Sandpoint Way will remain closed for a while longer
Mar 2, 2016, 10:51 PM | Updated: May 6, 2016, 10:52 pm
Sorry North Seattle, that Sand Point Way closure will be around for a while longer than expected.
Landslide repair has had Sand Point Way closed near the NOAA campus for about a month. The emergency construction was supposed to end this week but, unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. The road is now set to remain closed for an additional month or so.
Related: $2M project would help Snohomish County catch up with traffic
At this point, crews will need to remove existing pavement and repave before reopening the road. Work will continue six days a week, typically 10 hours a day, in an effort to restore Sand Point Way NE to use as soon as possible.
The contractor has finished setting the last of 15 piles into the slope just east of the shoulder of Sand Point Way NE. The cranes used for drilling the 55 foot deep holes and for placing the 6-ton steel I-beams will be removed from the site on this week, once the timber lagging is fully installed. The next phase of the work will be replacing the 16″ diameter water main.
Approximately 220 feet of water main will be replaced in the vicinity of the new 90 foot long retaining wall. The new water main (16″ in diameter) will be installed under the southbound travel lane of Sand Point Way NE. This location, approximately 20′ to the west of the existing line, is further from the road shoulder, and more secure in the event of future soil instability.
It is likely southbound traffic will be restored by April 2, and northbound traffic in early May, but some of the remaining construction work is weather dependent.
Traffic along the detour route — along NE 70th Street, 35th Avenue NE and NE 95th Street — has been very congested, especially during peak travel hours. Flaggers are now stationed at both ends of the work zone and uniformed police officers will be assisting with traffic flows on 35th Avenue NE during peak periods.
