Washington State Department of Transportation – Traffic Advisory
Drivers can expect overnight lane closures across the Aurora Bridge starting Monday night as crews begin work to build a safety fence.
Crews will close two northbound lanes and the northbound sidewalk between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Monday, May 24, and Thursday, May 27. During the closures crews will install work lights and filters to prevent construction debris from getting in storm drains.
Additionally, one lane of eastbound or westbound Queen Anne Drive may be closed intermittently from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, May 24 through Thursday, May 27, for x-rays of the concrete bridge deck. The x-rays will verify the location of rebar in the bridge deck to determine where crews can safely drill holes for the fence’s anchor bolts.
In this project workers from Massana Construction will build an 8 foot 9 inch tall fence attached the outer edge of the 78-year-old bridge. The $4.6 million project is designed to discourage people who want to jump off the bridge.
Fence construction will begin in early June and continue through the fall. Crews will mainly work Sunday through Thursday nights with occasional daytime work possible. Work will proceed around the outside of the bridge in a mobile operation. First, crews will drill holes to connect the fence to the bridge. Next, they will bolt the fence posts into place. Once the posts are secure, they will install the fence panels. Nearby residents can expect noise levels to increase and decrease throughout the project.
Crews will minimize construction noise by using steel cases to muffle the sound of drilling and by placing wooden boxes around generators. WSDOT also set up a 24-hour noise hotline (206-440-4099) for the project. Local residents can call the hotline if they have questions or concerns about construction noise and also to request free earplugs.
For more information: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/AuroraBridgeFence
Greg Phipps, WSDOT Communications, 206-267-6019, 206-949-8078 (cell), phippsg@wsdot.wa.gov
Aleta Borschowa, WSDOT Project Engineer, 206-768-5862
