WSDOT contractors will be doing some work on the Aurora Bridge over the next couple months in an effort to strengthen the bridge’s support and prevent it from damage in the event of an earthquake, all while maintaining its unique aesthetic.

As early as June 11, WSDOT workers will begin an 18-month long project to make the Aurora Bridge better withstand earthquakes. Construction will begin on the Fremont side of the bridge and take about six months to complete, after which crews will move on to work on the Queen Anne side.

For more information on the project and the reason it’s being done, visit the WSDOT site.

Seattle Weekly’s annual Voracious restaurant guide is out and there are two popular Queen Anne dining spots – out of 107 citywide – that made the list.

In the “Things That Swim” section, Canlis and chef Jason Franey were commended for the menu – a mixture of new dishes and original plates from the restaurant’s early years.

In the “Veggies” section Book Bindery was called out for a salad – “one of the greatest salads ever” – made out of more apples than vegetables.

Check out the full guide to see some other nearby notables, including the selections just across the water in Fremont. What do you think, Queen Anne? Any shocking omissions from the list?

After responding to complaints from neighbors about the late-night noise, Aurora Bridge construction crews have begun a new work schedule.

The first of four Sunday shifts, WSDOT crews resumed using the loud tool called the “Rivet Buster” yesterday to build the suicide fence along the bridge. But unlike last time, workers are avoiding the overnight hours.

Until midnight on Sunday, two of three southbound lanes on the bridge and the southbound Fremont Way N. on-ramp were closed to traffic.

“WSDOT engineers looked at weekday and weekend traffic volumes and determined that four 16-hour Sunday closures would allow crews to get the work done with the lowest overall noise and traffic effects,” explains WSDOT in a press release. “Four straight Sunday closures are critical to completing the fence project by the end of the year.”

Drivers can expect additional Sunday closures on Aug. 22 (northbound), Aug. 29 (half day each northbound and southbound), and Sept. 5 (northbound).

If you’re planning to head over to Gas Works Park this Sunday to watch the fireworks show, then we recommend reading My Wallingford’s fireworks guide featuring the schedule, parking, road closures and other events in the area. My Wallingford will be covering the event through the weekend.

Meanwhile, Saturday is a big day in Fremont, where thousands (yes, thousands) of people will dress up as zombies and wander aimlessly through the neighborhood. It’s an effort to recapture the world’s record, which they set last year only to have England snatch it away.

The zombie walk runs 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a night of activities at Fremont Outdoor Movies. Fremont Universe has the details here, and it will post the necessary gruesome photos later this weekend.

This weekend is Fremont’s biggest event of the year, the Solstice Parade and Fair. Over its long history, the event has grown from a funky neighborhood gathering to a region-wide party that’s expected to attract close to 100,000 people. The parade itself kicks off at noon on Saturday from N. 36th and Leary, travels through the heart of Fremont, and ends at Gas Works Park in Wallingford.

Photo above from 2009 Solstice Parade

In addition to the parade, which kicks off with the famous naked bicyclists, you’ll find plenty of other things to do.  Here’s a sampling:

Live bands: Musical entertainment from 39 different bands on three different stages over the entire weekend.  Here’s the band lineup.

Solstice Celebration in Gas Works Park: Organizers promise art installations, bands, non-profit booths, food vendors, and a beer garden.

Fremont Abbey Arts for All: Painting, interactive sculptures, sidewalk chalking, live music at the Rocket Block next to the Big Purple Slide.

Seattle Art Car Blowout: 75 decorated cars in the Burke Building parking lot. Here’s the “ChewBaru” from last year’s show.

Cabiri Performance Troupe on Daedalus: Daedalus is a fully freestanding aluminum aerial dance stage.  Five performances will feature dancers from The Cabiri performance troupe.

Shakespeare on The Troll: Selected scenes from the Bard’s most famous and beloved plays in front of the Troll.

And keep an eye out for a booth collecting donations for the families involved in the deadly fire last weekend. You’ll find a map of the vendors and entertainment here.  You can also visit the fair’s official website.

The fair runs from 10am to 8pm on Saturday, and 11am to 6pm on Sunday.  Our sister site Fremont Universe will have full coverage throughout the weekend on its site as well as on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Editor’s note: Get the full story at Fremont Universe.

The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is currently amid plans to begin construction on a barrier on the Aurora Bridge that would protect those working and living below and help deter people from attempting suicide by jumping off the bridge.

Although the project is currently scheduled to begin in January or February, according to WSDOT spokesperson Greg Phipps, construction could start even earlier.

After two years of public meetings and comments by community members and representatives, the plan cleared final approval in early June when WSDOT representatives presented their revised plan to the City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board. The picture above illustrates a mock-up panel the WSDOT installed last March as a test.

Currently, according to Phipps, contractors are looking over the plans, and WSDOT intends to sign one on by mid-September. “We will know more when we have a contractor on board,” Phipps said. “There will be information sent out.”

Plans to build a  barrier on the bridge first began in the spring of 2007, largely with the efforts of Seattle F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (Fremont Individuals & Employees Nonprofit to Decrease Suicides) founder Ryan Thurston. Thurston provided the picture above, taken in November 2008, when witnesses gathered anxiously watching as someone considering suicide lingered at the top of the bridge.

Get the full story from new Fremont Universe contributor (writer and lifelong Fremont resident), Kirby Lindsay, here.