Please help send a message to the Governor and the legislature by signing this petition.

WSDOT and Skanska have changed the construction methods of the SR 520 Portage Bay bridge project at the west end of the bridge. The intent is to reinforce the hillside between Delmar and Boyer, basically across the street from the Queen City Yacht Club. avoid building walls as originally designed and proposed, they need to remove and replace nearly 30,000 cubic yards of soil on the Boyer hillside.

With just 10 days’ notice, WSDOT has informed us that they will be working "around the clock (24/7) for approximately four months ". The first phase starts on Monday, 7/20/26 and will last 2 months. The real impact is that it represents approximately 3,000 truckloads through the neighborhoods of Montlake, Portage Bay, Roanoke, Eastlake, University District and beyond. This will create traffic, noise and air quality impacts not anticipated by the neighbors nor the original design. 

WSDOT has acknowledged that "this proposed process does not match what was originally planned and will have different impacts on the neighborhood". In truth, this plan does not come close to what has been discussed for years. 30,000 cubic yards of soil and nearly 3,000 truckloads create a massive impact to the communities even remotely associated with the project.

There are questions as to whether or not the proposal meets the environmental laws that govern the project. WSDOT has not given any indication that they have considered the cradle to grave carbon footprint of the change. There are also questions as to whether the plan meets the terms and conditions of the noise variance for the project. However, the spirit of the environmental laws, the EIS and the noise variance has been rejected by this proposal. They are boxing the public out of the ability to challenge their proposal.

The new proposal will change the haul routes from what had been previously agreed to. There is some question as to the reason for the change. But for now, their new plan will change the routes of the truck traffic from Roanoke, E Montlake Pl E, 19th, E Lynn, Boyer, Fuhrman, Eastlake, the University Bridge, 12th and on to 45th and I-5. There are alternate routes equally objectionable.

WSDOT’s singular responsibility is public safety. The proposed change will allow WSDOT to ignore their mandate. There is no indication WSDOT has considered alternatives that would lessen the impact on the neighbors such as direct access to SR 520 or the use of the work bridges.

Please contact Senator Jamie Pedersen to voice your concern.

jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov

The link to WSDOT proposal - https://sr520construction.com/portage-bay-major-construction-updates/