Island Crest Way Construction Set to Begin

After years of debate in — and despite some community voices — construction on the "road diet" could begin as early as next week, according to a city press release.

Work to resurface Island Crest Way between Merrimount Drive and SE 53rd Street is set to start the week of June 25. 

The project will change Island Crest Way to a three-lane configuration: one in each direction with a center two-way turn lane. In addition to repaving and re-striping of the roadway, the scope of this project includes storm drainage repairs and improvements, curb and sidewalk work at street intersections, resurfacing portions of the existing asphalt sidewalks, and crosswalk improvements at SE 46th and SE 48th Streets.

Activities for the first two weeks of construction will include surveying, mobilization, saw cutting, and storm drainage work. Concrete curb and sidewalk work will follow in early July. Paving of the roadway is anticipated to be completed by mid-August, and all work on the project is planned to be finished by Labor Day.

City Council approved the road resurfacing contract with Issaquah-based Lakeside Industries on May 21 at a cost of $1,244,862. The overall project, Island Crest Way Resurfacing Phase 1 — which includes new street lighting, 1% for the arts and design costs — is budgeted at $1,653,797. Island Crest Way Resurfacing Phase 2, scheduled to take place in 2014, will resurface Island Crest Way from Merrimount Drive north all the way up to SE 40th Street. Phase two is currently estimated to cost approximately $1,175,000.

During construction, local residents could face delays, according to the city press release. The roadway will have one traffic lane open in each direction most of the time. Driving delays may vary from day to day, based upon work flo, and the City Hall is asking Island Crest Way users to be aware of moving construction equipment, watch for flaggers, and follow their directions.

Other street repaving projects this summer on Mercer Island include the residential streets of 88th Avenue (from SE 45th to SE 47th Streets), SE 47th Street (from Island Crest Way to 90th Avenue), and 90th Avenue (from 4600 to 5200 blocks). Paving of these streets will occur in late summer, after the resurfacing of Island Crest Way has been completed.

For more information about these projects, contact Clint Morris, Street Engineer, at clint.morris@mercergov.org.

— Information in this article is based on a City of Mercer Island press release