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.
The South 228th Street grade separation will provide a regional connection between the nation’s 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.
City officials have not released exact closing dates yet.
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.
• 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
• South 228th Street and the Interurban Trail will be closed to through traffic during construction with detours put in place
• Digital reader boards will notify drivers and trail users of the specific closure dates, times and detour routes
The overpass construction gets underway in 2017, with full completion anticipated by the middle of 2018.
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.
For more information, go to KentWA.gov/228.
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