SUMMER 2018

A BI-ANNUAL SURVEY OF CAPITAL PROJECTS IN DESIGN OR IN CONSTRUCTION

PROJECTDIGESTCHECK THE MAPSee Page 4-5 for a project map

QUESTIONS?CONTACT CHRISTIAN KNIGHTNeighborhood Services Coordinator(425) 587-3831 cknight@kirklandwa.gov

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Capital projects lay the ground workThis summer 2018 edition of Project Digest discusses the status of 17 public infrastructure projects, including the traffic signals on Sixth Street South, the grand opening of Fire Station 25 and the Lakefront Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements project. Project Digest arranges project descriptions alphabetically, by neighborhood and begins with projects that span multiple neighborhoods. The encircled letters on the left of each project description correspond with indicators on the map on pages 4 and 5.

Finn Hill, Kingsgate, Moss Bay, Norkirk, North Rose Hill & South Rose HillPaving and slurry seal

Kirkland’s 2018 street paving contractor is grinding and paving 90th Avenue Northeast, between 134th and 139th avenues

northeast after Labor Day. The Finn Hill collector street is the last of seven street sections Lakeside Industries paved for

Kirkland in 2018. Kirkland also hired a contractor this year to extend the useful

lives of residential streets in Kingsgate and North Rose Hill. The City of Kirkland had to suspend that contract, however, after the contractor, Intermountain Slurry Seal, suffered a series of setbacks that stretched the original four-day program into a second week of schedule changes and uncertainty. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/streetpreservation or contact Streets Engineer George Minassian, gminassian@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3829.

Highlands & JuanitaSchool Walk Routes

Students of Alexander Graham Bell and Juanita elementary schools will have improved walking routes to their schools by

the end of winter break. Construction will likely begin in fall or winter on two sections of sidewalk along 108th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 112th and 116th streets, as well as sidewalk along 94th Avenue Northeast,

between Northeast 124th and 128th streets. The sidewalks to A.G. Bell and Juanita are two of the 38 school routes a joint panel of leaders from the City of Kirkland and the Lake Washington School District identified in 2001. The City of Kirkland is currently designing the last four and will construct them in 2019. Search “Elementary School Walk Routes” on www.kirklandwa.gov or contact Project Engineer Marius Eugenio, Jr. at meugenio@kirklandwa.gov or (425) 587-3872.

A rendering showing the re-designed Totem Lake Park.

Summer 2018www.kirklandwa.gov2 PROJECT UPDATE

Juanita, Lakeview & Moss BayLakefront Pedestrian & Bicycle improvements

Construction begins in September on a project aimed at improving walking and bicycling safety along Lake Washington

Boulevard, Market Street and 98th Avenue Northeast. The improvements will establish two sets of rapid flashing beacons at Market Street’s intersections with Fourth

Avenue and Central Way, improve street lighting, as well as sidewalk access at 100 curb ramps along the corridor and create colored bicycle lanes at intersections. Search “Lakefront Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements” on www.kirklandwa.gov or contact Senior Project Engineer Aparna Khanal akhanal@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3827.

North & South Rose HillNeighborhood Greenways

A contractor will begin implementing a variety of features along Northeast 75th Street this fall that will transform the residential street into Kirkland’s first neighborhood greenway, where walking

and bicycling are the primary transportation modes and driving is the alternative. Kirkland’s staff is pursuing grants that will pay for several of the greenway’s features, such as

an elevated intersection between Holy Family Catholic Parish and Lake Washington High School. The Neighborhood Greenways project teams expects to complete by summer 2018 the designs for the Northeast 75th Street Greenway, as well as the 128th Avenue Northeast Greenway, which connects South Rose Hill to Totem Lake. In the meantime, the project team will be working with the

public to decide how to integrate art within those corridors. Visit kirklandwa.gov/greenways or contact Project Engineer Laura Drake at ldrake@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3833.

North Rose Hill & Totem LakeDual left-turn lanes on 124th Avenue Northeast

The first of three separate projects aimed at improving 124th Avenue Northeast’s safety and efficiency for driving, walking

and bicycling begins this fall. That project will add a second northbound-to-westbound left turn-lane to 124th Avenue Northeast at its intersection with Northeast 116th

Street. To accommodate the new left-turn lane, Kirkland’s transportation engineers will adjust the signals’ timing. The City will also create a northbound bicycle lane along 124th Avenue Northeast. Search “Dual left-turn lanes” on www.kirklandwa.gov or contact Project Engineer Laura Drake, (425) 587-3833, ldrake@kirklandwa.gov.

124th Avenue Northeast sidewalkCrews from Frontier Communications, Puget Sound Energy and

Comcast will be working this fall in a 23-block section of 124th Avenue Northeast to relocate their respective underground utilities and make way for a City of Kirkland project that will establish a continuous sidewalk between the South

Rose Hill and Totem Lake neighborhoods. Construction on the sidewalk—between Northeast 90th Street and Northeast 113th Street—is currently scheduled to begin late fall 2018 and will be complete in spring 2019. Search “124th Avenue sidewalk” on www.kirklandwa.gov or contact Senior Project Engineer Aparna Khanal, akhanal@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3827.

Michelle Plesko, president of Kirkland Greenways, rides with two of her children along 127th Place Northeast, near its intersection with Northeast 75th Street. This new residential road makes possible a continuous walking and bicycling greenway from the Bridle Trails Shopping Center to Slater Avenue Northeast.

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Summer 2018 www.kirklandwa.gov PROJECT UPDATE 3

EverestSixth Street South improvements

The late-summer labor strike that halted work on dozens of construction projects throughout western Washington also delayed

until fall the 24-hour, five-day-long closure of Sixth Street South’s intersection with Kirkland Way. That closure will allow Johansen Construction, Kirkland’s contractor, to

complete in five 24-hour shifts what would otherwise have the month-long task of replacing the intersection’s asphalt pavement with concrete pavement and installing the bases for the traffic signal towers.

The labor dispute also delayed the expected completion of the traffic signal. “Johansen Construction is now working with City of Kirkland staff to re-schedule the closure for a time that maximizes the contractor’s efficiency while minimizing its effect on traffic,” said Kirkland Public Works Director Kathy Brown. “That’s a tough task. And we appreciate our residents’ patience as we work through this issue.”

After installing the traffic signal at Sixth Street South’s intersection with Kirkland Way and rebuilding it with concrete, Johansen’s crews will move south to Sixth Street South to Ninth Avenue South, where the contractor will install another four-way traffic signal.

At the same time, a second contractor will start upgrading the five-decade-old concrete water and sewer mains that run beneath Sixth Street South. Kirkland is upgrading 2,200 linear feet of water main between Northeast 68th Street and Fifth Avenue South and more than 1,000 feet of sewer main between Northeast 68th Street and Eighth Avenue South.

After crews establish the traffic signals, water and sewer mains, and patch the street’s roughest sections, the City of Kirkland will repave the roadway. The repaving project will likely start in summer 2019.

Visit kirklandwa.gov/6thstreet or contact Project Engineer Laura Drake at ldrake@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3833 or Project Engineer Marius Eugenio, Jr., at meugenio@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3872.

Finn HillFire Station 25

The City of Kirkland is celebrating the renovation of Fire Station 25 to the public during a 12:30 p.m., Sept. 9

grand opening. Emergency personnel have been responding since August from a more efficient Fire Station 25 on Juanita Drive after a Kirkland

contractor replaced all of Fire Station 25’s aging mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems with energy-efficient, code-compliant systems. In addition, the upgrade improved firefighters’ workplace health by separating the decontamination area and engine bay from the places where firefighters work and live. Search “Fire Station 25” on www.kirklandwa.gov or contact Senior Project Coordinator Anneke Davis at adavis@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3828.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, such as the one pictured here, will be a prominent feature of Neighborhood Greenways and the Lakefront Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements project.

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Summer 2018www.kirklandwa.gov6 PROJECT UPDATE

Juanita100th Avenue Northeast improvements

As the team of engineers and landscape architects near completion on the redesign of the 100th Avenue Northeast corridor, Kirkland’s staff is applying for state and federal grants

that will help implement that design. The redesign of 100th Avenue Northeast features separated sidewalks and elevated bike lanes along both sides of most of the corridor.

Its intersections—including the intersections at Juanita-Woodinville Way, Simonds Road, Northeast 145th, 137th and 132nd streets—will be optimized for efficiency and safety. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign or contact Project Engineer Laura Drake at ldrake@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3833.

Juanita Beach BathhouseA June 29 decision by the City of Kirkland hearing examiner has

delayed the project to replace the Juanita Beach Park bathhouse. The City is appealing the ruling to the Washington State

Shorelines Hearings Board. “This project provides so many solutions for our

community and our natural environment, and we are determined to see them through.” said Lynn Zwaagstra,

Kirkland’s Park and Community Services director.The City had applied for three variances as part of the Juanita

Beach Park Bathhouse project. The variances would have allowed the bathhouse to be placed within wetland buffers. The variances would also preserve existing park space and beach access rather than requiring them to be fenced off.

To compensate for the impacts to the wetland and buffer areas, the City’s project team members worked with staff from the Washington State Department of Ecology on a plan to enhance wetlands along Juanita Creek and at Juanita Bay Park by removing

invasive species and planting native wetland species,” Zwaagstra said.

The variances were needed because the Shoreline Management Act prevents construction in wetlands and their buffers unless the applicant can satisfy numerous criteria, such as demonstrating that no other suitable location for the building exists and that impacts are appropriately mitigated.

City staff chose the location of the bathhouse based on community feedback collected during the Juanita Beach Park master plan’s two-year process. The community preferred the planned location because it opened views, maximized lawn and play space and provided a buffer between the natural forested area and the play area. The location also improved lifeguards’ response times to emergencies by stationing them closer to the beach.

Search Juanita Beach on www.kirklandwa.gov or contact Senior Project Coordinator Anneke Davis, adavis@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3828.

Advanced Mitigation at Forbes Creek DriveThe City of Kirkland will be restoring more than five acres of wetlands in October near Fire Station 21—on the northeast side of Market Street’s intersection with Forbes Creek Drive. Specifically,

the City will be removing the invasive Himalayan blackberry and reed canary grass monocultures that have consumed the area. In their place, the City’s contractor will hand-plant hundreds of native plants.

This advanced mitigation project compensates wetlands and stream buffers for the unavoidable effects capital construction—such as sidewalks and parking lots—can have on these sensitive areas.

“The result of a fully-implemented Advanced Mitigation Program will be improved ecological outcomes at a lower price and within

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The community asked for two smaller pavilions, rather than one large pavilion.

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Summer 2018 www.kirklandwa.gov PROJECT UPDATE 7

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a shorter timeframe than could be provided by a site-by-site mitigation process,” says a July 25 memo to City Manager Kurt Triplett. “This is a win-win for both use of public funds and for environmental protection.” Contact Senior Project Engineer Aparna Khanal, akhanal@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3827.

MarketRose Point Lift Station

The replacement of an aging sanitary-sewer lift station in the Market neighborhood begins summer 2019 and will be complete the

following summer. Kirkland is replacing the Rose Point lift station—one of the City’s oldest stations—with a 300 square-foot facility that will feature a new wet-well and dry-well. The

contractor will use 18th Avenue West to haul materials into the work site and 20th Avenue West to haul waste out of the work site. Senior Project Engineer Aaron McDonald estimates the contractor will use the haul route for approximately 100 loads during the 12-month construction process.

The Rose Point Lift Station pumps sewage from 57 homes in the Market neighborhood. Search “Rose Point Lift Station” on www.kirklandwa.gov or contact Senior Project Engineer Aaron McDonald, amcdonald@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3837.

South Rose Hill120th Avenue Northeast water main upgrade

The contractor currently installing a 20-inch water main beneath 120th Avenue Northeast is still on track to complete the job by

November, despite the late-summer labor strike, said Alex Andry, a principal at Shoreline Construction, the contractor Kirkland hired to install the water main beneath 120th Avenue

Northeast, between Northeast 80th and 85th streets. Shoreline continues to manage traffic and erosion on the street during the strike. But all other work stalled, including progress on connecting the recently installed water main to the service lines along 120th Avenue Northeast. The new 20-inch water main will equalize the water pressure between the 24-inch water main Kirkland installed in 2015 beneath Northeast 85th Street and the 20-inch main Kirkland installed the following year beneath Northeast 80th Street. It will also provide system redundancy for the conveyance of drinking water and fire flows, in case of an emergency. Contact Project Engineer Scott Gonsar, sgonsar@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3830.

Totem LakeTotem Lake Connector

As Totem Lake Connector’s project team continues to acquire permits for the pedestrian and bicycle bridge’s design, Kirkland’s city

council is preparing for a Sept. 4 discussion on how to pay for the bridge. Construction could begin in 2020 or 2021, depending on funding. When complete, the Totem Lake

Connector will connect the two ends of the Cross Kirkland Corridor currently severed by Totem Lake Boulevard and Northeast 124th Street. The bridge will feature an overlook that will protrude from the bridge’s loop. Those who walk to its end, say its designers,

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Summer 2018www.kirklandwa.gov8 PROJECT UPDATE

will feel like they are walking into space. They’ll also get sweeping views of Totem Lake. The 20-long-foot overlook will taper in width as it extends toward a transparent end panel. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector or contact Senior Project Engineer Aaron McDonald, at amcdonald@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3837.

Totem Lake GatewayDesign is nearing completion on a series of improvements on

sections of Totem Lake Boulevard and 120th Avenue Northeast that will restore sections of roadway that are settling into the

wetlands and that will create new, wide sidewalks. The project will also install lighting that complements the pedestrian plazas and walkways created by the Village

at Totem Lake. Kirkland’s engineers expect to finish design by spring 2019. The work may begin in late 2019, depending on environmental review and permitting. Kirkland’s project engineers expect construction to last nine to 11 months. The most intensive area of work is on Totem Lake Boulevard, just south of Totem Lake Park. There, crews will remove portions of the existing roadway, replace 900 feet of narrow sidewalk with 10-foot-wide sidewalk, replace the 1970s-era retaining wall and then rebuild the road. The project’s last major task is to grind and repave Totem Lake Boulevard, from Northeast 124th Street to Northeast 128th Street, plus sections of 120th Avenue Northeast. Kirkland earned a $4.83 million grant in November 2017 from Washington’s Transportation Improvement Board that is helping to fund the project. Contact: Senior Project Engineer George Minassian, (425) 587-3829, gminassian@kirklandwa.gov

Totem Lake Park

The Kirkland City Council voted Sept. 4 to move forward with Totem Lake Park’s new design, which features a restroom, picnic

and play areas, as well as a 10-foot-wide boardwalk that will connect to the Cross Kirkland Corridor. Construction costs, however, forced the Council to expand the play area

and locate the planned splash pad at a more suitable park that poses fewer—and less expensive—construction challenges. Project Coordinator Brian Baker expects construction on the park to begin spring 2019. Contact: Project Coordinator Brian Baker, (425) 587-3874, bbaker@kirklandwa.gov

Willows Road Regional Trail ConnectionThe City of Kirkland expects to begin construction by spring

2019 on a multi-use trail that will connect the Eastside Rail Corridor to the Sammamish River Trail, via Willows Road, Northeast 124th Street or the Redmond Central Connector. The connection will complete a gap in a developing trail

network that will extend south along King County’s Eastside Rail Corridor Trail to Renton and northwest along the Sammamish River Trail to the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle.

The design and construction of this project is funded, in large part, through a Washington state allocation of $2.5 million. “This is a great milestone for active transportation in our region,” said Kirkland Councilmember Dave Asher, Chair of the Council’s Legislative Work Group. Kirkland’s staff is planning to open the Willows Road Regional Trail Connection by fall 2019. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector or contact Senior Project Engineer Aaron McDonald, at amcdonald@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3837.

The Totem Lake Connector will span nine lanes of traffic in Totem Lake over Kirkland’s busiest intersection.

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