Sound Transit has passed another milestone towards the completion of the new and expanded Kirkland Transit Center, located in downtown Kirkland on Third Street between Central Way and Kirkland Ave. The underground work is largely complete. New water lines, sewer pipes, and stormwater facilities are in place, and new underground electrical and communications systems have also been installed.

With the underground work complete, Sound Transit’s contractor, Bayley Construction, is beginning work on the surface improvements. Work on the staircase and other pedestrian improvements is underway at the north end of the library. The contractor will soon begin work on the east side of Third Street installing new curbs and sidewalks and street pavement. At the parking garage under the library, the pedestrian door onto Third Street has been closed for several weeks due to this construction.

When the east side of the street has been resurfaced, the work will shift to the west side for the installation of new curbs, sidewalks and street pavement. The single northbound lane of traffic on Third Street will be maintained most of the time, except when it needs to be shut down for the movement of equipment or materials. This lane will shift location as the work progresses.

Sound Transit’s contractor is on schedule to finish the work by the end of this year. Metro Transit is expected to restore bus service to the new Kirkland Transit Center in early 2011.

When Sound Transit’s construction work is finished, further work will continue at King County’s Kirkland Pump Station. In early 2011, King County will identify a contractor to rebuild thepump station and to build a new sewer conveyance line along Kirkland Avenue from 3rd Street east to the county’s Eastside Interceptor near the railroad right-of-way.

This fall, King County will host a community open house to provide more information about the county’s upcoming sewer improvement project, and address community questions and concerns about construction impacts.