Road Services - Renton Avenue South Construction Project

King County and City of Renton partner to improve walkability on Renton Avenue South

King County and the City of Renton are partnering to improve Renton Avenue South between 75th Avenue South and 76th Avenue South in the West Hill area. The project will add sidewalks, landscaping and retain on-street parking and a bicycle lane to the east side of Renton Avenue South. A gateway at the intersection of Renton Avenue South and 76th Avenue South is planned for the future but is not presently funded.

The improvements will help connect residents with local businesses, the transit system, and critical neighborhood and regional service agencies like the Skyway Library, Youth and Family Service Center, and the Skyway Food Bank.

The project will be taking place a short distance away from a roadway repair project on Renton Avenue South (see map). Learn more about that project.

See what we're doing on site

Workers setting forms for the cement concrete drainage trough, curb and gutter and sidewalk. Enlarged view (494KB .jpg)

Eight-foot wide cement concrete sidewalk being poured. Enlarged view (463KB .jpg)

Workers pouring the east half of the cement concrete drainage trough and finishing the sidewalk. Enlarged view (535KB .jpg)

Finished portion of the cement concrete drainage trough and sidewalk. Enlarged view (435KB .jpg)

Sidewalk grading preparation work. Enlarged view (436KB .jpg)

Looking south towards the 76th Avenue South intersection. Enlarged view (415KB .jpg)

Schedule

The design phase is complete, and the sidewalk improvement project contract has been awarded. Construction began April 8, 2013 and will last for 9-12 weeks.

Effect on traffic and buses

During construction, motorists can expect intermittent lane closures on Renton Avenue South between 76th Avenue South and 75th Avenue South and traffic lanes being temporarily shifted to the west. No street parking will be available on the east side of the street during construction, and the bus stops on the east side of Renton Avenue South at the South 126th Street and 75th Avenue South intersections will be temporarily closed. Riders of northbound Metro Transit bus Route 106 to Seattle should use the signed temporary bus stop north or south of the construction work area.

Why this project is being done

The community identified these improvements in 2002 as a way to revitalize the Renton Avenue South corridor with a "boulevard feel" that welcomes pedestrians and cyclists and encourages shoppers to visit local businesses.

The county has secured grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development, and the City of Renton has a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce. Together, the two grants will pay for this phase of the project. The community vision also included additional work, including sidewalk improvements on the west side of the street and curbside plantings, that are not yet funded or scheduled.

Tradeoffs

These improvements will support economic development and infrastructure investment in the area and provide more ways to access businesses and social service organizations along the corridor. However, the number of parking spaces in the public right of way may have to be reduced. The county has worked with affected businesses to identify ways to lessen any adverse effects of this change.

To request this document in an alternative format, please call 206-684-1142 (TTY Relay: 711)

Project partnership

This project is a partnership between the King County Road Services Division and the City of Renton.

Information from the Road Services Division's website is available to people with disabilities in alternate formats upon request by calling 206-263-6482 or 711 for the TTY relay service.

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