July 15, 2010 Houghton Transfer Station improvements mean closures, delays at solid waste facility Starting July 26 and lasting into December, access to King County’s Houghton Transfer Station in Kirkland will be restricted as crews complete a safety and mitigation project. Only customers who are account holders with the King County Solid Waste Division will have access to the transfer station during weekdays. The transfer station will be open to everyone on weekends, however service delays should be expected. Recycling services will be closed on weekdays, but open on weekends. Several major improvements are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year at Houghton, including: Strengthening and raising the roof. The existing roof is more than 40 years old and was not designed to provide the vertical clearance needed for garbage trucks in use today. In addition, some interior columns will be removed to improve maneuverability within the facility. This will require that only a portion of the transfer building will be open at a time. Constructing a sound barrier wall on the west side of the station. This will reduce noise levels in areas surrounding the transfer station. The trail along the west side of the transfer station will be closed during wall construction. Constructing a new pathway on the north side of Northeast 60th Street between 116th Avenue Northeast and 120th Avenue Northeast. The new pathway will improve pedestrian safety in the area and feature a curb and crosswalk markings across the entrances to the transfer station. To do the work, crews must close the existing pathway on the north side of Northeast 60 th Street between 116 th Avenue Northeast and 120 th Avenue Northeast. Pathway closure signs will be posted along Northeast 60 th Street.
Other improvements include reconfiguring the trailer parking area to allow for safer and quicker removal of transfer trailers; installing a new wastewater collection system to decrease the possibility of overflows; and improving traffic flow, lighting and erosion control at the station. Customers are encouraged to use alternate solid waste transfer stations during construction. Factoria Transfer Station, just seven miles south of Houghton, is the closest alternate facility and is located at 13800 SE 32nd St. in Bellevue. This station does not offer recycling services. Renton Transfer Station is 15 miles south of Houghton, at 3021 NE 4th St. in Renton. Shoreline Transfer Station is 14 ½ miles northwest of Houghton, at 2300 N. 165th St. Details on these and other King County Solid Waste transfer stations are available at http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/facilities/transfer.asp. For more information, contact King County Solid Waste Division online at www.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste, or by calling 206-296-4466, TTY Relay: 711 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Related information What do I do with...? King County transfer stations and drop box facilities King County Solid Waste | 
