Old 520 Toll Building to Be Demolished Today

MEDINA – Crews are scheduled to demolish an old toll administrative building today, launching major construction on the Eastside highway.

Today, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is demolishing the toll building to make way for construction on the corridor. Demolition is scheduled to begin at noon followed by a briefing about upcoming major highway closures.

The Washington State Department of Transportation does plan to collect tolls, at the earliest, but will do so using the statewide system.

Earlier this month, construction began on the $306 million SR 520 Eastside Transit and HOV Project. The work will require complete closures of the SR 520 floating bridge and highway during as many as 20 weekends through December 2013.

Complete closures in June: Drivers will need to plan ahead to find another way across or around Lake Washington June 3 to 6 and June 17 to 20. The SR 520 floating bridge and highway will completely close both weekends from Montlake Boulevard to I-405. Additional complete closures during weekends are likely each month through November.

-- Information from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Patch archives