Sound Transit crews continue to prepare the south tunnel portal site at 112th Avenue Southeast and Main Street in downtown Bellevue for tunnel excavation, which is anticipated to begin this month.
With the temporary sound wall now complete, next up is night-time pre-support work in advance of actual tunnel excavation. Here’s what residents can expect when excavation begins:
- Tunnel excavation will be performed using the Sequential Excavation Method (SEM). Visit the East Link website to learn more about SEM.
- Approximately two years of initial tunnel excavation followed by one year of concrete finish work inside the tunnel.
- Work will begin at the south tunnel portal and is anticipated to advance north at a projected rate of 3-4 feet per day.
- Excavation will occur 24/7, with trucks hauling during day time hours. Please watch for trucks and trailers entering and exiting the south tunnel portal site, particularly pedestrians on 112th Avenue SE or Main Street.
- Noise, vibration and settlement monitoring equipment will be in place.
Joint venture Shimmick-Parsons was selected as the contractor for the south Bellevue portion (Interstate 90 to Main St.) of East Link. One of the first construction activities in the area will be closing the South Bellevue Park-and-Ride. As early as January 2017, the park-and-ride will close for up to five years as the site becomes an active construction zone. The park-and-ride site will serve as the construction hub for staging equipment and building the light rail station, track and new 1,500 stall parking garage. Prior to the closure of the South Bellevue Park-and-Ride, information on the date of the closure will be distributed through email updates, neighborhood and employer outreach, and onsite communications at the park-and-ride.
During construction, ST Express buses 550, 555 and 556, and Metro buses 241 and 249 will continue to serve Bellevue Way Southeast next to the closed park-and-ride.
Replacement parking will also be available at new and expanded park-and-ride lots.
