Downtown Renton Construction: Continuing utility work and installing new sidewalk

Hi everyone,

Construction in downtown Renton is progressing and has unexpected discoveries every now and then. Our underground utility work can get complicated quickly as a we navigate working around existing in-service utilities and utilities that need to be replaced.

Crews are careful not to disturb existing in-service utilities while working on underground utilities that are within inches of each other.	While demolishing the sidewalks at S 3rd St and Williams Ave S, crews discovered a 4-foot by 8-foot void under the sidewalk that may have been used as an old coal chute. The added complexity of discovering discontinued infrastructure can cause delays in construction as work plans adapt.

CURRENT CONSTRUCTION IN DOWNTOWN RENTON

1. Installing utilities under sidewalks at Williams Ave S and Wells Ave S on S 3rd St
The Wells-Williams Conversion Project is continuing to install new sidewalks on the northside of S 3rd St starting at Williams Ave S, then Wells Ave S. We are coordinating with businesses that are directly impacted and are maintaining business access as best as possible. People walking will be detoured into adjacent curbside parking while we work on sidewalks. To avoid several weeks of sand blasting, which is loud, dusty, and disruptive to businesses downtown, we adjusted the type of concrete we’re using. The tradeoff is this new concrete typically takes about 3 days to cure, instead of 24 hours. Pouring of new concrete is also weather dependent.
	After crews remove the existing sidewalk, they often have to install irrigation and connect roof drains to the new stormwater catch basins before pouring the new concrete.

2.     Utility work on S 2nd St between Main Ave S and Burnett Ave S 

The Wells-Williams Conversion Project is continuing utility work on S 2nd St. Through traffic on S 2nd St will continue to be reduced to a single-lane to give crews the space they need to work on underground utilities.

3.     Stormwater Utility Work on Shattuck Ave S at S 4th Pl 

The Downtown Utility Improvement Project (DUIP) is continuing utility work on Shattuck Ave S beginning at the intersection of S 4th Pl and Shattuck Ave S. As work progresses, crews will move north along Shattuck to S 2nd St. Through traffic on Shattuck Ave S will continue to be reduced to one lane both directions between S 4th Pl and S 2nd St. Please follow posted signs and directions from flaggers for safe access.

4.     Mill Ave S between Bronson Way S and Houser Way S 

DUIP is continuing utility work on Mill Ave S between Bronson Way S and Houser Way S. Mills Ave S is reduced to one lane both directions between S 3rd St and Bronson Way S. Please follow posted signs and directions from flagger for safe access.  

5.      Temporary Clock Tower Relocation 

A key task that must be completed as part of the construction efforts is to temporarily relocate the Clock Tower at the intersection of S 3rd St and Burnett Ave S. To complete this work, a crane will need to be placed within the parking area behind the clock tower during the move of the clock tower. The crane is scheduled to be on-site for one day to move the clock tower into its temporary location, and again when the clock tower is put back.

The proposed schedule of work is as follows:

• May 4: Pour Concrete Pad for the temporary clock tower location (yellow square shown on the map)
• May 5 – May 11: Concrete Cure time
• May 12: Move Clock Tower – Crane on-site

Businesses will still be open during the moving of the clock tower. The Contractor will provide no parking signs for the parking lot and will provide signage to direct patrons the businesses are still open while the crane is in place and will have spotters to ensure that patrons can navigate safely through the work area.

The clock tower will remain in this temporary location for approximately 2-3 months as the construction work on S 3rd St progresses.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ON THE HORIZON

• Continuing water and sewer work on S 2nd St.
• Sidewalk on S 3rd St at Williams Ave S and Wells Ave S.
• Intersection work on S 2nd St at Williams Ave S and Wells Ave S
• Utility work on S 2nd St between Burnett Ave S and Logan Ave S.

	Questions about construction? Visit www.rentonwa.gov/ww or www.rentonwa.gov/duip for the latest updates. Call 425-363-1007 Email wellswilliams@rentonwa.gov or duip@rentonwa.gov.  Join us for virtual office hours every other Friday from 1-1:30 p.m.
	For COVID-19 Resources for Businesses visit whyrenton.com, call the small business hotline 206-503-1742 or email thrive@rentonwa.gov.