Downtown Kirkland investments

The City is began in spring 2024 to improve downtown pedestrian safety, traffic flow and a primary walking connection between Kirkland's waterfront and its downtown storefronts.

The Lake Street pedestrian scramble project will create a crosswalk at Lake Street's intersection with Kirkland Avenue that will allow people who are walking to cross the intersection in any direction when traffic is stopped.

To ensure that people who are walking and rolling are more visible to those who are driving, the project will elevate the intersection to be level with the surrounding sidewalks.

It will also upgrade the surrounding curb ramps and traffic signals.

The project will also replace a failing stormwater system, which will prevent water from pooling at the raised intersection's base.

The surface, itself, will feature landscaping, street furnishing, lighting, pavers and decorative concrete that will aesthetically connect it to Park Lane.

This project is nearly complete but we are waiting on delivery of the signal poles and mast arms for the interchange.

The Washington State Department of Transportation expects in fall 2025 to complete the Northeast 85th Street freeway interchange and inline station project. The $234,432,000-project will replace the existing two-level cloverleaf interchange at Northeast 85th Street with a three-level interchange. It will also construct local improvements along Northeast 85th Street and its intersection with 114th Avenue Northeast and Kirkland Way. The project includes a roundabout at Northeast 85th Street's intersection with 114th Avenue Northeast. One of the first tasks for the project is to relocate the water main on Northeast 87th Street. 

For more information, visit their project webpage or attend a virtual quarterly project update meeting.

The City of Kirkland plans to begin construction in spring 2025 on a pedestrian and bicycle path along Northeast 85th Street that will connect Kirkland's downtown to its Rose Hill neighborhoods on the eastside of the freeway via the Northeast 80th Street pedestrian bridge. 

The City will build the path along the south side of Northeast 85th Street, between Sixth Street and Northeast 114th Avenue Northeast. 

Staff and consulting engineers are also designing the path to connect directly to Sound Transit's Bus Rapid Transit improvements at the Northeast 85th Street intersection with Interstate 405.

Kirkland is adding a third eastbound lane to Northeast 85th Street between its intersections with 120th and 122nd Avenues Northeast.  This project prepares for the new eastbound third-lane WSDOT is building from I-405 to 120th Avenue NE, and the lane becomes a right-turn only at 122nd Avenue Northeast.  Construction of this project is expected to occur at night, beginning this spring and completing within six months.  Visit the project webpage for current information and construction updates.

NE 85th Street Eastbound 3rd Lane - 120th to 122nd Avenues NE

Landscape Median Updates (Central Way and Market Street) This project is complete

The City's contractor will update several medians along Central Way and Market Street. This project enhances visual appeal by installing or replacing decorative stamped concrete.  The project also improves safety for City staff as the new medians need less maintenance. No trees are removed with this project and some existing medians contain failing asphalt or other treatments.  The project website has aerial images of each median.

Central Way and NE 124th Street Pedestrian ImprovementsThis project is finishing shortly

The City also begins a pedestrian safety improvement project at two locations in Kirkland. The project adds a center island median where Market Street enters Marina Park, extends existing medians with decorative stamped concrete on Central way, and extends bicycle lanes on Central Way from Lake Street to Market Street. Additionally, two High intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) crossings will replace existing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) on Northeast 124th Street near the North Kirkland Community Center.

Work hours for both projects are between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.  For more information, please visit the project website, which will also provide updates as construction progresses.

A project that will repave Central Way and update its remaining access ramps expects to construct this summer, 2025. The City will rebuild Central Way between its intersections with Market and Sixth streets. A section of Lake Street will also be repaved with this project.

Work to prepare for the overlay will occur during the day, and final paving and striping will occur overnight during the driest part of the year.  

Visit kirklandwa.gov/Overlay for more information and 

Eighth Avenue West Water and Sewer

Kirkland began upgrading in spring 2024 Market neighborhood's most basic infrastructure. City of Kirkland is replacing nearly 1,700 linear-feet of aging sewer main and 1,900 linear-feet of aging water main. Kirkland will upgrade the sewer main from six-inch concrete to eight-inch PVC. It will upgrade the water main from four-inch cast iron to eight-inch ductile iron. 

This project has resumed, the contractor will return to pave the roadway by the end of May.

Tenth Avenue West sewer lining pilot project

Kirkland is contracting to line a 6" sewer pipe to extend the life of the system without a full-street excavation.  A few pits will be opened to feed the lining product, and there will be some spot repairs but the expectation is impact to residents will be minimal.  This is test to ensure that the 6" sewer main can be lined, as there are other sized streets that will be a part of the upcoming West of Market sewer rehabilitation project.