- Project typeAutomotive and pedestrian
- Project value$11.53 million
- Project schedule2023
- Contractor nameNot available
The City of Kirkland continues its effort to improve Juanita Drive with a second phase of improvements dedicated to increasing safety and access for the residents who live along it and the commuters who travel through it.
The $11.53 million project will optimize traffic flow at four intersections, improve sections of Juanita Drive’s channelization, install rapid flashing beacons at a new crosswalk and establish a sidewalk and buffered bicycle lane on the arterial’s east side.
The project will realign Juanita Drive’s intersections with Northeast 112th, 128th and 132nd streets. At Northeast 120th Street, it will add a new left-turn lane.
Along Juanita Drive’s east side, between Northeast 120th and 132nd streets, it will establish a buffered bicycle lane and a sidewalk.
These improvements are the second phase of Juanita Drive improvements Kirkland has funded since the City Council adopted the Juanita Drive Corridor Study in 2013.
How will the bike lane protect a person who is cycling from automobiles?
Vibrations, sound and space. The buffer consists of a six-inch wide profiled thermoplastic line along the vehicles' side that will alert drivers with vibrations and a rumbling sound. That line is part of a two-foot-wide, cross-hatched buffer for a six-foot-wide bicycle lane.
The uphill--northbound--direction, will feature a continuous, seven-foot-wide buffered bicycle lane. The lane, itself, will be five feet wide and the buffer will be two feet wide.
In the downhill--southbound--direction, most of the project-area will feature a seven-foot-wide bicycle lane. In some areas, the narrower roadway will taper the bicycle lane down to five feet.
How many trees will the project have to replace along Juanita-Woodlands Park?
The project will remove approximately 15 trees along Juanita-Woodlands Park's frontage with Juanita Drive. An arborist's assessment revealed that several of these trees are in poor condition or, worse, are hazardous because they hang over Juanita Drive. Five of the 15 trees are within King County's property. The other 10 are in the City of Kirkland right-of-way.
Will tree removal along Juanita Drive expose houses more to Juanita Drive?
The project will remove trees where they currently conflict with the designed improvements, including removing trees that are too close to new walls. However, the project will replant as many trees as possible within the project area.
Can the project remove ivy infestations on trees in Champagne Point?
No. That area is outside the scope of this project. However, residents can suggest this project idea through the Our Kirkland system.
What are the benefits of allocating Juanita-Woodlands park space to the new roadway alignment?
Widening Juanita Drive at Northeast 120th Street allows the project to add a southbound slip-lane from Northeast 120th Street onto Juanita Drive. To provide a shoulder and to continue the buffered bicycle lane and sidewalk to the south, the retaining wall will be offset from the pavement's edge.
How do we know if the newly planted trees will survive and thrive?
The contractor is required to establish and maintain these trees for the first year and replace them if necessary.Tree-watering bags are included.
How many total trees will be replaced?
The project will remove 113 trees, give or take. Ninety of those trees are viable trees. The other 23 or so are either hazardous or unhealthy. Instead of removing them altogether, the project will convert a dozen trees into habitat snags for wildlife instead. Generally, the project will replace any tree that it had to remove--mostly with coniferous trees. The contractor will plant more than 60 of those trees along the corridor, where room exists. The City will plant the remaining trees elsewhere in the City.
Will lighting be sensitive to night skies, and shine downward and not contribute to light pollution
Yes. The illumination system is designed to provide lighting downward for people who are driving cars, riding bicycles or walking.
Can the city use paint that is less likely to leach contaminants into the stormwater system?
The City relies on Washington State Department of Transportation standards for paint materials. The transportation department has updated the requirements to prohibit use of road paints containing diarylide pigments and pigment 83, which are associated with PCBs. The contractor for this project must provide paint meeting these requirements. Per 2023 Washington State Department of Transportation standard specifications section 9-34.2(3): “Traffic paint shall not contain mercury, lead, chromium, diarylide pigments, toluene, chlorinated solvents, hydrolysable chlorine derivatives, ethylene-based glycol ethers and their acetates, nor any other EPA hazardous waste material over the regulatory levels per CFR 40 Park 261.24.”
Is pavement art slippery or resistant to moss?
The thermoplastic used for pavement art is textured and more slip-resistant than typical asphalt and should not gather moss more than a standard asphalt surface would. It would just need to be power-washed like regular pavement if moss did accumulate.
How often are these going to be repainted or retouched?
The thermoplastic used for pavement art would be more durable and longer-lasting than typical paint or typical thermoplastic. The City of Kirkland expects 10-plus years before showing any wear, especially since the tactical urbanism locations are not within the driving area. The MMA is ultra-violet stable but you still might see a little color fading over time with sun/weather exposure, but this would take a number of years.
Is pavement art required for the project?
No. The City can choose to pursue a more traditional pavement surface.
How will construction affect drivers turning onto Holmes Point Drive?
The City is currently not anticipating the need for any full detours or road closures. If, at some point, the project does need to set up a detour, Holmes Point Drive would not be a strong candidate for the detour route
Is it possible the project would opt for an unpaved path instead of a sidewalk?
No. While an unpaved path might provide a better experience for some, a sidewalk provides access for all--regardless of whether they travel by foot or by wheelchair.
Do these projects fit into a plan to extend sidewalks and protected bike lanes to Juanita Beach Park?
Yes, but not for some time. This project will not extend sidewalks and protected bike lanes to Juanita Beach. However, the 2014 Juanita Drive Corridor Study Master Plan recommends projects that will ultimately connect the length of Juanita Drive between Juanita Beach Park and Northeast 141st Street with a sidewalk and bicycle lanes.
These projects are also highlighted in the 2022 Active Transportation Plan. Implementing additional recommended projects along this corridor will have a relatively high cost due to multiple factors, including steep slopes and limited right-of-way. They are not currently funded in the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program.
How many days is the contractor allowed to work and what happens if it exceeds those days?
The current contract allows for 300 working days, which is approximately 15 months of construction if the project does not encounter delays. If the contractor exceeds its allotted 300 working days, the current contract would allow the City of Kirkland to pursue liquidated damages from the contractor. Liquidated damages require the contractor to pay the City for each day it works beyond the 300 allotted work days.Of course, extenuating circumstances, such as weather, a COVID infection or material delays, could force the City to reallocate some of those work days.
Was the City required to prepare an environmental impact statement for this project?
No. After completing the State Environmental Policy Act requirements, this project was issued a Determination of Non-Significance.
How is the City paying for traffic control on this project?
The City often pays for traffic control as a lump sum; however, many specific requirements are spelled out in the specifications that the contractor must follow, such as full traffic control plans and sequencing. The City must approve all traffic control plans prior to implementing.
What is the gradient reduction on 80th Avenue Northeast?
To connect to Juanita Drive safely, the project will actually make 80th Avenue Northeast slightly steeper as it approaches the intersection. The resulting intersection will be lower--and will, therefore, require less of a descent onto Juanita Drive. Since there are already steep slopes here, it’s impossible to reduce them all without a significant increase in the project extents and scope. As a result, the design team agreed on a tradeoff between the grades that must be made. At no point, though, will the grade of 80th Avenue Northeast be more than its existing maximum grade.