Drivers on Kirkland’s Northeast 85th Street can’t help but notice the orange traffic barrels placed along the road way in the Rose Hill Business District. The barrels signal the beginning of a one-year long construction project that starts in earnest with the installation of a 24-inch water main, which will run from the west side of the I-405 overpass to 132nd Avenue Northeast. City officials hope drivers will plan ahead for their commutes for the many more weeks and months of construction yet to come. Following the installation of the water main which is anticipated to be complete in six months, the next work will be to rebuild the corridor’s stormwater network of storm drains and stormwater vaults and then the installation of street lights and traffic signal upgrades.
To facilitate and complete the work in the most efficient manner, the three center lanes of the roadway’s existing five lanes will become the contractor’s work zone. Between 6-9 a.m., the contractor will reopen two of the three lanes for the morning commute. Beginning at 9 a.m., the contractor will be allowed to close down one additional lane in order to have its work crews resurface the roadway and perform other needed work activities. The daytime resurfacing avoids the need to implement 24-hour road closures and is a cost- and time-saving measure intended to shorten the overall construction project time. Commuters are encouraged to plan ahead and seek alternate routes.
The water main construction is anticipated to be complete in February 2015, followed by numerous other planned surface improvements to be complete in approximately one year.
The city will have the following ways to obtain and receive information:
* Project website: www.kirklandwa.gov/85thStreet
* Project updates via email: Kirkland E-Bulletins, www.kirklandwa.gov/ebulletins (select NE 85th Street Corridor Improvement Project)
* City Twitter (@kirklandgov), https://twitter.com/kirklandgov (Search #NE8thProject)
* 24 Hour Construction Hot Line (425) 587-3838
