520 Bridge Construction Impacting Nearby Homes

The monthly information meetings with the Washington Dept. of Transportation and the Flat Iron Construction Co. are continuing on the first Wednesday of every month at the Arboretum’s Graham Visitor’s Center. At the April 1st meeting the teams brought new aerial photos showing the WBAN progress.

There was discussion of the problems that have occurred recently. The accident involving a metro bus that was hit by a falling overhead sign was detailed. That occurred when large pipes were being off-loaded from a truck parked on the shoulder in the staging area. A pipe slipped and hit the overhead sign, causing it to fall, hitting the front of the bus. Several bus passengers and the driver were injured. This incident is still being investigated. WSDOT reported that there are safety officers on site who watch for potential hazzards and dangersous situations. Their priority is keeping all workers and motorists safe.

There was also discussion about vibration from the construction activities and the impact it could have on our historic homes. There are 10 vibration monitors in place which are monitored continuiously. These meters are located on Hamlin St., Lake WA Blvd., Roanoke St., and at Canterbury Shores and the Edgewater Apartments in Madison Park. One Montlake property owner has reported ceiling cracks have developed in his home since construction began. WSDOT is investigating this.

A neighbor on Hamlin Street reported that a large truck hauling a double trailer heading north near the Montlake Blvd. Market, missed the turn on Lake WA Blvd. and proceeded to Hamlin Street. At the end of Hamlin, when the driver realized he could not enter the staging area, he backed up knocking over a street light on the Hamlin parking strip. To make the left turn to East Park Drive, he drove over the parking strip, flattening a No Parking sign and tearing up the lawn on the parking strip.
A member from the Seattle Yacht Club reminded the audience that all the usual Opening Day of Yachting activities would occur this year on Saturday, May 2nd. He reminded people that there was no parking available in the MOHAI area this year and those who have used that parking lot in the past would need to make other arrangements.

WSDOT staff announced construction activities that would close 520 and other streets in the coming month. Lake Washington Blvd. will be closed for a weekend so that new, large pipes can be installed and man holes can be replaced to collect larger amounts of rain water from the new larger 520 roadway. The water is then funneled to the treatment plant.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 5:30 pm – Arboretum’s Graham Visitor’s Center