Construction starting on “West Approach” to SR 520 Bridge will impact access to Arboretum

Heads up for drivers and neighbors: full highway closure this weekend, with overnight work SR 520 will be closed this weekend between Montlake Boulevard and 92nd Avenue Northeast to allow for critical construction activities. The highway will close at 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14 and reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17. Crews will take advantage of the closure to continue demolishing the section of the “Ramps to Nowhere” that passes over SR 520 near the Washington Park Arboretum. 

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WSDOT installing monitoring equipment in Union Bay Natural Area

Beginning as soon as the week of April 15, WSDOT will perform geotechnical investigations in the Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA). Crews will be taking soil samples and installing monitoring well equipment in and around the parking area to study soil and groundwater conditions. The information gathered helps us better understand the composition and characteristics of the ground in this area to prepare for future wetland mitigation work. 

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520 Bridge Mitigation Projects in the Arboretum

Say goodbye to the “ramps to nowhere.” As part of the new 520 bridge construction project, the ramps will be coming down. As announced in a recent press conference, WSDOT will pay Seattle Parks and Recreation  $7.8 million for mitigation projects in the Arboretum.  These projects include the design and construction of a 1-mile multi-use trail, as well as improvements to Azalea Way Pond, parts of Arboretum Creek, and Foster Island. 

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WSDOT Starts SR520 Related Field Study at Arboretum

The Washington State Department of Transportation will start geotechnical and cultural field studies at the Washington Park Arboretum near the location of the future 520 bridge on August 6, 2012. Complete information can be found at the WSDOT 520 Project webpage. Cultural Resources Fields Study Factsheet Geotechnical Drilling Field Study Factsheet   

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Washington Park Arboretum Mitigation Plan Released by WSDOT

In the 2010 legislative session, a bill was introduced that required the Washington State Department of Transportation, in its efforts to push forward the 520 bridge renovation and replacement, to focus on minimizing and addressing potential impacts to the Washington Park Arboretum.  A group representing the Arboretum Botanical Garden Committee, which advises the University of Washington, City of Seattle and The Arboretum Foundation on the management and stewardship of the Washington Park Arboretum, worked with WSDOT on addressing issues outlined in ESSB 6392.  

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