The first phase of the project to build a South 228th Street overpass over the Union Pacific railroad tracks in Kent will require closure of the street and the Interurban Trail at the crossing in mid-September to late October.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The South 228th Street grade separation will provide a regional connection between the nation\u2019s fourth largest warehouse and industrial center in Kent with the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle as well as Sea-Tac Airport. This grade separation will eliminate daily traffic delays and provide a safer route for freight haulers and commuters at the crossing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
City officials have not released exact closing dates yet.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The first phase also requires modification of the power lines and installation of three, 8-foot diameter bridge shafts. The bridge shafts will be installed 70 feet into the ground to support the future bridge\/overpass.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Puget Sound Energy will shut down the power lines from mid-September to mid-October to make way for the installation of the bridge shafts<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 South 228th Street and the Interurban Trail will be closed to through traffic during construction with detours put in place<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Digital reader boards will notify drivers and trail users of the specific closure dates, times and detour routes<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The overpass construction gets underway in 2017, with full completion anticipated by the middle of 2018.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The cost of the first phase is about $1 million. The total project cost is an estimated $25 million with funding provided by the state Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, Union Pacific Railroad, Puget Sound Regional Council, WSDOT and the Port of Seattle.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n