Major Kent underpass gets a long-awaited cleaning

Published 4:37 pm Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Reporter staff

One of Kent’s busiest underpasses received a thorough cleaning this past weekend.

A crew from Kent’s All Pro Building Maintenance power-washed the underside of the State Route 167 overpass on Meeker Street. The underpass connects the city’s downtown core – and its growing number of residents – to businesses on Washington Avenue.

Part of a larger beautification effort, the cleaning is the first phase of planned underpass improvements, which, depending on the success of a fundraising effort, could include creative paint treatment, improved lighting, art or a combination of the three.

“We have a great city, and we want to keep it clean,” said Randall Smith, president of All Pro, who oversaw the extensive cleaning project. “And it takes all of us to keep our city clean.”

While the city has fronted the necessary cleanup costs, the beautification project is in the fundraising stage.

The Kent Downtown Partnership has raised more than $10,000 to apply to an estimated initial cost of $50,000 to commission a lasting design for the underpass.

The KDP also helped pay for part of the labor in collecting garbage at the cleanup site last weekend. Republic Services donated a Dumpster.

Individuals interested in the fundraising effort may contact Bill Ellis at wellis@KentWA.gov or 253-856-5707.