B Downtown
Sound Transit Construction Hits Downtown This Summer BY AUGUSTA DEVRIES A quick update on the East Link project happening in Downtown Bellevue East Link Light Rail is on its way to becoming a reality in Bellevue with construction crews hitting the streets this past April. “Sound Transit is working closely with the City of Bellevue to
Graphic courtesy Sound Transit.
coordinate the traffic impacts of this project with other construction work taking
• South Portal site (112th Ave NE and
construction reroutes. During this work,
place downtown,” says Luke Lamon, Sound
Main Street): Sound Transit’s contractor
Sound Transit and the city of Bellevue
Transit’s East Link Community Outreach
will secure the site with fencing and a
will work with adjacent buildings and
Specialist. “While traffic impacts will
sound-protective wall, and will begin
businesses to ensure access and ease of
likely occur, we will work to manage those
demolition of the existing structures.
communication. This summer will be a
impacts and adjust the traffic control as
The contractor will work through spring
great time to take the bus if you want to
necessary.”
and summer preparing the site to
avoid possible downtown delays. Visit
support tunnel excavation, which will
ChooseYourWayBellevue.org for more
likely begin this fall.
information.
Sound Transit’s Business Relations program also works closely with those directly impacted by construction. The goal is to ensure that businesses are
• North Portal site (110th Ave NE and NE
Stay Connected
able to continue serving their customers
6th Street): In early summer, concurrent
throughout construction, and Sound
work will begin at the north portal site.
up for alerts at
Transit has a variety of tools available to
The contractor will need to excavate
soundtransit.org/subscribe-to-alerts.
assist in this effort.
soils between NE 6th & NE 4th along
For the most up to date information, sign
Or contact Luke Lamon at: luke.lamon@
110th Ave NE and the soil with a denser
soundtransit.org or by phone at (206) 903-
sites for heavy civil work in the downtown
material, more appropriate for the
7469.
tunnel, here are some key intersections to
tunnel crew to excavate. Intermittent
be aware of as summer construction ramps
full and partial closures of 110th Ave
up. (Exact times and durations of these
NE will be necessary to complete
impacts aren’t available at this time).
this work, lasting anywhere from
While crews are prepping utilities and
10–25 weeks. Detour and wayfinding signage will be posted throughout any
6
SUMMER 2016 . BELLEVUE DOWNTOWN