In winter 2006, construction crews began building the first of 10 noise walls along I-5 affecting portions of five Everett neighborhoods.
We expect noise wall construction to last approximately 2 1/2 years. Crews began work on the first noise wall in the Pinehurst neighborhood and are currently working in the Valley View, Riverside, and Lowell neighborhoods.
By August, 2007, the first and longest noise wall of the project, Pinehurst, was completed on the southbound side of I-5 between Lowell Bridge and 75th Street Bridge.
Other Noise Wall updates include:
- The Valley View noise wall, located south of 75th Street on the northbound I-5 side is complete except for some sealing and caulking;
- the Lowell noise wall near the northbound I-5 exit to 41st Street and under the Broadway exit ramp is also completed except for some sealing and caulking;
- the Harrison Ave. noise wall between 23rd Street and Marine View Drive along northbound I-5 is complete;
- work on the northbound noise wall south of 23rd Street to Everett Ave is underway;
- most of the shaft drilling to support the noise wall panels along southbound I-5 between 23rd Street and Everett Ave is done; crews are challenged with working so close to the Everett Ave exit ramp;
- shafts are drilled and crews are waiting for a delivery of panels to install along the northbound noise wall north of Lowell Bridge; work on the wall south of the Lowell Bridge will begin this fall;
- the last noise wall on the project will be built along southbound I-5 just south of the 75th Street Bridge.
Early in the process, neighborhoods voted for a choice between three standard finishes for noise walls facing their neighborhood. When two neighborhoods shared a noise wall, representatives had to cooperatively decide on one finish. By the time the design phase of the project ended, every neighborhood receiving a noise wall had voted and chosen one finish: fractured granite. With certain exceptions, each noise wall bordering a neighborhood will have this fractured granite 'look' facing in towards their parks and homes.
What three finishes did neighborhoods have to choose from?
Neighbors chose between three standard finishes offered for their aesthetic value and their economical and low-maintenance appeal. The three finishes included the following choices:
| fractured granite |
random board |
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| textured round stone |
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What about other community aesthetics, including landscaping?
We worked with the City of Everett to finalize aesthetic design improvements for noise walls facing the freeway-side of I-5 and on retaining walls and bridge foundations. The City solicited proposals and selected an artist who provided designs for each of the three primary areas on the project: North, Central, and South. His designs were incorporated in the cast concrete panels and can be seen displayed today on completed walls and retaining walls throughout the project. Contact the City of Everett for more details on this exciting artist and his designs that now beautify the freeway through Everett.
Since landscaping must occur during the regular growing season, most re-landscaping of work areas will happen at the end of the project in the spring of 2008. All landscaping efforts will include native plants and plants deemed most appropriate for ensuring the safety of the traveling public and ease of freeway maintenance. The project team is working closely with the City of Everett to make each of the key 'entrances' to the City a striking, warm, and attractive welcome to citizens of Everett and to the City's many visitors.
Project workers will need to remove trees to build some noise walls, to expand bridges, to add the new HOV lanes, and to make room for other construction. We will do our best to save trees when possible and provide re-landscaping in work areas.
Where can I get more information?
Your questions, opinions and interest in the project are important to us. We welcome your thoughts and comments anytime. Project updates are available online or contact Connie Lewis at 425.405.1796 or Ryan Bianchi at 425.405.1785.