Tomorrow SR520 Update Meeting On Montlake Phase And Traffic Impacts

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) would like to encourage neighbors to attend the SR520 monthly update meeting tomorrow at 5:30pm; this one focusing on the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP) and traffic impacts with the upcoming Montlake Phase interchange.

It will be held at Saint Demetrios Hall (2100 Boyer Avenue East).  
LCC said:

This meeting is important for understanding and giving input for the traffic impacts that will happen when the Montlake Interchange is torn up in the next phase of the SR520 re-build.   

We, in Laurelhurst, are heavily impacted as our geography almost turns us into an island, so I strongly encourage all users whether going to the Eastside, Downtown Seattle, or simply crossing through to attend this meeting.

The information says:

The City of Seattle will also share information on  the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Phase 3, future RapidRide lines and other Seattle neighborhood transportation projects. 

At 5:45pm, there will be a short presentation focused on the NTMP followed by time for questions and answers with WSDOT and SDOT as a full group and one-on-one.  

The draft report and a link to a short online survey is posted on the SR 520 Montlake Phase web page.   

The comment period runs from today through April 4.  Comments will be accepted through the online survey, email, mail, or in-person at tomorrow night's meeting.

Important SR520 West Approach Bridge North Rebuilding Meeting Thursday For All Affected Neighborhoods

This diagram shows the net change in traffic patterns (in vehicles-per-hour) expected from the WABN plan (courtesy of TheMontlaker.com)

Thursday night at 6:30pm, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is holding an informational meeting on the rebuilding of SR520 West Approach Bridge North (WABN) scheduled for this summer, which will be held at the Queen City Yacht Club (2608 Boyer Ave East).

Colleen McAleer, a Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) Board member, told us that "this projects affects everyone in the neighborhood for the next 4 years with construction and access to SR520 and through to I-5. Many folks have questions and comments that can be addressed at the meeting."

Colleen sent this information::

Invitation to all Laurelhurst neighbors! Please attend to show your interest, and get your questions answered about this "partial " bridge and its impacts.

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) has been active in the Replacement of the SR520 Bridge and working with adjacent neighborhoods who share their concerns.

The Montlaker Blog published this post last year: Good and bad in the new West Approach Bridge North and covered the WABN basics:

• a new 3-lane elevated viaduct across Union Bay westbound 

• relocation of the Lake Wash Blvd exit ramp to 24th Ave E (the ex-MOHAI ramp) 

• a 14′ wide regional trail across the new floating bridge

The two year plan will entail several mitigation projects, including a new Arboretum multi-use trail, wetland mitigation at the WSDOT Peninsula and Bryant Park — a restored shoreline at the foot of Brooklyn Avenue next to UW.

However, the WABN plan is pretty thin when it comes to mitigating local mobility impacts. Two areas that will receive a bit of attention are Montlake Blvd over 520 and the intersection of Lake Washington Blvd and 24th Ave E, which will be the new location of the existing Arboretum exit ramp.

The improvements to Montlake Blvd reportedly will include new curb ramps and a rebuilt southbound transit island.

At a January meeting with community representatives, WSDOT officials stated that metal railings separating pedestrian areas from traffic lanes would also be included. The basic lane configuration will remain mostly as is, except for the westbound Montlake Blvd exit ramp which will have two lanes terminating at a new signalized traffic light and the eastbound Montlake Blvd exit ramp will terminate with an extra left turn only lane. The northbound transit stop and bicycle lockers relocated.

Go here for more information:

WSDOT 520 site

520 Legislative Work Group

520 Legislative Work Group Meetings

520 Design Options