What are they NOT building: Old MOHAI home getting destroyed for new 520 offramp

The place that used to house Washington’s history is now becoming history itself.

Drivers on SR 520 can see crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation demolishing the former Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) building just north of the highway.

We focus regularly on projects under construction around the Seattle-area in our series “what are they building,” but we figured what they aren’t building with this project was worth a look.

Demolition began earlier this month. Once the building is gone, WSDOT will use the site as a staging area for construction of a new offramp from from 24th Avenue East to East Lake Washington Boulevard.

Once construction is completed, the site will then be returned to its natural state and become a large open space that will include a basin to capture stormwater runoff from the reconstructed highway, improving water quality in Lake Washington, according to WSDOT spokesman Ian Sterling.

WSDOT will integrate the surrounding area will into the nearby East Montlake Park and Washington Park Arboretum, including walking trails.

The SR 520 West Approach Bridge North Project is the next phase of the SR 520 Program. It’ll connect westbound-traveling vehicles, transit/HOV, bicycles and pedestrians from the new floating bridge to the Montlake area.

Construction is slated to finish in summer of 2017.

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