The City of Kirkland will completely close 108th Ave. N.E. at N.E. 53rd Street to traffic in all directions for up to ten consecutive days starting Aug. 14.

Commuters should use the alternate routes of Lake Washington Boulevard N.E. and I-405, as well as plan for extra time along these routes. During the intersection closure and partial road closures, emergency vehicle and local access will be maintained.

Construction workers will replace the sewer main line in N.E. 53rd Street, from the middle of 108th Ave. N.E., east to the intersection at 111th Ave. N.E. As part of the project, sewer manholes along the way will also be replaced. The manhole at 108th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 53rd Street is over 25-feet deep and replacement requires complete closure of the intersection.

After the ten-day period of closure, and 108th Ave. N.E. will be reopened and construction will continue east up N.E. 53rd Street with lane closures until November.

This stretch of sewer pipe is part of an aging system which is undersized and past its expected life span. Existing root intrusion and groundwater inflow into the sewer pipe requires more frequent maintenance. The manhole at the intersection of N.E. 53rd Street and 108th Ave. N.E. lacks structural integrity, is undersized and substandard and does not meet current worker access and safety standards.