The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) got the word out early this week to residents on streets neighboring Aurora Avenue about the SR 99 Intelligent Transportations Systems Project.
The project, which is a joint effort of WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), involves the installation of "Intelligent Transportation Systems," such as traffic cameras, new signal timing equipment including traffic sensors, and overhead electronic message boards. According to the project website, these traffic information tools are part of a $11.5 million project that will "bring more real-time traffic information to drivers on SR 99" in an attempt to "keep traffic and freight moving during construction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement."
While much of the project work, which began in January and is expected to finish this July, will take place Monday through Friday during the day, some of the construction will happen at night to avoid significant traffic backups since multiple lane closures will be required to install traffic sensors in the pavement. For this reason, WSDOT notified nearby residents that crews will be working at Aurora intersections from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. beginning in late February or early March at Winona Avenue North and moving north to major intersections, eventually finishing at N 145th Street.
In addition to lane closures, the document delivered to area residents reported that the nocturnal activities will be accompanied by the sounds of "compressed air powered hand drills, generators, and small vacuums." In an effort to reduce the effect of the noise, WSDOT will:
- Complete work at one intersection per night and move on to the next intersection on the following weeknight.
- Limit idling of large trucks to less than two minutes at a time.
- Provide earplugs to people who request them at 206-357-6295.
For more information on the Intelligent Transportations Systems Project, visit the project website. To speak to someone about the noise issues, contact the overnight noise hotline at 206-478-9821 or the daytime hotline at 206-298-5463.
