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WSDOT project staff, noise experts and members of the Greenlake and Licton Springs neighborhoods
met to talk about noise wall specifics.
Project Facts
- Some residents will experience up to a 10 decibel reduction in noise.
- This project is funded by the 2005 Gas Tax.
- Construction of walls on the west side of I-5 is scheduled to begin in summer 2008.
May 2008
- WSDOT has selected Wilder Construction Company to construct three noise walls on the west side of I-5. Construction is anticipated to begin late June/early July.
- At the beginning of the year, WSDOT finalized the design (pdf 217 kb) of the three west side noise walls.
- Nearby property owners attended a design workshop in August 2007 about design treatments and color options for the neighborhood side of the noise walls on the west side of I-5.
- Noise wall design for the east side of I-5 is pending the proposed construction of a Sound Transit light-rail extension along the freeway.
WSDOT designed three noise walls along the west side of I-5 between 5th Avenue NE and NE 92nd Street in North Seattle. Construction of these walls is scheduled to begin this spring.
In 2008, WSDOT plans to begin designing a noise wall on the east side of I-5 in this area.
Why is WSDOT
constructing noise walls in this area?
Residents of Seattle's Maple Leaf, Licton Springs and North Green Lake neighborhoods who live near I-5 experience high noise levels. When we built I-5 in the 1960s, noise was less of a concern, largely because there was less traffic. Since then, noise levels increased significantly as traffic grew. Today, these neighborhoods are high priorities on our statewide noise retrofit list.
WSDOT wants to make sure that noise wall construction on the east side of I-5 is closely coordinated with Sound Transit’s proposed light rail extension in the vicinity of the project. WSDOT is concerned that if the wall is designed and built now, it may need to be demolished and rebuilt to accommodate construction of a light rail extension in the future.
The End Result
Nearby residents will experience a reduction in freeway traffic noise. Noise walls constructed in this area will reduce noise levels by up to half in areas closest to the walls.
Project Benefits
Noise Reduction: Noise walls are designed to provide a minimum five decibel reduction in average background traffic noise for the first row of residences located directly behind the wall, with up to a 7 decibel reduction in at least one location.
The noise walls constructed in these neighborhoods will reduce noise by up to 10 decibels in some areas. To the human ear, a 10 decibel reduction sounds half as loud as the original noise level. Other areas near the walls will notice a reduction in noise even with just a 3 decibel reduction.
What is the project timeline?
2005-2006: Planning phase. WSDOT coordinated with the city of Seattle and Sound Transit to assure noise wall construction will allow space for possible construction of Sound Transit's North Link Light Rail project in the future.
2006-2008: Design of west side walls
June 2007: WSDOT polled neighbors within 500 feet of the proposed noise walls on the west side of I-5 to determine community support before moving forward with final design.
Summer 2008: Begin construction of west side walls with support of surrounding communities. Tentatively scheduled to begin design of east side walls.
Public Involvement
In August 2007, WSDOT hosted a design workshop related to the noise walls on the west side of I-5. Nearby property owners attended and provided input about four noise wall design treatments and three color options for the neighborhood side of the walls.
WSDOT facilitated a community poll with eligible voters behind the proposed west side walls in June 2007.
WSDOT held a community meeting on Dec. 13, 2006 to discuss possible construction of a noise wall on the east side of I-5 with the Maple Leaf Community.
WSDOT sends periodic web updates to residents in the project area. Please contact the Project Engineer, Erin Fletcher, if you would like to receive e-mail updates.
Environmental Protection
The project's resultant noise reduction is beneficial to the surrounding environment and communities.
During construction the contractor will install erosion control measures to contain sediment and debris at the construction site.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
During the construction phase of this project, WSDOT will implement all necessary traffic management and safety measures.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
The limits of this project do not fall within tribal lands. At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
Financial Information
The project is funded by the following sources:
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Erin Fletcher
Project Engineer
WSDOT Urban Corridors Office
600 Stewart Street, Suite 520
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-770-3504
E-mail: FletchE@wsdot.wa.gov
Mike Murphy
WSDOT Communications
Phone: 206-440-4699
E-mail: MurphyM@wsdot.wa.gov
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