[nfbwatlk] Sound Transit Project Update-University Link

Sat May 2 06:52:29 UTC 2009

      www.soundtransit.org/u-link  

            Workers excavate and grade the foundation for the new kitchen facilities at Husky Stadium 

            Heavy timbers salvaged from buildings on Broadway  

            Capitol Hill Construction 
            Open House 
            Thursday, May 7, 2009 
            6 to 8 p.m.  (presentation begins at 6:30) 
            Seattle Central Community College, Rm 1110 
            1701 Broadway, Seattle 

            Jeff Munnoch 
            Community Outreach Specialist 
            jeff.munnoch at soundtransit.org or 206-398-5131 

     U-Link Project Update for April 2009  

      In this issue: 
        a.. Olive Way off-ramp will close for a year starting in May 
        b.. Construction open house for Capitol Hill & I-5 undercrossing 
        c.. City approves pedestrian bridge permit 
        d.. Construction continues at UW Station 
        e.. Recycling and salvage success on Capitol Hill 
        f.. What is University Link? 

      Olive Way off-ramp will close for a year starting in May 
      In early 2011, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will dig the light rail tunnels between apitol Hill and downtown Seattle will start working south from Capitol Hill. However, before the TBM reaches the Pine Street area in late 2011, the ground under I-5 must be prepared for its arrival. This work requires temporary closures of the Olive Way off-ramp from northbound I-5, the Cherry Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 and the Pike/Pine reversible HOV ramp to the I-5 express lanes. 

      Sound Transit is working closely with the Washington State Department of  ransportation, the City of Seattle and King County Metro during these closures. Drivers should expect the following: 

      . As early as May 18, 2009 the Olive Way off-ramp from northbound I-5 will be closed for about one year.  

      . The Cherry Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 and one lane of northbound I-5 will close for about four weeks as early as May 26, 2009 (this ramp will also close for about four weeks in Spring 2010). While the Cherry Street on-ramp is closed, the Cherry Street entrance to the I-5 express lanes from 5th Avenue will be open to all traffic (currently HOV-only). 

      . The Pike/Pine reversible HOV ramp from the I-5 express lanes will close for about one year starting in mid-June 2009. Buses will still use the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. 

      After the ramps are closed, Sound Transit's contractor, Condon-Johnson, will construct four access pits (each approximately 60 feet deep) to prepare for the TBM to pass through the existing retaining walls. Once the pits are excavated and access is created through the retaining walls, the pits will be backfilled with a cement-like material. 

      For more information, please attend the May 7 open house (see below) or 
      e-mail Erin Hunter at erin.hunter at soundtransit.org. 

      Construction open house for Capitol Hill & I-5 undercrossing 
      Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009 
      Time: 6 to 8 p.m. (presentation begins at 6:30) 
      Location: Seattle Central Community College, Room 1110 
       1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122 

      To keep you informed, Sound Transit is hosting frequent community meetings. Please join us, ask questions and learn more about the construction schedule, the work taking place on I-5 (see above) or other Capitol Hill construction activities. 

      City approves pedestrian bridge permit 
      The Seattle City Council unanimously approved conceptual design of a pedestrian bridge connecting the University of Washington Station to the lower campus at Rainier Vista on April 13th. The long curved bridge will provide a safe, grade-separated crossing of Pacific Place and Montlake Boulevard. It will also improve wayfinding and accessibility and, since it's above ground, it will also provide good visibility and safety for users. 

      The City Council decision follows earlier approvals by the UW Architectural Commission, and the UW Board of Regents. The City's Light Rail Review Panel and the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation also recommended approval of the bridge. 

      Construction continues at UW Station 
      Sound Transit's contractor, Granite NW, is continuing to install underground ductwork near Husky Stadium. The contractor has completed the combined utility ductbank on the southwest side of the stadium, and will continue the installation at the western entrance. Asbestos removal is underway for the two buildings on the West side of the stadium (the concessions stand and guest services building).  Once the asbestos is removed, demolition will begin. 

      Construction is underway on the new kitchen building on the north side of the stadium. Crews have excavated the foundation and utilities and installed vertical columns that form the retaining wall behind the kitchen. 

      Recycling and salvage success on Capitol Hill 
      Sound Transit and the Capitol Hill demolition contractor take recycling and salvage very seriously. The contractor, NRC Environmental, is working hard to meet and exceed the contract's goal of 75 percent recycling/salvage. 

      In its recycling efforts to date, the contractor has: 
      . Recycled bricks, wood, metal and other building materials. As of April 15, the contractor had recycled 1,450 tons of recyclable materials. 

      . Worked with tree transplant companies and individuals and offered trees for removal and transplant. Two trees were removed and donated to a local church for replanting. 

      . Donated tree stumps and root balls of some of the trees that are too large to be transplanted, for use in local salmon habitat restoration projects. 

      . Provided select items, on a case-by-case basis, to neighbors and residents. These items include building columns, landscape fencing, and windows. 

      Land clearing debris is being sent to Cedar Grove for recycling. Cedar Grove has a 95 percent recycling rate and is making assorted landscape materials from the debris. Sound Transit intends to include recycling/salvage goals in all of its construction contracts. For more information about the recycling efforts, including a detailed breakdown of recycled or salvaged materials, click here. 

      What is University Link?  
      Construction is beginning on the University Link project, which extends light rail from downtown Seattle to the University District. U-Link includes 3.15 miles of twin-bore tunnels and two stations, one at Capitol Hill (Broadway and East John Street), the other on the University of Washington campus near Husky Stadium. Local tax funding for U-Link was approved by voters and the project also recently received $813 million in a Federal Transit Administration grant. 

      U-Link is projected to add 70,000 daily riders to the Link system, bringing total daily ridership to 114,000 in 2030. Construction of U-Link will occur over the next seven years, with passenger service beginning in 2016. 

You are subscribed to Project Updates for University Link. You may unsubscribe from this alert at any time. You can view or update your subscriptions, password or e-mail address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. All you will need are your e-mail address and your password (if you selected one). 

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GovDelivery, Inc. sending on behalf of Sound Transit · 401 South Jackson St · Seattle WA 98104 · 206-398-5000 
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