Park Lane, between Main Street and Third Street in downtown Kirkland, reopened to two-way traffic today. The roadway has been used as a staging area for the King County Kirkland Pump Station and Sewer Upgrade Project since September 2011. Crews are still completing finishing touches on the pump station.

Pump Station

Although the upgraded pump station has been operational since summer 2013, the King County Wastewater Treatment Division continues to finish small interior and exterior improvements. It is anticipated that the pump station will be complete in May 2014. The upgraded pump station increases capacity, ensures safe and reliable operations and meets current seismic, noise, and odor control standards.

Flexible Street Design on Park Lane

Park Lane looks a little different in front of the pump station, as the county completed the first portion of a flexible, plaza-style street design that the city of Kirkland is planning for Park Lane from Lake Street to Third Street.

Flexible streets allow for public gathering spaces by eliminating curbs and narrowing driving lanes to allow for wider pedestrian areas. The roadway also includes benches, landscaped planting areas, lighting and Low Impact Development (LID) components (i.e., rain gardens, and porous pavement) to manage stormwater. The city of Kirkland is currently in the design phase for this project.

For more information, please contact Christian Knight, city of Kirkland Outreach Coordinator, 425-587-3831, cknight@kirklandwa.gov.