Project updates
Learn about where and when construction is happening throughout the ST district.
East Link Extension

BelRed updates: 124th Avenue NE to NE 20th Street

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Sound Transit contractors continue to prepare the construction work zone for East Link in the BelRed area between approximately 124th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 20th Street. While demolition of structures within the Sound Transit work zone and pre-construction surveying continue to get underway, additional upcoming activities include:

  • Utility disconnections to buildings within the Sound Transit construction work zone - Ongoing
  • Clearing trees and understory vegetation to prepare work zones for construction - Ongoing with more visible clearing to begin during the week of 6/5
  • Utility pole installation along NE Spring Blvd and 136th Pl NE, and on 130th Ave NE - Beginning as early as the week of 6/12
  • Reminder: BelRed Construction Kickoff Open House June 13, 2017

Continue reading for more details on these activities.

Utility disconnections to buildings within the Sound Transit construction work zone

Over the next few weeks, Sound Transit’s contractors and third party utility companies will work along roadway at 130th and 132nd Avenues NE, NE Spring Boulevard and 136th Pl NE to perform utility disconnections to structures that will be demolished. In some instances you may see intermittent single-lane closures with traffic control in place to ensure a safe work zone. Demolition of structures will continue into the summer.

Map of Bel-Red staging area

 

Clearing trees and understory vegetation to prepare work zones for construction

Sound Transit's contractors have begun clearing trees and understory vegetation in the Sound Transit work zone along the corridor in BelRed. The more visible portion of this work will get underway along NE Spring Blvd and 136th Pl NE during the week of June 6. Trees located where the light rail route or roadway will exist need to be removed in order to build the project. Sound Transit has worked closely with the City of Bellevue and Washington State Department of Ecology in development, review and approval of plans for clearing trees and understory vegetation.

The preservation of trees to the maximum extent feasible has been a primary project goal throughout project design and into construction. Throughout the corridor, trees that are in close proximity to the work zone but not negatively impacted by construction or light rail operations will be preserved with protective fencing.

For the East Link project in the BelRed area from about 124th Avenue Northeast to Northeast 20th Street, Sound Transit is replanting trees in an approximate ratio of three new trees for every tree removed. Plantings are prioritized for areas as close as possible to their removal location. In this area, new plantings will be focused in the Kelsey Creek West Tributary site and as streetscape enhancements along Northeast Spring Boulevard and 136th Place Northeast.

Utility pole installation along NE Spring Blvd and 136th Pl NE, and on 130th Ave NE

Beginning during the week of June 12, Puget Sound Energy in coordination with Sound Transit’s contractors, will begin installing temporary and permanent utility poles along NE Spring Blvd and 136th Pl NE, and on 130th Ave NE. More than 30 temporary and permanent utility poles will be installed along the roadways in preparation for East Link light rail heavy civil construction activities in this area to maintain service to utility customers during construction. Temporary poles will be in place for approximately 2.5 years until service is changed over to new permanent service that will be installed as part of this project.

What to expect:

  • Pole locations vary along the alignment and have been identified intentionally to avoid conflict with other utility infrastructure to be constructed as part of the East Link project.
  • Staking or marking of pole locations will take place over the course of a few weeks in sync with ongoing activation of Sound Transit's temporary construction easements on private property.
  • Business access will be maintained.
  • Typical work hours are 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
  • Sound Transit is working with power and communications utilities, Puget Sound Energy, Comcast and Century Link to coordinate installation of the utility poles.
  • Pole installation work will require temporary adjacent travel lane closures and several visits by utility companies to each pole location as utilities install wire and equipment on the poles. Earthwork and pavement restoration will be required.
  • This work is anticipated to continue into mid-summer.

Map of area where utility poles will be installed in Bel-Red

Reminder: BelRed Construction Kickoff Open House June 13, 2017

Join us at an open house on June 13, 2017 to learn more about light rail construction activities between 124th Avenue NE and NE 20th Street in Bellevue. The open house is an opportunity to view display boards and meet members of the project team that will build this portion of the East Link project.

Please join us to learn more about:

  • East Link and the Bel-Red/130th Station.
  • Early construction work, including utility relocation and demolition.
  • Maintenance of traffic, specifically on 136th Pl NE and NE Spring Blvd.
  • Construction timeline and activities.
  • How to stay informed during construction.

When:

Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 5-7 p.m.

Where:

Highland Community Center, Bellevue
14224 Bel-Red Rd, Bellevue, WA 98007