Fourth and Willis intersection to close Oct. 3-5 in Kent | Reminder

A reminder to drivers that the intersection of Fourth Avenue South and Willis Street in Kent is scheduled to be closed for construction from 4 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 until 4 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 5.

Crews continue to work on a new roundabout and will close it for base-lift paving. The city postponed the work and closure from Sept. 18-20 due to the smoky conditions and the potential for wet weather and postponed it again from Sept. 26-28 due to the forecast of wet weather.

There could be more weekend closures as construction continues, according to city staff on Oct. 2.

Construction began in June on the $4.75 million project, which 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 existing signalization intersection will be replaced with a two-lane 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.