Ship Canal Water Quality project update 11/10/21

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Ship Canal logoTemporary water bypass pipe in East Ballard. Pipe segments are moved into the area separately and fused together at the site to build one long pipe.

Crews are working to install a temporary water bypass pipe in East Ballard. Pipe segments are moved into the area separately and fused together at the site to build one long pipe.

Keeping water service going during construction

Through the end of the year, crews will be installing temporary water pipes at our East Ballard and Fremont sites. These temporary pipes will be above ground or in a shallow trench near the project site. Crews will be working underground around the existing water pipes and installing the temporary bypass pipe allows them to do the work needed without shutting off water service.

Diagram of pipe flow

To build the bypass pipe, segments of pipe are laid out in a line then welded together using a mobile fusing machine. Check out SPU’s YouTube channel to see of our crew putting two pipe segments together for the bypass systems in Ballard and East Fremont.

We’ll be posting updates from our project sites on Instagram as work continues. We also encourage you to look at our latest construction photos on Flickr to see the progress that has been made.


Ballard & MudHoney

MudHoney, the 18-ft diameter storage tunnel boring machine (TBM), reached a planned pause in October to switch from the conveyor belt system of removing spoils to the rail system (see previous listserv for more information) and for trailing gear installation.

During this time, you should anticipate:

  • The tunnel boring machine will be stopped for a few weeks
  • Heavy equipment, such as cranes, being installed on site
  • Truck deliveries of MudHoney equipment
  • Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site

Crews are working 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, and will continue until the tunnel boring machine reaches Wallingford in fall 2022. Weekend work may also occur.

Ground monitoring is ongoing along the tunnel alignment and is done from both inside MudHoney and on the surface.


East Ballard

Through the end of the year, crews are installing a temporary water bypass pipe, dewatering equipment, and excavation support for the mechanical and electrical vault on NW 45th St.

During this time, you should anticipate:

  • A few periods of night work, which will include closures at or west of the intersection on NW 45th St and 11th Ave NW
  • Two separate short, temporary water outages will be necessary to complete the water bypass pipe installation. The first outage occurred the night of November 9th. The second outage is expected to follow about two weeks later. If your service will be impacted, you'll receive a door hanger with more information about 5 days prior to the outage.
  • Heavy equipment in the area
  • NW 45th St closed to traffic; vehicles must detour onto NW 46th St
  • Burke-Gilman Trail users remain detoured to the north side of NW 45th St
  • Flaggers will help direct traffic during daytime working hours. Please follow all detour guidance on site. For safety, bicyclists should either dismount or cross train tracks at a 90-degree angle. Please use extra caution in wet weather as ramps may be slippery.
  • Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site

Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.


Fremont

Work on the 8-ft conveyance tunnel continues. Crews have started jet grouting work in Leary Way NW, including lane reductions on Leary Way NW, between 1st Ave NW and NW 39th St, with an optional detour.

In the first week of November, a temporary water bypass pipe was installed down 2nd Ave NW.  In the coming weeks, crews will perform watermain work in Leary Way NW.  Connections for this work are expected to occur in early December. This connection work will require a temporary water outage, most likely during night time hours. If your service will be impacted, you’ll receive a door hanger with more information about 5 days prior to the outage.

During this time, you should anticipate:

  • Lane reductions on Leary Way NW through approximately Feb. 2022 (see with optional detour)
  • Large equipment on Leary Way NW to support jet grouting work
  • Excavators working on site for utility installation work
  • Truck traffic on Leary Way NW as trucks bring and remove materials to and from the site
  • NW 36th St between Leary Way NW and 3rd Ave NW closed (through remainder of the project)
  • Pedestrian detours on Leary Way NW, please follow all detour guidance on site
  • Generator running during work hours to power equipment
  • 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for sewer and diversion structure work at least through the end of the year
  • NW Canal St is open to two-way traffic to allow access during this closure. Please do not park at the west end of NW Canal St to allow two-way traffic to turn around at the closure
  • Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site

Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.


Wallingford

Crews continue working on the shaft liner wall.

During this work, you should anticipate:

  • Trucks coming in and out of the site to deliver reinforcing steel and concrete
  • Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site

Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm.


Queen Anne

Crews have started to install temporary shoring for construction of the diversion structures.

During this time, you should anticipate:

  • Trucks coming in and out of the site
  • Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
  • The West Ewing Mini Park parking lot to remain closed through mid-2023
  • A localized Ship Canal Trail detour through summer 2022 (see map)

Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.


Contact us

Please email SPU_ShipCanalProject@seattle.gov with questions or comments or call our hotline at (206) 701-0233. You can also find information online at spushipcanal.participate.online/.To support the community during active tunneling, we have changed our hotline hours to 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday.


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