Downtown Sewer Main Work Shifts to New Phase

Construction crews working for King County will move into the next phase in the project to upgrade a sewer main in Kirkland on July 16, doing final repaving of a stretch of Kirkland Ave downtown and digging a new trench at Railroad Avenue.

The downtown work, on Kirkland Avenue from 3rd Street to 6th Street, will mean traffic disruptions for two or three days, depending on the weather. But it will finally complete the installation of a new 16-inch “forcemain” sewer pipe on that stretch of Kirkland Ave.

The next step, connecting the new pipe to a “sewer interceptor” line on Railroad Avenue, will require a complete closure of a short stretch of that road for some four weeks.

King County is installing the new sewer main because its ongoing renovation and upgrade of the Kirkland Pump Station at Park Lane and Main Street -- work that will stretch into 2014 -- will increase the system’s capacity.

For full details of the repaving work and the work to connect the main to the interceptor line, see these following notices issued by the county and the City of Kirkland.

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Starting July 16 - Final Paving Overlay on Kirkland Ave. (3rd Street to 6th Street)

Starting July 16, a King County contractor will be grinding a thin layer of asphalt and completing the final pavement overlay on Kirkland Avenue from 3rd Street to 6th Street.

• Traffic impacts should be anticipated: expect reduced lanes, controlled one-lane travel and road closures in the work area.
• This work will take approximately 2 to 3 days to complete. Work is weather dependent.

Thank you for your patience during construction!

Traffic revisions coming to Kirkland Avenue between 3rd Street and 6th Street
In order to safely and efficiently complete work, reduced lanes and short-term driveway and street closures on Kirkland Avenue will be required.

• Along Kirkland Avenue between 3rd Street and the intersection with Kirkland Way, crews will maintain one lane; flaggers will assist vehicles through the roadway from 7:30 am – 4 pm.
• Along Kirkland Avenue between the Kirkland Way intersection and 6th Street, there will be a temporary road closure with access for local traffic only.
• On-street parking will be restricted in the work area from 7 am – 6 pm.
• Access will be maintained to all businesses and residences. Driveway access may be limited for short periods when work is occurring directly in front of driveways; the contractor will work with the residences and businesses to manage this work.

What to expect

• On-street parking restrictions will be in place near the proposed work locations.
• Extra travel time when driving through the work zone.
• Traffic control, including cones, signs and flaggers, will be used to manage traffic flow and local access.
• Noise and other activity typical of construction: work crews, trucks, materials, grinding & paving equipment.
• Questions? 24-hour project information hotline, 206-205-9196

For more information, call the 24-hour project information hotline at 206-205-9196 andf.or see www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/East/Kirkland.aspx.

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Starting July 16 - Closure of Railroad Avenue (south of Kirkland Avenue)

Sewer work in Railroad Avenue requires a closure for approximately four weeks

Starting the week of July 16th, a King County utility contractor will start construction for connection of a new sewer main from Kirkland Avenue to the main sewer interceptor line in Railroad Avenue.  (Work was originally to start July 9 but has been changed to accommodate sporting events at Everest Park.)

A portion of Railroad Avenue will need to be closed to all through traffic in order to complete this work. There will be signed detours to assist drivers and pedestrians through the area.

This closure will be 24 hours per day and will last approximately four weeks, until mid-August. King County is constructing this sewer forcemain to accommodate the increased capacity of the Kirkland Pump Station.

What work will the contractor be doing?

• Crews will be removing the railroad tracks and excavating a trench between Kirkland Avenue   Avenue to lay a new 16-inch sewer pipe.
• Work will start near Railroad Avenue, then move across the railroad tracks to Kirkland Ave (around early August there will be a short-term closure on Kirkland Ave to complete this work).
• Connection to this pipeline will require approximately one week of night work (during low flow hours).
• Once sewer work is complete, King County will improve the area and create a new trail for pedestrians. This sewer and restoration work is anticipated to last until late-August (traffic detour in place until early August).

Traffic Detours

• Railroad Avenue will be closed to all through traffic just south of Kirkland Avenue for approximately 100 feet.
• Signed detours will assist drivers and pedestrians through the area.
• Vehicles will be detoured to Kirkland Avenue, Kirkland Way, 6th Street South, 9th Avenue South and8th Avenue South.
• There will be local access to 8th Avenue South and portions of Railroad Avenue (south of the work) from 9th Avenue South, for residents and businesses, as well as access to Everest Park.
• Pedestrians will not be allowed through the construction site—including the informal footpath across the railroad tracks at Kirkland Ave.
• Access will be maintained to all businesses.

What to expect

• Work hours are from 7am to 5:30pm.
• Extra travel time when driving around the work zone.
• Traffic control, including cones, and signs, will be used to manage traffic flow and local access.
• Approximately one week of night work  anticipated for the week of July 23rd (notification will be provided).
• Activities typical of a construction site: work crews, trucks, construction materials, heavy machinery, site dewatering equipment, and excavation equipment.