Construction activities starting early April on 97th Avenue Southeast and at Fruitland Landing

Utility location as early as April 4 

• Crews will work at Fruitland Landing and along 97th Ave. S.E. in the public right-of-way. 
• Flaggers will direct traffic in the area. 
• To locate utilities, crews use a jackhammer to break-up pavement. Next, they use a vacuum excavation truck to remove dirt and locate buried utilities. After documenting utility locations, crews will restore the roadway. Utility location helps crews avoid service disruptions during construction. 
• Expect intermittent loud noise during jackhammering and saw cutting.  
• Expect continuous noise while the vacuum truck is in use.   

Upgrade Lift Station 11 at Fruitland Landing starting early April 

• The park at Fruitland Landing will be closed to the public during construction to ensure everyone’s safety while crews work in the small space. This is expected to take approximately four months. 
• Lift Station 11 is located along the Mercer Island shoreline at Fruitland Landing. It connects the City of Mercer Island's wastewater system to King County's regional wastewater system. 
• Crews will install bigger pumps and an upgraded electrical system in the lift station.  
• The park will be restored after construction is complete. 

Install temporary bypass pipe on 97th Ave. S.E. north of S.E. 34th St. in April 

• Before crews can reline the existing pipe, they will install a temporary bypass pipe on the east side of 97th Ave. S.E. between S.E. 34th Street and Fruitland Landing. This temporary bypass pipe maintains service while crews reline the existing pipe. 
• The temporary bypass pipe will remain in place for approximately four months. 
• Crews will install steel plates over the temporary bypass pipe to maintain access to homes.  

Install new pipe on 97th Ave. S.E. south of S.E. 34th St. estimated in May 

• Crews will use open-cut construction to install pipe on the section of 97th Ave. S.E. south of S.E. 34th St. Pipe will be installed on the west side of the street. Crews plan to work south to north. 
• After installing the pipe, crews will backfill the trench with soil and gravel. Then, crews temporarily pave over the exposed ground. The road will be restored after construction is complete. 
• This new pipe will connect to the existing pipe that is being relined on the north end of 97th Ave. S.E. and the new pipe that is being installed east to west on the south end of 97th Ave. S.E.   
• Pipe installation is expected to begin in May and take approximately three weeks. 

Reline the existing pipe on 97th Ave. S.E. north of S.E. 34th St. estimated in June 

• After service is switched over to the temporary bypass pipe, crews can begin relining the existing pipe. Crews will use a trenchless method to reline the existing pipe, which is located in the middle of the street, and plan to work north to south. 
• Relining is expected to occur in June and take approximately two weeks. 

Trenchless drilling on south end of 97th Ave. S.E. continues in April 

• Crews have been installing pipe using a trenchless jack and bore method on the south end of 97th Ave. S.E. This pipe will be connected to the underground structure on S.E. 35th Pl.  
• As early as April 1, crews will begin excavating two large pits: one at the south end of 97th Ave. S.E. off the I-90 Trail and one west of the S.E. 35th Pl. cul-de-sac. These pits will be used to install pipe under the hillside between S.E. 35th Pl. and 97th Ave. S.E. After excavating the pits, a boring machine will push pipe through the hillside.   
• If you live nearby, you may experience increased vibration or noise as crews are excavating the pit areas and drilling underground. Completing this portion of trenchless pipe installation is expected to take approximately one month. 

What to expect:

• Approved work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
• Flaggers will direct single-lane, alternating traffic through the work area. Most traffic control will be on 97th Ave. S.E., with occasional traffic control on S.E. 34th St.  
• Some homes may be subject to temporary driveway access interruptions. 
  • Access to residences should always be maintained during construction. Crews will lay metal plates over excavations to restore access as needed. It may take crews up to 15 minutes to set up a safe surface for you to cross. 
  • If you have questions about access, please call the 24-hour hotline at 425-305-3578. We will speak with on-site staff and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
• Roads will be restored to two-way traffic after work hours. 
• Noise, dust, and vibrations typical of an active construction project.   
• Emergency vehicle access will be maintained.  
• Garbage, recycling, composting, mail, and delivery service will be maintained.  
  • If services are interrupted, please call the project hotline at 425-305-3587.  
• Construction schedules can change based on factors such as site conditions, weather, and material availability. We plan to notify you with more details as work progresses.