City of Kent crews will close the intersection of Fourth Avenue South and Willis Street (State Route 516) this weekend for paving of the new two-lane roundabout.
The intersection will be closed from 4 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 to 4 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, according to the Public Works Department. The $4.75 million project eventually will include new sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian lighting, landscaping and art installations to spruce up the gateway to downtown.
A $3 million state Department of Transportation grant will help fund construction. The rest of the cost will be paid for by city B&O, utility and drainage tax funds, according to city documents.
The City Council approved a contract in May with Tacoma-based Active Construction, Inc., to construct the roundabout.
The state Department of Transportation required the city to build a roundabout along State Route 516 (aka Willis Street) in exchange for allowing the city to extend Naden Avenue and allow right in/right out traffic access from the Naden site to Willis Street. City officials wanted the access to attract developers to potentially purchase the city property, which sits just northwest of the Fourth and Willis intersection. The only current access to the Naden property is from West Meeker Street to the north.
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