How are construction projects in Lacey coming along? City provides an update
The Lacey City Council transportation committee has received an update on a number of road-related construction projects in the city.
Council members Carolyn Cox, Malcolm Miller and Michael Steadman serve on that committee. Aubrey Collier, the city’s design and construction manager, provided the update.
College Street/22nd Avenue roundabout
Although traffic now flows around the new roundabout at College Street Southeast and 22nd Avenue Southeast, it still awaits some finishing touches, including circuit boards to power flashing beacons for pedestrian crossings and landscaping. The entire project is expected to be complete this month.
The committee discussion about the project ended with Councilman Michael Steadman pointing out he supported a wider bicycle lane in the area, but he also acknowledged that would have required the city to purchase more property for it.
“You have to be sensitive to property owner rights,” he said.
Mullen Road improvements
Thurston County and the city of Lacey are partners in this project, which is bringing a roundabout to Mullen Road Southeast and Carpenter Road Southeast. Lacey is paying for the water and sewer line work in the area, Collier said. The $8 million project is expected to be complete in summer 2021.
Diverging Diamond interchange
The new interchange at Exit 111 is also largely complete. According to Tuesday’s meeting, all lanes of the overpass will be open for Labor Day Weekend, followed by some final paving toward the end of month, road striping in October and then the project is done. There was a question about whether the pedestrian walkway was now open. A spokesman for the state Department of Transportation could not be reached.
Hawks Prairie Road roundabout
The existing roundabout at Hawks Prairie Road Northeast and Marvin Road Northeast is just beginning, Collier said. It will expand the single-lane roundabout to two lanes.
Capitol City septic-to-sewer conversion
Phase 1 of the Capitol City Golf Club Estates septic-to-sewer conversion is under way. The first phase, which is set to cost $6 million and be complete in May 2021, will connect 175 homes to sewer. However, Collier said the project is slightly behind schedule, but is still expected to meet the May deadline. She said the contractor has agreed to hire more workers to make up the time. After the meeting, she said the contractor has had difficulty hiring workers because of COVID-19.
2020 overlay work
The city spent $1.5 million to repave the Meridian Road Northeast and Orion Drive Northeast roundabout, Meridian road from 31st Avenue Northeast to 46th Avenue Northeast, and repaired 150 manholes and valves in the city. The voter-approved Transportation Benefit District provided the funding.
25th Loop improvement
This project includes a new sewer main for the neighborhood. Collier said the city is providing access to sewer for those residents in the area, but is not forcing them to hook up to it. The work is expected to complete at the end of October.
Ruddell Road retaining wall
This project goes out to bid Sept. 10. According to the plans for that bid, the wall will run from Brentwood Drive Southeast to 27th Avenue Southeast. Once the work is under way it will result in traffic delays because 90 trees have to be removed for the project, city engineer Roger Schoessel said during the meeting.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
