We are moving forward with the Medina to SR 202: Eastside Transit and HOV Project. We completed the environmental review process in May 2010 and plan to have a contractor on board by the end of the year. We are funded to break ground in 2011 and expect to complete the project in 2014.
As part of this project, WSDOT will construct noise walls between Evergreen Point Road and Bellevue Way. The noise walls will range between 4 and 24 feet high, depending on location.
What will be the end result?
Given the characteristics of how noise travels, noise walls are most effective at reducing noise up to 500 feet from the edge of the SR 520 roadway. Therefore, after we install the noise walls, residents living closest to the noise walls will experience the largest reduction in roadway traffic noise. Residents farther away from the walls will notice less of a benefit.
When would noise walls be constructed?
We plan to begin construction of the Eastside project in early 2011. The contractor will be responsible for developing a detailed construction schedule, including the timeline for building noise walls.
Where would noise walls be constructed?
Noise walls will generally be installed at the edge of the new roadway. You can click each of the images below to open an expanded PDF file with additional information, including planned noise wall heights.
Wall 1 - Between Evergreen Point Road NE and 84th Avenue NE
Wall 2 - Between 84th Avenue NE and 92nd Avenue NE
Wall 3 - Between 92nd Avenue NE and Bellevue Way NE
What will the noise walls look like?
You can click the images below to open expanded PDF files with additional information, including images of existing conditions and vicinity maps. Please note that the images below reflect conceptual plans with vegetation at five years of growth.
| Wall 1 |
Wall 1-South at Bellevue Christian School
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Wall 1-South at NE 28th Street trail connection
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Wall 1-North at Fairweather Place trail connection (creek crossing)
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| Wall 2 |
Wall 2-Southeast of NE 32nd Street
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Wall 2-North at Wetherill Nature Preserve trail
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Wall 2-North at Points Loop Trail and NE 33rd Street
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| Wall 3 |
Wall 3-South at NE 35th Street and 96th Avenue NE
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Wall 3-South at NE 35th Street trail access
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Wall 3-South at 103rd Place NE
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Wall 3-North at 92nd Avenue NE and Points Drive NE
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Wall 3-North at NE Points Drive and 101st Way NE
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Has WSDOT considered other methods to reduce noise, such as quieter pavement?
WSDOT has selected quieter pavement test sites to see how quieter pavement performs in the Pacific Northwest's unique driving and climate conditions. WSDOT is studying the test sections of quieter pavement for five years to measure durability, quality and quantity of noise reduction, and how noise suppression abilities perform over time. This information will help policymakers, WSDOT, and others make more informed decisions about incorporating quieter pavement into highway projects in the future. Currently, one of the quieter pavement test sections is on SR 520 through Bellevue.
Please visit the Quieter Pavement website for more information.