Construction ramps up for season on Boeing bridge project at airport

Officials said unlike the past few weeks during demolition, the remaining construction would consist of “normal construction noise” from cranes and other machinery.

With a handful of noisy weeks behind them, officials from the Boeing North Bridge project at the Renton Airport say things should be settling into a normal pattern of work beginning next week.

The “fish window” at the site is now open again, allowing construction of the bridge project to move forward. The bridge is used to bring 737s from the Boeing plant to the airport.

“It’s a really important part of our product system,” said Daweslee Griffin of Boeing 737 communications.

During this week, workers were busy demolishing the old bridge at the site, resulting in additional noise as workers break concrete. A temporary bridge has been constructed at the site and the new, permanent bridge will be built this summer.

According to Griffin, Boeing expects there to be night work through the summer at the site, but she said the noise would drop after 10 p.m. Work continues at the site around the clock in order to minimize the impact on air traffic and airport tenants.

She also said unlike the past few weeks during demolition, the remaining construction would consist of “normal construction noise” from cranes and other machinery.

Griffin said Boeing has an agreement with the city to keep noise at 85 decibels, which, according to a chart on their website, is about the same level of noise as a garbage disposal or vacuum cleaner.

Residents to the west of the project have complained about noise in the past, including the past few weeks. One resident reported being woken up at 3:40 a.m. from the noise.