Sea-Tac Airport about to get even noisier for some residents
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BURIEN, Wash. -- Sea-Tac Airport's already noisy runway three will soon get even louder for those who live nearby, and there's nothing the residents can do about it.
In parts of Burien, residents are all too familiar with the sound of planes landing and taking off from runway three.
"It gets pretty loud," said Dennis Norkitis, who lives nearby. "We'd be sitting on the porch, (and) you can't even hear each other talk two feet away."
Officials from the Port of Seattle say residents like Norkitis should brace themselves, because the runway is about to get even louder.
Upcoming construction work on runways one and two will mean much more traffic will be pushed to runway three.
"They are going to see some more traffic that comes underneath there, but again it's just temporary and it's for the safety replacement areas on both of those runways," said Sea-Tac spokesman Perry Cooper.
Beginning next week, Cooper said there will be a 30-day stretch of work, followed soon after by another 20 days of work.
Despite the extensive construction, residents on 12th Avenue South, who will be affected by the added noise, said they knew nothing about the plans.
When they were told about the changes, some residents were less than pleased.
"Oh great. Lovely," said Mike Majors, who lives nearby. "We should sue the city of SeaTac."
Over the years, the Port of Seattle has spent $500 million on airport noise problems, but in one Burien neighborhood, residents seem to be resigned about the summer's coming cacophony.
"I can't do a darned thing about it," said Bob Forrest. "I can complain, but it's not going to do any good."
The first portion of runway work will include upgrades to the pavement. Then, in July, crews will be moving and antenna and doing some work ordered by the FAA.
In parts of Burien, residents are all too familiar with the sound of planes landing and taking off from runway three.
"It gets pretty loud," said Dennis Norkitis, who lives nearby. "We'd be sitting on the porch, (and) you can't even hear each other talk two feet away."
Officials from the Port of Seattle say residents like Norkitis should brace themselves, because the runway is about to get even louder.
Upcoming construction work on runways one and two will mean much more traffic will be pushed to runway three.
"They are going to see some more traffic that comes underneath there, but again it's just temporary and it's for the safety replacement areas on both of those runways," said Sea-Tac spokesman Perry Cooper.
Beginning next week, Cooper said there will be a 30-day stretch of work, followed soon after by another 20 days of work.
Despite the extensive construction, residents on 12th Avenue South, who will be affected by the added noise, said they knew nothing about the plans.
When they were told about the changes, some residents were less than pleased.
"Oh great. Lovely," said Mike Majors, who lives nearby. "We should sue the city of SeaTac."
Over the years, the Port of Seattle has spent $500 million on airport noise problems, but in one Burien neighborhood, residents seem to be resigned about the summer's coming cacophony.
"I can't do a darned thing about it," said Bob Forrest. "I can complain, but it's not going to do any good."
The first portion of runway work will include upgrades to the pavement. Then, in July, crews will be moving and antenna and doing some work ordered by the FAA.
