News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:  July 7, 2006

King County briefs community on Hobart road closure

The King County Road Services Division will participate in a second community meeting to share information on a road-repair project that will close 276th Avenue Southeast in Hobart for up to two months.

The information will be shared during the Greater Maple Valley Area Council (GMVAC) meeting on Monday, July 10. The GMVAC meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at King County Police Precinct #3, 22300 SE 231st St., Maple Valley.

The Roads Division has plans to replace a deteriorating culvert underneath the main road through Hobart – which is also the continuation of the Issaquah-Hobart Road south of State Route 18 – near the intersection with Southeast 200th Street. The culvert is showing signs of failure, which could lead to serious problems on the road above it. The new culvert will also allow for better local drainage and improve fish passage along a tributary of Carey Creek.

Replacing the old culvert will require a large and deep excavation, so the county will need to close 276th Avenue Southeast for three blocks north of Southeast 200th Street possibly beginning in August. Actual start dates and detour routes will be posted later this summer.

An open house was held June 20 to hear community questions and concerns about the closure.  Approximately 30 local residents attended and raised a number of issues. They also asked the county follow up with a second meeting. For the meeting on July 10, representatives from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the King County Sheriff's Office will be invited to attend to provide information that is as thorough as possible.