The SR 520 bridge an important project, and one of the key things I work on as a legislator. We have struggled with this project for the entire time I have been in the legislature. The project we are moving forward with will look mostly like the A+ option determined in the SR 520 legislative workgroup this summer and fall. You can find out more about this specific option at the following website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/partners/sr520legislativeworkgroup/options.htm
On March 2nd the House passed 6392 with some minor modifications from the original Senate bill. This is a huge win – the House has blocked forward passage on 520 for years, and we finally overcame the opposition from influential members on the other end of the bridge. Some modifications were made that I believe improve functionality, including identifying some funding for building an additional Sound Transit Link Light Rail station under the Montlake interchange. This would allow a vastly more effective transit connection and would remove many busses from Montlake Avenue, improving the traffic pattern in the neighborhood.
Info on the bill itself can be found here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6392&year=2009
I expect construction to start on the Eastside projects as soon as this fall or early spring, and the design effort on the Westside landing will continue within the boundaries of the current environmental impact statement. I expect the final design issues on the Westside to be done in the next few months.
I am incredibly pleased with this development, and expect the Senate to concur with our changes in the next few days.
