COUNCIL SETS GUIDELINES FOR SR 520 BRIDGE /HOV PROJECT
Council makes interests known before the project design gets set in stone
SEATTLE –Today, the Council approved a set of guiding principles for planning the design of State Route (SR) 520 Bridge and HOV Project. Significant portions of SR 520 are aging and vulnerable to earthquakes. These principles will guide the Washington Department of Transportation (WDOT) and project partners on the Council’s strategies and initial design preferences.
“It is absolutely critical that we make this project work for our Seattle neighborhoods and residents by minimizing the impact of noise, traffic and pollution,” says Councilmember Richard Conlin, chair of the Transportation Committee. “The goal of the project is to replace an unstable structure, but also to improve connectivity and transportation flow throughout the region in a way that’s safe, reliable, and cost effective. Now is the time to make known our interests, before the project design gets set in stone.”
The Council’s four guiding principles focus on improving neighborhood livability, transportation connectivity, ecological sustainability and public involvement. Today’s legislation was developed in close consultation with affected communities. Changes were made in response to concerns raised last week.
The initial preferences and strategies include calls to:
- Continue to study the feasibility of moving the current SR520/Montlake Boulevard interchange to the vicinity of N.E. Pacific Street and Montlake Boulevard N.E. with consideration of the impacts to the University of Washington, the parks lands of the Arboretum, the public shoreline, and neighborhoods on both the north and south side of Lake Washington Ship Canal;
- Connect I-5 to a replacement floating bridge across Lake Washington with the minimal width over Portage Bay that is required to meet the mobility and safety requirements of the project;
- Limit SR 520 to no more than four general-purpose lanes allowing transit/HOV lanes, if feasible.
- Design SR 520 to accommodate existing bus transit and potential future High Capacity Transit across Lake Washington by providing a convenient transit connection and rider transfer point to the proposed University of Washington light rail station.
- Develop bicycle and pedestrian paths and connections to a number of locations.
- Ensure adequate freight turning radius and minimize grades to enable access to SR 520.
- Coordinate construction of SR 520 with that of Sound Transit’s light rail minimizing impacts.
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