Pavement Repair Projects Get Underway On 15 Highways

SEATTLE — State transportation crews are getting started this summer on an extensive series of pothole repairs on highways in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, Gov. Jay Inslee approved the $7 million project by emergency proclamation in January in response to damage caused by snowfall and cold temperatures last winter.

"Potholes can start in cold temperatures when groundwater freezes and expands," WSDOT wrote. "Once the ground thaws, it returns to a normal level, but the pavement pushed up during the ground freeze remains raised. This causes a gap between the pavement and the ground. Vehicles traveling over these gaps cause the road surface to crack and fall into that hollow space."

The planned repairs cover portions of 15 state highways and the project includes 88 locations in nearly two dozen communities, WSDOT said. Repaving work includes bridge deck repairs in Kirkland, North Bend and Tukwila, along with asphalt repairs in Issaquah, Kirkland, Enumclaw, Fall City, Covington and Seattle.

Repairs will involve laying new asphalt, which WSDOT said will give drivers a smoother ride for several years to come. Roadwork will require a mixture of daytime and overnight closures, and residents can sign up for updates online. The project is scheduled for completion by next April.

Here are some of the areas slated for pothole repairs in King County:

Asphalt pavement repairs

• I-90 – Issaquah, just west of 17th Avenue NW to North Bend, west of 436th Avenue SE (mileposts 15.59 - 31.66)
• I-405 – Kirkland, at NE 85th Street to Bothell just north of 228th Street SE (mileposts 18.1 - 26.39)
• SR 18 – Issaquah, just north of Issaquah-Hobart Road SE to just south of the West Tiger Mountain parking lot (mileposts 21.81 to 23.27)
• SR 169 – Enumclaw, just south of Enumclaw Franklin Road SE to Maple Valley just north of SE 231st Street (mileposts 3.49 to 14.25)
• SR 202 – Fall City, just south of SE Fish Hatchery Road to just north of Snoqualmie Falls (mileposts 22.68 to 25.66)
• SR 516 – Covington, just east of 186th Avenue SE to Maple Valley just east of SE 271st Place (mileposts 12.7 to 15.79)
• SR 900 – Seattle/Tukwila, just south of the S Boeing Access Road to Renton just east of Duvall Avenue NE (mileposts 6.58 to 14.4)

Bridge deck repairs

• I-90 – North Bend, at Riverbend
• I-405 – Kirkland, NE 116th Street overpass
• SR 900 – Tukwila, on the eastbound I-5 overpass

Learn more about the Northwest Region Emergency Pavement Repair Project on WSDOT's website.