Public Works Update-2026-01-16
CITY GOVERNMENT
ROW & Stormwater staff repaired a severed underground electrical line on 76th Ave SE at SE 24th Street this week. Crews excavated a road section to find the damage, which was caused by a communications contractor boring through an underground power line feeding city streetlamps. The repairs restored service to five streetlamps in the area.
ROW & Stormwater staff responded to a leaning tree report along 8000 block EMW and used the lift truck to remove the hazard tree.
The Utility Team completed the installation of a new potable water service line for a residential property located in the 2200 block of 66th Ave SE.
he Utility Team conducted closed-circuit television (CCTV) condition assessments of the sanitary sewer main within the 4400 block of East Mercer Way.
Facilities staff installed three new solar lights along the path from the MICEC parking lot to the Annex daycare facility, in response to a request from daycare families. This new illumination increases pedestrian safety during the shortest days of the year, when this area can be quite dark. Over the next two weeks, staff will close out the project with clean up and finishing touches. HUGE thanks to Casey Troy for his diligent work getting this project completed!
Urban forestry contractors are currently planting 12 trees and 115 shrubs and groundcover plants in the planter strip on the 3700 block of 78th Ave SE. Staff recently removed several declining pear trees from this strip to make space for these landscape improvements.
Sewer Lift Station 11 Improvements Project - Station 11 is now up and running, and the temporary sewer bypass has been shut down and the piping removed. Crews have also removed all metal plates and placed temporary asphalt patches at the intersection of 97th Ave SE and SE 34th Street. Permanent paving on 97th Ave SE will occur later this year. All remaining bypass equipment will be removed from the site by the end of business today, and restoration work will begin soon. Restoration of the Fruitland Landing street end park includes site grading, weed removal, irrigation installation, new native plants, grass seeding, and restoring the park bench and signage.
Sewer Pump Stations 23 and 25 Generator Replacements - While the project remained stalled over the holidays due to scheduling delays by Puget Sound Energy, Valley Electric crews proceeded with preliminary work and staging of materials and equipment at the Pump Station 23 site. PSE has now committed to a late January utility power cutover. If that schedule holds, the project team anticipates completing the major generator replacement work at Pump Station 25 by the end of February, which would allow March to be dedicated to completing work at Pump Station 23. The City appreciates the flexibility and cooperation shown by the Mercerwood Shoreclub and residents near the 5400 block of 96th Ave SE.
2024 Water System Improvements – Kar-Vel Construction crews completed their final water main connection on Holly Lane this week and transferred all water service lines over to the new mains. Next week, crews will clean up the site and remove their materials and equipment. They plan to return in late March to perform final roadway pavement restoration on SE 42nd Street and Holly Lane.
76th Avenue SE Mid-Block Crossing and ADA Improvements – The project team reached the 90% design milestone in December 2025 and are on track to complete bid advertisement documents by the end of January. Construction is anticipated to start in April, with the 76th Avenue SE mid-block crossing in the Town Center and the North Mercer Way & SE 22nd Street curb ramps planned for completion by early July, ahead of roadway overlay work. Remaining curb ramp upgrades on the project are planned to be completed by mid-summer, with construction scheduled around FIFA World Cup games, Summer Celebration, and other island events.