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In this update:
Next weekend, from 11 p.m. Friday, May 29, to 5 a.m. Monday, June 1, we’ll close eastbound SR 520 from I-5 to Montlake Boulevard and the Montlake Boulevard on-ramp to eastbound SR 520 to prepare for our second traffic shift. Eastbound SR 520 across Lake Washington will remain open.
Reminder: With the Montlake on-ramp to eastbound SR 520 closed, only HOV 3+ and transit are allowed to use the direct access ramps in Montlake to enter eastbound SR 520. All other travelers must use alternate routes. Learn more about the SR 520 HOV 3+ requirements on our webpage.
 What’s shifting
We’re building a temporary eastbound off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard – and removing the existing off-ramp later this summer – so our crews have room to safely build the new Portage Bay bridge elements.
What to expect starting Monday, June 1:
- Eastbound travelers exiting to Montlake Boulevard should be prepared to exit earlier than usual and follow additional signage through the area.
- Travelers heading eastbound on SR 520 who don’t exit onto Montlake Boulevard will continue onto the SR 520 floating bridge and pay the SR 520 bridge toll.
- For more information on the upcoming changes, check out our blog.
Graphic showing current and future ramp configuration
Crews are now using vibratory hammers to install large diameter steel casings in Portage Bay. This work is helping build the new foundations for the future westbound Portage Bay Bridge.
Crews started this work on the northwest side of the temporary work trestle near Boyer Avenue East. Crews will work back and forth between casings, moving east toward Montlake Boulevard.
Nearby neighbors will experience noise and vibration during daytime construction through mid-summer. After crews finish installing the casings, they will begin work on the drilled shafts.
What to expect
- In-water vibratory casing installation in Portage Bay
- Typical work hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays (excluding holidays) and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on limited weekends
- Increased noise and vibration during this work
New construction updates online and 24/7 hotline
Thank you to neighbors who called the hotline this week to share your experience about noise and vibration. We know this casing installation work is disruptive, and we appreciate your patience.
In addition to these newsletter updates, we’ve also added a new post on our SR 520 Construction Corner website to provide weekly updates about planned construction activities. We encourage you to bookmark this link and check it each week so you know in advance what to expect. As a reminder, construction schedules are dynamic, and while we do our best to provide notice in advance, please know these schedules are subject to change.
We monitor noise and vibration in real-time around the project area, and the outreach team is available 24 hours a day for neighbors to get in touch. We encourage neighbors to contact us if they have any questions or concerns about noise or vibration, particularly if it’s unexpected, severe, or occurring in a place where it’s not usually heard or felt. While neighbors are always welcome to call us, we want to reiterate that this kind of noise and vibration will be a regular part of construction activity in the project area over the next four to five years.
You can also email us at sr520bridge@wsdot.wa.gov (monitored Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Pictured above: A crane lowering a drilled shaft casing into place in Portage Bay.
Pictured above: Vibratory equipment
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our informational table last Friday! We always appreciate the chance to connect with neighbors, share information and answer your questions — even on a cold, wet spring morning.
Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and rain to come talk to us!
We’ll be back in the community at Roanoke Park on Friday, June 12, to share information about current and upcoming construction, and project staff will be available to answer questions.
Event details
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When: 2-4 p.m. on Friday, June 12
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Where: Roanoke Park, 950 East Roanoke Street, Seattle, WA 98102
Want to learn more?
If you can’t make it to this upcoming event, don’t worry! We’ll have more in-person events later this summer and fall.
You can also head over to the Construction Corner for project updates. You can also connect with us directly through our hotline at 206-319-4520, or via email at sr520bridge@wsdot.wa.gov.
Join us for our next monthly construction meeting held virtually at noon on Thursday, May 28. At the meeting, you'll hear an overview of construction progress and learn about upcoming construction activities, including local street closures. Register below to attend and email sr520bridge@wsdot.wa.gov with any questions.
Missed the last Portage Bay Project monthly meeting? You can view the presentation online (PDF, 3.7 MB) or watch the meeting recording on YouTube.
SR 520's HOV lanes are for three or more people — not two — and drivers should expect increased enforcement this summer.
The High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) 3+ designation on SR 520 is required by law to keep transit and carpools moving and reduce congestion. When the new direct access ramps opened in Montlake in 2024, we saw more drivers using the HOV lanes illegally.
That’s why we’ve been working with the Washington State Patrol on an awareness campaign to help travelers better understand the law, how the lanes work and the consequences for breaking the rules. Travelers should also expect to see increased HOV enforcement along the corridor this summer.
 Watch our explainer video here.
What you need to know:
- The HOV 3+ rule is the law. It was passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2010. WSDOT does not set these designations.
- HOV 3+ includes the driver and at least two passengers.
- The rule applies 24/7 between I-405 and Montlake, including the Montlake transit/direct access ramps — there are no peak hours or exceptions.
- The rule will extend across the Portage Bay bridges when complete in 2031 as well as the new flyover ramp to the I-5 Express Lanes.
- HOV violations are considered moving violations enforced by the Washington State Patrol. Fines start at $186, increase with repeat offenses, stay on your record for three years, can affect insurance and may lead to license suspension.
Check out our HOV 3+ webpage for all the details.
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Feb. 18 - June 12: Boyer Avenue East between East Roanoke Street and Everett Avenue East reduced to single lane weekdays
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May 27 and 28: Eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard closed nightly
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May 29 — June 1: Eastbound SR 520 closed between I-5 and Montlake Boulevard in Seattle around-the-clock
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May 29 — June 1: Montlake Boulevard on-ramp to eastbound SR 520 closed around-the-clock
Check our Construction Corner map for the most up-to-date information on SR 520 closures and construction impacts.
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Call or text our project-specific construction hotlines with pressing questions or concerns related to the:
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Portage Bay Project: 206-319-4520 (24-hour hotline)
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Montlake Project: 206-200-9484, M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Call the SR 520 Program information line (206-200-9484, M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) with general SR 520 inquiries.
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Email SR 520 staff with your questions about the project or construction activities.
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Visit the SR 520 Construction Corner for the most up-to-date information on closures and construction impacts.
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Visit the SR 520 Program website to find general information about the project.
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Email Regina Glenn, WSDOT Megaprograms Diversity and Inclusion Manager, for more information about contracting opportunities.
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Follow us on Twitter/X and BlueSky to get key news and updates about the SR 520 program.
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Share the ROTW listserv with your friends and neighbors.
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View construction photos taken 'round the clock by our four mounted construction cameras.
Note: We combined our two SR 520 Program email lists into one. This newsletter will focus on Portage Bay Project construction and closures while also sharing other SR 520 updates. You can manage your preferences or unsubscribe anytime.
If you have difficulty understanding English, you may request language assistance services free of charge by calling (360) 705-7090 or emailing TitleVI@WSDOT.WA.GOV.
Español - Spanish servicios de traducción Aviso a personas con dominio limitado del idioma inglés: Si usted tiene alguna dificultad en entender el idioma inglés, puede, sin costo alguno, solicitar asistencia lingüística con respecto a esta información llamando al (360) 705-7090, o envíe un mensaje de correo electrónico a: TitleVI@WSDOT.WA.GOV.
中文 - Chinese 翻译服务 如果您难以理解英文，则请致电：(360) 705-7090，或给我们发送电子邮件： TitleVI@WSDOT.WA.GOV，请求获取免费语言援助服务。
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Thank you for signing up for the SR 520 Rest of the West news email updates. WSDOT will keep the community informed of current and planned construction activities through these updates and the tools listed above.
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