The City has begun its improvement project along 1st Avenue South, between SW/S 146th and SW/S 140th Street, which means that there will likely be lane closures between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. between Monday, Dec. 12 and Friday, Dec. 23.

Workers will be installing utility vaults, so you may want to keep the potential for delays in mind as you’re doing those last-minute holiday local shopping trips.

Please note also that businesses in the area of construction (in the neighborhood between Burien Chevrolet and Fred Meyer) will remain open, so don’t let this stop you from supporting them!

The project is expected to be completed in 260 working days from its start date of Nov. 30, 2011, and ending in early 201

The city adds on its website:

To begin construction, the general contractor, DPK Inc, will be installing utility vaults within 1st Avenue South beginning Monday, Dec.12 to Friday, Dec. 23.

Please consider construction work zones and safety to your destinations.

Businesses in the affected area WILL REMAIN OPEN, with customers and the general public having a convenient shopping experience while visiting the downtown area.

And here’s even more from the city’s website devote to the project:

The City of Burien is pleased to bring the following improvements to the area.  This project will help decrease the rate of accidents and increase the visibility and safety for all passengers and pedestrians.   We sincerely hope you will “pardon our dust”.

The project supports the development and revitalization of the existing downtown area and increases multi-modal transportation safety by constructing new sidewalk in the downtown area and promoting greater pedestrian use of adjoining businesses. It will also improve non-motorized (including ADA) mobility leading into the downtown area by providing north-south accessibility.

Project Improvements include the following:

• Sidewalks, Curbs and Gutters on both sides
• New Concrete Driveways and ADA Ramps
• New Asphalt Pavement Overlay
• New Signals and Street Lighting
• Landscaping
• Undergrounding of Overhead Utilities
• Storm Drainage Improvements

Construction Schedule

The project is expected to be completed in 260 working days starting from Wednesday, November 30, 2011, and ending in early 2013.

Seattle City Light, Comcast and CenturyLink have already begun some relocation of their facilities along the corridor. DPK, Inc. has been awarded the construction project contract and will commence construction in early December. DPK plans to work its way through the corridor in phases starting at SW 146^th Street and ending at SW 140^th Street.

Coordination with local businesses, maintenance of business access, and maintenance of traffic during construction are important components to a successful project in order to protect business activity during the construction period. Businesses in the affected area WILL REMAIN OPEN, with customers and the general public having a convenient shopping experience while visiting the downtown area.

Here’s what the existing area looks like:

Click image for larger version.

And here’s the proposed changes:

Click image to see larger version.

For more information, here are links to documents from the city:

• Project Schedule [pdf]
• Current Conditions [pdf]
• Proposed Improvements [pdf]

Mayor Nickels was observing improvements to the 1st Ave. South corridor when an Alaska Airlines jet mistook the top of his gigantic head for Sea-Tac airport’s new third runway.

While there were no injuries to passengers on Flight 401, the Boeing 757-500 was declared a total loss.

Burien mayor Joan McGilton, who witnessed the mishap, said the city of Burien will pick up Nickels’ medical bills.

When asked where the funds will come from to pay for the medical treatment, McGilton said

“Oh hell…we’ll just shorten the duration of our amber lights and start shooting more pictures!”

Meanwhile, numerous eyewitnesses to the incident have filed a class action lawsuit against both Nickels and his giant skull.

“It’s too ding dang noisy,” shouted resident Harriet Cooper over the ding dang noise, “and the Port is refusing to insulate my house against Mayor Gigantor’s hy-uge cranium! WTF?”

The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the area will be on the receiving end of $40.4 million in funding from the recent federal stimulus package, with $3.8 million going towards “Phase IIA” improvements on First Avenue between Southwest 192nd Street and Southwest 200th Street.

According to the PSBJ, the Puget Sound Regional Council decided on Thursday how to dole out $78 million in federal stimulus dollars.

The agency’s Executive Board voted to approve a list of projects in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

Read the full story here.

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We’ve actually swerved many times to avoid these sharp-looking spikes, then we began to wonder:

Why the heck would anyone purposely place dangerous
metal spikes in newly re-paved asphalt?

So we did what any B-Town Blogger would do – we found one, parked our Blogmobile, got out and risked our lives taking the above photo in the middle of traffic (this one was found west of First Ave South on SW 148th heading east, between Ivar’s and that shop that sells sexy stuff).

We also tempted losing our ability to speak again (let alone the fear of having to get a tetanus shot) by stepping down on the deadly-looking thingy with our Chuck Taylors:

Aha!

They’re actually NOT metal spikes lurking like hungry six-gilled shark predators below the newly-laid asphalt oceans of B-Town – they’re just weird rubber thingies!

Here’s a quote from Valerie Stuart, of the City of Burien Public Works Dept. about said rubber thingies:

The “spikes” that are still visible on 1st Avenue South and some of its intersecting streets are depth markers.

They are, as you noted Scott, just rubber thingies.

They will be gone within the next two to three weeks after the utilities have all raised their lids to the right height and paving is completed around them.

So, fear not dear Readers (and associated worried tires) – these “spikes” will NOT damage your tires, or even your precious Chuck Taylors!

Whew.

The construction apparently will start at 148th SW and will move southward on First Ave South towards 160th; however, there are conflicting notes (read release below) that it will start at the south end, so we recommend just avoiding the entire area at all costs.

Here’s the release from the city:

The final paving phase has begun, starting with a pre-level of the roadway at the north end of the project.

There are areas where manhole and vault covers are above grade due to preparation for the final overlay – please use extreme caution and drive slowly.

Final paving will occur over the next two to three weeks, weather dependent, and will be done in segments and will occur at night between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Expect rolling closures of 1st Avenue South starting at the SOUTH end of the project moving north.

Paving will start on the east side of the roadway and move to the west side.

Use extreme caution as lane markings will follow after the pavement.

Please pay close attention to signage and detour directions during this time period.

If you have further questions, please contact Bruce McPherson, Resident Engineer, at 425/531‑0728 during business hours. 

Again, drive slowly and carefully during this phase of the project for your safety and that of the workers. Thank you.

Map of the mess (click on the placeholder icons for more info):

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We’re not 100% certain, but our best guess is that it’s a weather-related decision (paving + rain = bad mix?).

Here’s their language:

The overlay on First Ave. has been cancelled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.

On Wednesday day, the determination will be made as to, GO or NO GO for the Thursday night paving. 

The determination on Friday night paving, may or may not be made at this time depending on the weather outlook for Friday.

Doncha just love politicspeak?

“May or may not be made at this time…”!

So…ignore our previous post with subsequent dire warning interactive map, and drive all you want south on First Ave between 148th and 160th.

Personally, we’re going to go do a reckless circular pattern around that area, so look for the speeding green Mini Cooper with the BTB stickers on the doors!

Once paving begins, expect “significant impact on traffic patterns” from 7pm-7am because portions of First Ave South will be completely closed as the contractors move North to South.

Complete closures of First Ave South are being considered in order to expedite this phase of construction.

Trans-Tech work installing traffic signals and loops has taken longer than originally expected due to unforeseen repairs to existing loops for traffic signaling, however, this work is expected to be complete in the next 2-3 weeks.

Concrete work to install curbs, gutters and sidewalks to SW 146th is 95% complete. The remainder of the concrete will be completed after the overhead lines & poles are removed.  Pedestrians should use extreme caution in this work area.

Seattle City Light will be on site in the coming weeks to pull wire & install equipment in the vaults between SW 160th & 154th.

Qwest will be onsite pulling & splicing wires, and their activity will continue for the next several months as well.

Theft of materials and illegal dumping in construction holding areas has been reported. These types of crimes only hinder the progress of this project. If you see any suspicious activity, please call 911.

It is important to remember that the contractor is required to maintain access to all businesses and inform businesses when their driveway will be closed or impacted by construction. If your driveway is blocked during business hours, please contact Discover Burien or Bruce McPherson at 206.439.2330 and we will contact the contractor.

If you sustain damage from rocks or material from trucks traveling on SR509, SR518 or roads other than 1st Avenue, please note the date, time, and license # of the truck and contact the trucking company. All liability rests on the trucking companies responsible for damage.

Questions? Please call Discover Burien: 206.433.2882

Map of the mess (click on the placeholder icons for more info):

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