King County to make safety improvements east of Renton near Liberty High

The King County Road Services Division will make safety improvements at two key intersections in South King County in the coming months. The county received federal grant funding to complete the projects located east of Renton and near Auburn.

At the intersection of 168th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 128th Avenue Street – located north of Liberty High School – the county will restripe the two westbound lanes to provide a left-turn-only lane and a single through lane. The existing traffic signal will be changed to provide a left-turn signal, and the pedestrian facilities will be improved.

The changes are anticipated to reduce the number and severity of rear-end collisions involving motorists waiting to turn left from Southeast 128th Avenue Street onto 168th Avenue Southeast. Currently, a curve limits the visibility of vehicles stopped in the inside westbound lane. Advance warning signs and flashers located east of the intersection will help alert westbound motorists of the changes and the need to merge to the right.

Construction is expected to begin by September 2012 and be completed by year end. No full road closures are anticipated to complete this work. Project signs will be installed on the approaches to the intersection to alert motorists a few weeks prior to the start of construction. Information is available online.

Comments about this safety project are being accepted from June 15-29. You can submit them to Community Relations, King County Department of Transportation by: phone at (206) 263-9770; by email; or send to 201 S. Jackson St., MS: KSC-TR-0824, Seattle, WA  98104.