Published September 11 2020
Anyone who has traveled downtown lately knows it’s alive with construction of major private developments and the public transportation projects needed to keep pace with growth. The construction sector in Bellevue has been a bright spot in an economy hit hard by the pandemic.
But the progress does present challenges. Construction work requires closed streets and sidewalks, detours and noise. Although these inconveniences won’t change anytime soon – in fact, the work will intensify over the next few weeks – the city is making every effort to keep people safe and minimize negative impacts.
The main way that happens is through the city’s permitting process, which calls for extensive reviews by multiple departments. It requires that nearby property managers be notified well in advance about impacts that cannot be mitigated – such as noise.
Whenever possible, loud construction, work that closes roads or that affects underground utilities is scheduled during the day. But sometimes that’s not possible and the project must be done at night.
Here are some of the biggest impacts downtown coming in the next few weeks:
But the progress does present challenges. Construction work requires closed streets and sidewalks, detours and noise. Although these inconveniences won’t change anytime soon – in fact, the work will intensify over the next few weeks – the city is making every effort to keep people safe and minimize negative impacts.
The main way that happens is through the city’s permitting process, which calls for extensive reviews by multiple departments. It requires that nearby property managers be notified well in advance about impacts that cannot be mitigated – such as noise.
Whenever possible, loud construction, work that closes roads or that affects underground utilities is scheduled during the day. But sometimes that’s not possible and the project must be done at night.
Here are some of the biggest impacts downtown coming in the next few weeks:
- 555 108th Avenue Northeast office tower: One of the largest continuous concrete pours ever in Bellevue (approximately 12,000 cubic yards) will take place starting tonight, from 6 p.m. Sept. 11 through 6 p.m. Sept. 13. It will require closing 108th from Northeast Fourth to Sixth streets and it will be noisy.
- Bellevue Plaza office tower (west of 106th Avenue Northeast, near Northeast Second Street): On Sept. 14, and again on Sept. 28, large concrete pours will be done during the day, causing noise and impacting street access; Sept. 18-20, the installation of a tower crane will impact street access.
- 108th Avenue Northeast Complete Streets project: The city’s contractor will close 108th Avenue, from Main Street to Northeast Fourth Street daily, Sept. 14-17, for pavement grinding and overlay. The project will improve safety for people who walk, bicycle and drive.
- Avenue Bellevue mixed-use development (10300 Northeast Eighth Street): Work will include a concrete pour in early October, followed by a tower crane installation Oct. 9-11. Noise and traffic impacts.