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I-90 tolling proposal public input opportunity
I received the following memo from WSDOT this week. We are entering the phase of finalizing the funding plan for the Western landing for 520. One of the options is tolling I-90 to pay for the remaining $1.4 billion in work to be done. We currently have enough money in the budget to connect the…
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Legislative Update
We’ve gone through the first week. The governor and the state-wide officials have all been inaugurated, I fit into the same tuxedo I got married in 23 years ago for the inaugural ball, the Senate is in uproar about Senator Tom’s defection and the consequent change in partisan control, the sun came out (briefly) in…
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Openings for Boats on the 520 Bridge
WSDOT has negotiated a better deal with the Coast Guard regarding bridge openings when boats with tall masts want pass. More hours in the exclusion zone and more notice. If you travel the bridge frequently you may want to sign up for WSDOTs text message alert service. When they know, you’ll know. This is a…
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520 Bridge Openings will be More Frequent
I was astounded the other day to drive across 520 and see the reader board announcing an opening mid-day on a weekend. In the past these seemed to happen at night or sometime when it didn’t impact me. Presumably this was by design. There’s been a change due to the construction activity and I got…
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SR 520 open houses this Tuesday and Wednesday evenings
I received the following update from the WSDOT today. These meetings may be interesting for folks to know what’s happening on the 520 project. ————————— After 15 years of design and analysis, this week we are launching visible construction on Lake Washington for the new SR 520 floating bridge. Join us at open houses Tuesday…
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520 Tolling to Start Dec 29
WSDOT sent out the following press release today. You may want to get your Good to Go pass soon.The pass offers a significant discount on the toll. Ross ————- SR 520 tolling to start on Thursday, December 29 Today we announced that tolling will start on SR 520 on Thursday, December 29. If drivers haven’t…
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Progress on 520, not without controversy
If you drive on 520 you can see that progress is being made, or at least that there is a lot of construction activity. The start of construction was a shock to many people, particularly the removal of the trees necessary to do the work widening and moving the landing in Medina about 200′ north…
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520 Update
The Eastside project (405 to the landing in Medina) is underway. They are removing some trees now and expect to continue to do work for the next few years. If you go to the project website you can sign up for newsletters which will alert you to closures and other useful bits of knowledge. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/…
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WSDOT requests proposals for SR 520 floating bridge
Three teams compete for $600 million to $750 million contract SEATTLE – The clock starts today for three prequalified teams who want to design and build the new SR 520 floating bridge, estimated to cost $600 million to $750 million. The new bridge will replace the existing vulnerable floating bridge with a six-lane facility that…
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520 Groundbreaking
On Monday we dug a ceremonial set of shovels into the ground for the eastside portion of the 520 project. A contractor has been selected, the bid has been accepted (saved $116 million, about 25% under estimates) and the project will get under way. The reality here is that they’ll start real construction in the…