“As early as Tuesday, March 31, Sound Transit’s contractor, Obayashi Corporation will begin removal of the blue noise wall that surrounds the site of the Beacon Hill light rail station.
“The first phase will include the removal of the blue noise wall starting with the northernmost sections along Beacon Ave S., 17th Ave S and S. Lander Street… The second phase will include removing the remainder of the blue noise wall on the south end of the property. The second phase is currently scheduled for the middle of May to early June. Once the blue noise wall is down, the site will be secured by a chain link fence. As a result, residents may experience increased noise from construction activities.
“Pedestrians should use caution while using the sidewalk on the eastside of Beacon Ave (that borders the blue noise wall) as pedestrian access will be moved safely around the work site.
“The noisier activities (such as jack-hammering) will take place during the day, and will be restricted to the hours of 7:00 am to 5:00pm.
“Construction activities expected between the hours of 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm include the installation of brick veneer, site and roadway (S. Lander St.) restoration, plaza paving and landscaping.
“No surface-level construction activity is expected between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am.
“Sound Transit will continue to monitor construction noise levels and any activity whose noise is outside of acceptable limits will be restricted to the hours between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm.
“If you have any construction-related concerns, please call Sound Transit’s construction hotline at 1-(888) 298-2395.”
A map of the affected area is located in Sound Transit’s PDF.
Some portions of the wall already seem to be coming down, as seen in Jason’s photo above.
I wish they would leave it up! Tired of looking at all the mud, trash, exposed concrete, and filthy greaseballs on the other side.
Uh… “filthy greaseballs”?
I guess most of us would refer to them as “construction workers”.
An important factor that was left out was when the site will be finished and resembling final conditions (as opposed to the operation date). My guess is that the site will be in much better condition by the time the last blue panel is gone, but there is not much that can be done about the site actually looking like a construction site for a few months.
Also, I wonder what the privately owned parcels will look like as construction winds down. Will those temporary chain link fences become semi-permanent fixtures on those few undeveloped lots?
I was at the Red Apple last night and heard the crushing sounds of the blue wall coming down. It was the sound of progress. I’m looking forward to seeing the construction site and watch it to completion.
On a different topic and location, I’m concerned about the walk-ability to the Mt Baker station on McLellan. Does anyone know if SDOT has plans to install a sidewalk on BOTH sides of McLellan? Currently there is a choppy sidewalk on the south side of the street, which is often closed because of the construction.
I don’t really care if it looks like a construction site until July. It’s only a few months; we can live with it that long. (Someone on the mailing list said that Sound Transit should do something to beautify the chain link fence; I disagree. Spend the money on getting the station finished and open on time. It’s a construction site; it doesn’t have to be beautiful for these last few months.)
Mirandarama, I don’t know, but that is a good idea.
Mirandarama, Sound Transit tells me that they will “construct/re-construct a sidewalk only on the south side of McClellan Street”, and I am waiting for SDOT to reply with information about the north side.
I don’t some people understand the nature of construction. Construction work is dirty work.