The 1960s-era Portage Bay Bridge is nearing the end of its functional life. Supported by hollow concrete columns, the four-lane bridge could collapse in a severe earthquake. The Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project (PBB Project) will replace the old bridge with seismically stronger structures that include improved bus/carpool travel and an extension of the SR 520 Trail. This project also builds a landscaped lid between Seattle’s Roanoke Park and North Capitol Hill neighborhoods.
In August of 2022, SDCI granted WSDOT a 6-year Major Public Project Construction Noise Variance (MPPCNV) to replace the Portage Bay Bridges and construct a new lid over SR-520 creating the Roanoke Lid. In February 2025, Skanska started this project starting the clock of the 6-year MPPCNV.
As a part of the MPPCNV conditions, SDCI conducts an annual review of the performance of contractors and makes sure the conditions of the MPPCNV are working to mitigate noise impacts. In February 2026, SDCI began our first review of the PBB project replacement project. This process starts with WSDOT preparing a report that contains the number of complaints received and how they were responded to, and if there were any violations issued to the project. Next, SDCI publishes a Public Notice asking for feedback in the LUIB and Seattle Times, we also mail out comment forms to affected properties within 300’ of the Project’s area of work. We allow 14 days to comment and then we review the comments received.
The 2025 WSDOT report showed a total of 161 nights worked under the variance in 2025. During that time only 1 noise level exceedance occurred from nightwork under the MPPCNV. The project received 9 project-related noise complaints from the community, but none were associated with a non-compliance event, and all were addressed promptly.
For the 2025 Annual review, SDCI received three comments from concerned citizens. Two comments were about the work taking place overnight, which is generally covered by the MPPCNV, while the third comment was about day work which is not covered by the MPPCNV. The comments relating to the night work aspect were both positive with exerts from comments like:
- Just a thank you for using multi-tone back-up beepers on the SR-520 project. And a thank you for asking. Validation and accountability dissipates noise pollution irritation, avoiding the tensions of hyper-sensitivity and anticipation anxiety. Everyone wins.
- I live less than ½ mile from the SR520 portage bay bridge/ Roanoke lid project along Boyer Ave East. Since the project began, the construction noise has not been a problem including the pounding of the metal supports.
SDCI’s noise abatement team completed their annual review of this project’s MPPCNV and published their decision in the LUIB and Seattle Times on April 9. If you would like to learn more about this project, please visit the 520 Portage Bay project webpage.