a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement with additional analysis on issues of most concern to the public.
The SR 520 bridges and structures are vulnerable to earthquakes and windstorms, and need to be replaced. The new SR 520 with will keep drivers safer, improve travel-time reliability for people crossing the lake, provide a new lane for transit and high occupancy vehicles, and support future high capacity transit on the pontoons.
“Replacing the vulnerable SR 520 bridges and structures is a top priority for the state and region,” said Aubrey Davis, the SR 520 Executive Committee chair. “Today we have a plan in place to ensure we preserve this critical corridor and improve cross-lake travel by adding transit and HOV lanes.”
For more information visit WSDOT’s Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge
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