WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Next round of soil sampling about to start

| Sound Transit | Transportation | West Seattle news

The yellow dots on that map mark locations at the office/marina complex on the south end of Harbor Island [map] where soil sampling is about to start as Sound Transit continues studying potential routes for West Seattle light rail. The full flyer is here (PDF). It says that once sampling starts – as soon as tomorrow – “Work … will occur during nights, from 6:00 pm – 7:00 am. Each boring will take approximately 5-7 days and will be filled and patched with a flush-mounted monument surface when work is complete.” The drilling will all be done in parking lots/driveways, ST says.

SIDE NOTE: If you have questions about this or any other aspect of West Seattle light-rail planning, a reminder – ST reps are on the agenda at tonight’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting. And two upcoming ST board meetings will determine whether two West Seattle options are included in environmental studies – the System Expansion Committee this Thursday, and the full board on October 24th.

Mike October 7, 2019 (5:47 pm)

is it a test for contaminants, soil type at different depths, or both?

Matthew October 8, 2019 (10:18 am)

It’s likely for soil type to understand the structural capacity of the soil in different locations. The structural capacity of the soil could have a big impact on the footings and structural design of the system.
- Mike October 8, 2019 (10:34 pm)
  
  Well, it’s mostly landfill from the Denny regrade. So they gotta dig realllly deep.

Native2Seattle October 7, 2019 (8:15 pm)

Are they also sampling soil from the north side of the bridge? I was surprised to see it as an option. After talking to someone at the booth BBC at the farmers’ market, I didn’t get the impression that it really was a contender. https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/west-seattle-ballard-link-extensions

WSB October 7, 2019 (9:43 pm)

There’s been other soil sampling. This isn’t the first nor the only.
Nick October 8, 2019 (2:06 pm)

These locations should be fairly representative of the soil south of the bridge as well. Chances are this area is easier to access with a drill rig.
- WSB October 8, 2019 (2:09 pm)
  
  Finally found our earlier story with a map also showing some locations sampled north of the bridge:
  https://westseattleblog.com/2019/01/west-seattle-light-rail-sound-transit-soil-sampling-along-sw-genesee-and-in-harbor-island-vicinity/

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