Washington state Dept. of Transportation (WsDOT) officials hope to finalize designs this summer for a 2.3-mile section of the $4.65-billion, 12.8-mile state Route 520 corridor improvement project, in Seattle, which includes the world’s longest floating pontoon bridge.
WsDOT is working with the City of Seattle, the University of Washington, King County Metro and Sound Transit on design decisions regarding the westside section of the corridor. That section includes the planned expansion of an interchange from Route 520 north to the university, a link to the school’s light-rail station and to Interstate 5, and alignment of a future light-rail line, says WsDOT program director Julie Meredith. “I think the last big question we have is, how does the 520 Seattle-side interchange connect [to I-5], and how does the new light-rail station connect?” Meredith says.