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I-5 - 5th Ave. NE to NE 92nd Street Noise Wall

The walls on the west side of the freeway are finished and the wall on the east side of the freeway is currently being constructed.
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WSDOT project staff, noise experts and members of the Green Lake and Licton Springs neighborhoods met to talk about noise wall specifics.

Status

November 2009

  • The contract to build Wall 1-North has been awarded to Massana Construction.
  • Construction is under way on Wall 1-North. Construction crews have started clearing the area to make room for the noise wall.
  • There will be lane restrictions and parking impacts along 1st Ave. NE due to the construction.
  • The three noise walls on the west side of the freeway (Stage 1) are now complete. Some additional landscaping on the freeway side of the noise walls will be necessary beginning in Fall 2009.

We are building a series of noise walls along I-5 in Seattle's Green Lake and Licton Springs neighborhoods. We completed the first stage of the project when we installed three noise walls on the west side of the freeway. The second stage will build another wall on the east side of the freeway.

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.

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 seven 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 three decibel reduction.

What is the project timeline?

Stage 1:

  • 2005-2007: Planning phase.
  • 2007-2008: Design noise walls and complete community polling process.
  • 2008-2009: Construction of west side noise walls. Construction of Stage 1 began in July 2008 and the noise walls were completed in spring 2009. 

Stage 2:

  • 2005-2007: Planning phase. With support from legislators and the Maple Leaf community in early 2007, WSDOT postponed the design and construction of the proposed noise wall on the east side of I-5.
  • 2008: Design east side noise wall and conduct community poll with property owners.
  • 2009-2010: Begin construction of Wall 1-North in summer/fall 2009. The project is scheduled to be complete in spring/summer 2010.

Financial Information

The project is funded by the following sources:

  • 2005 Gas Tax (Partnership Funding) - $9.083 million
  • Total Funding from all Sources - $9.083 million

 

How can I get more information?
Contact:

Email: NWNoiseWalls@wsdot.wa.gov

Erin Fletcher
WSDOT Project Engineer
206-770-3504

Michell Mouton
WSDOT Communications
206-464-1249

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