Local

Montlake neighbors have one last chance to sound off on overnight construction noise

Tuesday is the last day for the public to comment on what will be ongoing construction noise in Seattle's Montlake neighborhood.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking a noise variance for the Montlake phase of its State Route 520 project.

If the noise variance for the Montlake phase of the project is approved, it would allow construction from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays.

WSDOT says the work needs to be done overnight because SR 520 and local streets can't handle construction during the day with current traffic levels.

Neighbors have had about a month to report noise issues, and Tuesday is the last day they can comment before work begins.

The work is the first phase of a larger project, known as the "Rest of the West," to rebuild a section of SR 520 between Lake Washington and I-5.

During the phase, crews will build a new interchange, a landscaped lid over SR 520, a bicycle/pedestrian land bridge east of the lid, and a west approach to the bridge for eastbound traffic.

The project is expected to start this fall. People living in the area worry construction could last for up to a decade.

Community groups and property owners are fighting the project. Neighbors there have protested to save a nearby market, and last month, they filed a lawsuit claiming the final traffic plan did not include enough environmental review. Property owners say it's based on old information.

State officials sent KIRO 7 a statement saying,

DOT remains committed to mitigate traffic impacts during construction and we have worked closely with the city of Seattle to develop the traffic management plan for the Montlake Phase.

WSDOT has made some concessions by allowing public access to noise reports and noise control measures.

But neighbors say it's not enough, and with Tuesday being the deadline, they will likely have more to say.