Beginning this Thursday (June 5), the City of Renton will close Duvall Avenue Northeast to through traffic between Sunset Boulevard and Southeast 95th Way.

The road will remain closed through approximately July 2009. Local

access is available from Sunset Boulevard to Southeast 107th, but the road will be closed from Southeast 107th to Southeast 95th Way.

The detour route for traffic will be Northeast Sunset Boulevard and I-405. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and use the detour routes, according to city officials.

Residential use and freight traffic has increased considerably on the

Duvall/Coal Creek Parkway Corridor, which is now a major through-route

between Renton and Bellevue. This project, along with the recently

completed Renton Sunset/Duvall intersection project and improvements to Coal Creek Parkway in Newcastle, will improve safety and ease congestion from Renton to Bellevue. The planned improvements include:

● Widening the road to five lanes, including a two-way left-turn lane

in the center

● Converting overhead power lines to underground lines in anticipation

of added safety during storms and emergencies

● Adding a new traffic signal at Duvall Ave. and NE 21 St

● Adding new bicycle lanes

● Adding new sidewalks

● Adding new curbs and gutters

The Renton City Council approved the closure as the option that allows

the construction to be completed in the least amount of time and

prioritizes safety during construction, minimizing impacts to

surrounding neighborhoods. The $10,081,569 contract for the project was awarded to the low bidder Northwest Cascade, Inc.

Originally scheduled for June 2, the start date was delayed slightly to June 5, because the contractor had to wait for state approval of the required stormwater pollution prevention plan before work could commence.

City staff will provide regular project updates at duvall.rentonwa.gov, the project website. The city will also be installing special signs indicating access to local businesses in June.

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