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Sidewalk Preservation
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• Improve Sidewalk Connectivity
• Enhance Pedestrian Facilities
• Improve Safe School Walk Routes |
October 8 Project Update: The contractor has completed construction in 3 of the 5 areas in the current program: 1 in the Juanita neighborhood and 2 in the Kingsgage area. The Kirkland Way area is currently in construction with an anticipated completion date of the third week of October. One area remains near the Bridle Trails Shopping Center and this will be the last construction area. The contractor has been allowed to delay landscape restoration work in all areas until the fall rains arrive.
July 27 Project Update: The contractor is scheduled to start installing a small section of new sidewalk at NE 140th Street and 124th Avenue NE in Evergreen Hill/Kingsgate Neighborhood at the end of July and be complete by Mid August. The next section will be Kirkland Way east of Kirkland Avenue. This section is anticipated to be under construction in late August.
Project Overview:
The Public Works Department maintains hundreds of miles of sidewalk within the City using two available funding sources - the Street Operating Fund and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
A number of factors cause sidewalk damage. The primary cause is from tree roots pushing up on concrete sidewalk panels which cause "offsets" between adjacent panels. Other causes are heavy vehicles, improper installation, and the heaving or consolidation of soils beneath sidewalks due to groundwater or leaking yard drain lines which lead to differential settlement; however, tree roots are the highest contributor to sidewalkdamage throughout the City.
Depending on the nature and severity of the damage, different repair methods are employed. Because the City's policy is to protect trees, major emphasis is placed on maintaining sidewalks in ways that, to the largest extent possible, do no harm to the trees. This often includes root pruning under the direction of a certified arborist to preserve the tree root structure, protect the tree itself, and prolong the life expectancy of the replaced walking surface; tree removal is a last resort.
Maintenance strategies that are routinely employed include:
- Mechanical grinding of offsets that are between 1/2 and 1 inch
- The use of asphalt to "wedge" offsets greater than 1 inch
- Removing concrete panels and replacing them with either asphalt or more concrete, as appropriate, to reestablish the walking surface.
Prioritization:
Because of the extensive sidewalk network that the City is responsible for, limited funding, and the continued degradation of this infrastructure, a systematic approach to prioritizing repairs is imperative. During the development of the City's Active Transportation Plan (ATP) in 2009, an analysis and characterization was made of likely pedestrian traffic generators. Schools, transit routes, parks and commercial areas were deemed to be those facilities most likely to experience high pedestrian use. Walking facilities are prioritized in relation to their proximity to destinations; facilities near schools for example, receive a higher relative priority if 1/8 mile or closer (1.25 ATP rating) than those between 1/4 mile and 1/8 mile (1.00 ATP rating).
When:
Construction by the City's contractor is expected to be between July and September. Many factors, including weather, could influence the schedule and actual days work is being done. Work hours are between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm.
What to Expect:
• There may be inconvenience associated with driving through the work zone.
• Traffic control and flagging operations will be in effect.
• No-parking signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance of any parking restrictions.
• Open trenches will be backfilled and/or covered at the end of each work day.
• Emergency vehicle access will be maintained throughout the construction process. |
Caring for your infrastructure to keep Kirkland
healthy, safe and vibrant.
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Alternate Formats: Persons with disabilities may request materials in alternative formats —please call Kari Page, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator at 425-587-3011 or KPage@kirklandwa.gov . Persons with hearing impairments may access the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service at 711.
Title VI: It is the City of Kirkland’s policy to ensure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex in the provision of benefits and services resulting from programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with the City of Kirkland. For questions regarding Kirkland’s Title VI Program, or to file a complaint with the City of Kirkland, contact Kari Page, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator at 425-587-3011 or KPage@kirklandwa.gov.
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