The City of Mountlake Terrace has approved a temporary noise ordinance exception for Sound Transit to accommodate night construction in the I-5 corridor through Mountlake Terrace.

Sound Transit is installing a water well, new fiber optic cables, conduit, cable vaults and updated electronic equipment in Washington State Department of Transportation right-of-way along I-5. The project includes saw cutting, drilling and excavation, and is scheduled to occur between the end of January and March. Sound Transit estimates the project will take approximately 60 days to complete and includes about 20 days of night work.

City of Mountlake Terrace officials also got a sneak peak at Sound Transit’s environmental impact analysis on station alternatives for the planned light rail Lynnwood Link. The preliminary Environmental Impact Statement shows that if a station is built at 220th Street Southwest and I-5, it should probably be located in WSDOT right-of-way, not on the grounds of a former school located just southwest of the freeway interchange. Placing the light rail station on right-of-way would probably necessitate re-routing of the 220th Street Southwest on-ramp and off-ramp to and from southbound I-5, greatly increasing the overall cost of the Lynnwood Link extension.

Mountlake Terrace Mayor Jerry Smith and members of the city council have urged Sound Transit to consider building a light rail station for the Lynnwood Link at or near the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center at 236th Street Southwest and I-5.

A draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Lynnwood Link light rail extension is expected to be issued in mid- to late January. The public would then be invited to comment during a 30-day period.