South-end drivers should continue to expect delays throughout the Rainier Valley as road crews continue to work at two locations along Rainier Avenue South, also known as the Route 7 corridor:
1. Rainier Ave. S. & Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. – Work includes spot sidewalk repair; installation of storm drainage upgrades and demolition and paving of road panels in the southbound west curb lanes on Rainier Ave. S. approaching the Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. intersection; and demolition and paving of road panels in the southbound curb lane on Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, just north of S. Winthrop St. The work will take place in two phases, with overall project construction expected to be complete by the end of December 2010.
Traffic restrictions will include:
- On Rainier Ave. S., southbound right turn lane and right through lane will be closed
- On ML King Way S., southbound right curb lane will experience intermittent closures
- In place 24/7 for Phase 1 which will last through mid September.
2. Rainier Ave. S. & S. Genesee St. – Construction work is currently underway on the west side of Rainier Ave. S., but will expand to include the east side of Rainier Ave. S., possibly starting as early as August 30th, in the area of Rainier Ave. S. & S. Genesee St. This work is expected to take approximately 9 weeks to complete. Work includes sawcutting, demolition and paving of sidewalk and road panels; installation of new electrical service, traffic and pedestrian lights, and relocation of a Metro bus stop.
Traffic restrictions will include:
- Southbound curb lane closed on Rainier Ave. S., north and south of S. Genesee St.
- Northbound curb lane closed on Rainier Ave. S., north and south of S. Genesee St.
- Eastbound S. Genesee St. will be closed at Rainier Ave. S. with a traffic detour for vehicles
- Parking restricted on 36th Ave. S., north of S. Genesee St. on east and west sides of road
- Lane closures and parking restrictions in place 24/7 for approximately 9 weeks for work on southwest and southeast corner of Rainier Ave. S. and S. Genesee St.
Southbound traffic on Rainier Avenue South is reduced to one lane between South Forest Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way South around the clock until early September, while construction crews upgrade drainage and electrical utilities in the roadway. The work is part of the Rainier Transit Priority Corridor Improvements Project. Photo/do communications
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{ 8 comments }
The Rainier/MLK work is going to take 3 more months??!!!
Did I read that correctly? If they’re only doing storm drain work you’d think they could re-open the middle lane. Traffic is such a clusterf*k that I’m now driving from Rainier up to the top of Beacon and back down Alaska just to avoid it during rush hour.
This week I finally saw people actually *working there* for the first time. Maybe if they worked full days (8 hours) this could be done faster? Too much to ask?
Not to mention that police resources are being wasted on watching the pit.
Unfortunately, yes. Find more info here: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/tpci_rainier.htm
I refuse to drive down Rainier between 3-6. MLK all the way for me.
@Tiffany
Exactly what I was thinking. Maybe if we get enough rain we can use it as a public pool. Why did they dig eveything up and just leave it?
“The work is part of The Rainier Transit Priority Corridor Improvement Project”
How is this supposed to improve anything?
this is a pain, but three months will be over before you know it.
What!?
If they put the 3 (three!) cops that are always on duty there to work with backhoes, they’d have it done already.
Seriously, I could get my truck, pick up some guys at Lowe’s, and give them shovels, and they’d have it done by now.
I don’t know who’s doing the project planning or supervision for this project at Rainier & MLK, but it’s taking a ridiculous amount of time. Let’s let the city know the work isn’t moving fast enough, and that this needs to be a bigger priority given the importance of this traffic corridor.
Let’s just call it a “road diet.”
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