Project Background & History

Overview

This project will widen Issaquah Fall City Road to four lanes, between 242nd Ave SE and Klahanie Dr SE. The additional lanes along with roundabouts at 242nd, 247th, and Klahanie Drive will improve traffic flow and reduce commute times on this highly-congested roadway. 

Goals and Benefits

As part of the newly annexed section of the City (January 1, 2016), SE Issaquah-Fall City Road is a vital connection route to residents of the City of Sammamish and surrounding communities. This project will double the existing two-lane section, to a four-lane section, and promotes the City’s goal of complete streets by including bike lanes, sidewalks, landscaping, and a protected student crossing at Pacific Cascade Middle School. A bridge located between 247th and Klahanie Drive will raise the roadway to improve safety and meet federal driver stopping sight distance requirements. North Fork Issaquah Creek will be removed from a culvert underneath the roadway into a stream channel spanned by the bridge.

Project milestones

The 100% design plans, specs, and estimate have been delivered. All permits have been attained. Projected August 2019 construction start date.

Timeline

3/22/16 City Council reviewed and approved Design Contract
4/19/16 Council Briefing 1, Project Introduction
5/12/16 Public Meeting 1, Pacific Cascade Middle School
May 2016: Began Project Stakeholder Meetings with Schools, Churches, Businesses, Homeowners Associations (details below)
5/24/16 Council Briefing 2, Public Meeting 1 Summary
7/13/16 Public Meeting 2, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Meeting Summary
7/19/16 Council Briefing 3, Public Meeting 2 Summary
7/20/16 Transportation Committee Meeting
7/28/16 Meeting with Issaquah School District, Principal of Pacific Cascade Middle School 
8/2/16 Meeting between the Transportation Committee, Eastridge Church (242nd Intersection) 
9/2/16 Transportation Committee Project Update
10/17/16 Hunters Ridge, Hunters Place, Caliterra HOA meeting
1/10/17 City Council Meeting Presentation on Bridge vs Culvert Stream Crossing
2/7/17 City Council Stream Crossing Selection Presentation (Bridge was selected)
6/1/17 Public Meeting 3
7/17/17 30% Plan Design completed
10/26/17 Construction and Detour Public Workshop here
11/17/17 60% Plan Design completed
3/13/18 City Council Study Session
4/10/18 City Council Study Session
5/1/18 City Council Consent Agenda Approval of Roadway Closure for Bridge Construction 
December 2018 - Engineering Plans completed
12/17/18 SEPA permit approved
3/29/19 City Clearing and Grading Permit issued
4/2/19 City Council Detour Route Presentation (pdf link)
4/11/19 WSDOT Connecting Washington Funding Package approved
4/12/19 Army Corp of Engineers Nationwide permit issued
4/16/19, 4/23/19 Project advertisement dates
5/22/19 King County Clearing and Grading permit issued 
5/23/19 Bid opening date
6/4/19 Construction contract awarded to Johansen Construction Company, Buckley, WA for $22,377,063.30

Budget

A $5M CONNECTING WASHINGTON grant has been awarded to the project. Funds will be allocated for project construction costs, with $3.5M in Phase 1, and $1.5M for Phase 2.