2021 Arterial and Residential Street Construction
Project Status
To help keep area residents informed of our construction progress, we will post project updates to this site on a regular basis. Click here to see status updates.
Project Details/Neighborhood
- East Mercer Way, from SE 53rd Place to the 6600 block
- SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, 82nd Avenue, and 83rd Place, in the plat of Mercer Vista
Background
East Mercer Way (SE 53rd Place to SE 68th St)
This segment of arterial is nearing the end of its pavement life and needs resurfacing. This roadway was last paved in 1992 and its current Pavement Condition Index rating is in the "Fair" range. Paved shoulders have been previously constructed within this portion of East Mercer Way. Utility castings (manholes, valve boxes, catch basins) need to be raised and/or replaced after asphalt overlays.
In December 2020, a small landslide occurred in the 5600 block of East Mercer Way, along the east edge of the roadway, which threatens the stability of the road. The northbound travel lane has been closed to vehicles since the landslide event. Engineering design work on a soldier pile retaining wall was completed in early April 2021.
Plat of Mercer Vista (portions of SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, 82nd and 83rd Avenues)
Many of the Island's residential street pavements are 25 to 35 years old. Numerous streets are in need of repair and resurfacing. A pavement condition index (PCI) is used to track the condition of streets and helps determine which segments of the 58 miles are most in need of repair. Current planning allows for a 35-year life cycle for residential hot mix asphalt pavements. Utility castings (manholes, valve boxes, catch basins) need to be raised and/or replaced after asphalt overlays.
Description
East Mercer Way (SE 53rd Place to SE 68th St)
This project will resurface East Mercer Way from SE 53rd Place to SE 68th Street with a hot mix asphalt overlay. Work will include pavement repairs, preleveling, paving of the roadway and existing southbound pedestrian shoulder, raising utility castings to grade, new pavement markings, and a 75-foot long soldier pile retaining wall to stabilize the northbound lane of East Mercer Way in the 5600 block to repair a landslide.
Plat of Mercer Vista (portions of SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, 82nd and 83rd Avenues)
Streets in the plat of Mercer Vista (portions of SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, and 82nd and 83rd Avenues) will receive hot mix asphalt paving. Minor storm drainage and water system repairs and improvements will be constructed as part of the project.
Scope
- Work scope for the residential street resurfacing in Mercer Vista includes removing large, full width areas of pavement, regrading areas of gravel base, and repaving the roads with hot mix asphalt. For East Mercer Way, the scope of work includes pavement repairs, preleveling to correct settlement areas, repaving of the roadway and adjacent southbound shoulder with a hot mix asphalt overlay, and completion of the landslide repair. After repaving, shoulder areas along East Mercer Way will be dressed with crushed rock to meet new pavement edges, disturbed landscaped areas in the residential area will be restored with topsoil, seeding, and/or mulch, and utility castings (sewer manholes, water valves, catch basins) on the roadways will be adjusted to new pavement grade.
- The work in Mercer Vista is planned to occur from late June to late July, and East Mercer Way’s road work is scheduled to occur primarily in July and August. The contractor will post temporary “No Parking” signage several days in advance of their work. During construction, please expect some minor delays and limited access to driveways at times. Flaggers may direct you around the block to avoid some construction activities. On paving days, one side of the roadway will be paved at a time. Vehicles will need to be clear of the street and shoulders when the contractor is working. Hours of work will typically be between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. No work on weekends is anticipated.
- Retaining wall landslide repair work at the 5600 block of East Mercer is scheduled to begin the week of June 1st, with the contractor moving in equipment and preparing the site for the wall. Drilling and installation of steel pilings should begin on June 7th, and is expected to take five days. During those five days, the 5600 block of East Mercer Way will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, but will re-open each evening. School buses, garbage and recycling, mail, and emergency vehicles will be allowed through. Closure of the roadway is necessary due to the large size of the drilling equipment. Once pilings are installed, the roadway will return to one open lane for traffic. The wall should be mostly complete by July 1st.
Project Timeline
Construction planned for June through September 2021.
Estimated Budget
East Mercer Way (SE 53rd Place to SE 68th St)
- $1,185,000 (roadway overlay)
- $338,000 (landslide repair)
Plat of Mercer Vista (portions of SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, 82nd and 83rd Avenues)
- 2021 project cost is approximately $400,000
Impact to Residents
Minor delays and limited access to driveways at times.
Flaggers present for detours due to road closures/ single lane access.
Vehicles will need to be clear of the street and shoulders when the contractor is working.
Hours of work will typically be between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. No work on weekends is anticipated.
Note
Please keep everyone safe by keeping kids and pets away from the construction zones.
Contact
Clint Morris, City of Mercer Island Street Engineer: (206) 999-8041 or clint.morris@mercerisland.gov
Status Updates
November 2021 Update
Photo 1: Drilling shafts and setting first steel piling
Photo 2: Drilling shaft between other set pilings
Photo 3: Positioning final steel piling
Photo 4: Installing panel of timber lagging
Photo 5: Backfilling behind timber lagging
Photo 6: Replacing galvanized water services prior to repaving.
East Mercer Way Overlay – Contractor raised utility castings to new street grade in August and punch list work was completed in early October. Final construction cost is slightly less than the bid amount.
Residential Street Overlays – Punch list work was completed in August. Final construction cost is equal to the bid amount.
Street Related Utility Improvements – Project was completed in mid-July for slightly less than the bid amount.
East Mercer Way Landslide Repairs – Project was completed in early July at a construction cost slightly less than the bid amount.
Update August 6
East Mercer Way – Top lift paving of East Mercer Way was performed on July 26, 27, and 28. Watson Asphalt was able to complete this process in just three days, instead of the four days that were planned. Pavement markings were installed last Friday. This week, crushed rock was applied to both sides of the roadway (to bring shoulder areas up flush with the new asphalt paving) and some minor guardrail improvements were installed. In addition, crews began the process of raising utility castings to grade in the new pavement. Adjustment work will continue for the next two weeks, as the contractor has nearly 150 utility items to raise and patch around. Please expect some minor delays along East Mercer during this utility work. The project is over 90% complete and is on target to be finished about four weeks ahead of schedule.
Update for Week of July 26
Residential Street Overlays – Construction activities on this project were completed the week of July 19.
East Mercer Way Overlay – Watson Asphalt crews completed all the preparatory work for this overlay during the week of July 19. This included pavement repairs (patching), pavement planing (of high areas and driveway match lines), and prelevel paving. “Preleveling” is a bottom lift of asphalt paving that is used to fill ruts and low areas, improve cross slope, and correct other irregularities in the roadway prior to placing the “top lift”.
Final paving of East Mercer Way between SE 53 Place and the 6600 Block is scheduled for the week of July 26. Monday and Tuesday will be paving of the southbound lane and shoulder. Wednesday and Thursday will be paving of the northbound lane. During these paving days, please expect to a lot of truck traffic along East Mercer Way (Island Crest Way too) and flaggers maintaining traffic with one closed lane. Also plan on travel delays in this area due to the single open lane. Work hours will be between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The roadway and all driveways will be open to traffic at the end of each day, but there will be an exposed pavement edge down the center of the roadway for two days until the second lane is paved. Bicyclists are advised to reduce their speed, give more room between themselves and other bikes and cars, and obey flaggers’ traffic control.
Update for Week of July 19
Street Related Utility Improvements – Construction on this project was completed on July 15 and the contractor is moving his equipment off the Island.
Residential Street Overlays – Watson Asphalt crews wrapped up most of their work in this area the week of July 12. They have raised most of the utility castings (sewer manholes, catch basins, water valves) to grade in the new pavement and they also completed all of the edge restoration (gravel, topsoil).
East Mercer Way Overlay - Prep work for this overlay will be happening the whole week of July 19. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Watson Asphalt crews will be doing pavement repairs and pavement grinding along with the project, which runs from SE 53rd Place to the 6600 block. Later in the week crews may be placing some pre-level paving course along portions of the roadway. “Preleveling” is a bottom lift of asphalt paving that is used to fill ruts, improve cross slope, and correct other irregularities in the roadway before placing the full overlay or “top lift”. During this week of prep work, please expect to see a lot of trucks and equipment along East Mercer Way, flaggers, and lane closures, and plan on some travel delays. Work hours will be between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The full street overlay is currently planned for the week of July 26, and it will likely take four days to complete that paving. Expect a lot of trucks and driving delays for this work as well.
Watercourse Work in 6500 Block of East Mercer Way – Also the week of July 19, a contractor will be staging stream bedrocks on the shoulder of East Mercer and using a crane to lower this material into the streambed below the roadway. The crane will require a lane closure with flaggers, and this work should be completed by July 23.
Update for the Week of July 12
Street Related Utility Improvements – Crews will be working on storm drainage improvements on East Mercer Way between the 5400 and 6500 blocks, and should be finished up and demobilizing by about July 14 or 15. Please expect continued one-lane closures with flaggers during the workday.
Arterial and Residential Street Overlays – Watson Asphalt completed more work than expected on the Residential Overlays last week, including all of the pavement removals, regrading of the existing gravel base, and all of the hot mix repaving. For this week, crews plan to start raising utility castings (sewer manholes, catch basins, water valves) to grade in the new pavement. This work requires jackhammering into the new pavement, which usually raises concerns with residents when they see holes cut into a brand new street. This is, however, a planned and necessary step in the repaving process. Crews may also start some edge restoration (gravel, topsoil, bark mulch) along the residential streets this week as well.
Prep work for the East Mercer Way overlay is currently scheduled to begin the week of July 19. Watson Asphalt will be setting up portable message boards early this week to alert the traveling public about that upcoming work.
Update for the Week of July 5
East Mercer Way Landslide Repair – The soldier pile retaining wall has been completed 2 weeks earlier than expected and slightly under budget. Phone service underground work occurred on July 1st. PSE crews still need to rehang the power lines above the wall site, so expect a daytime one-lane closure with flaggers for this work sometime in the next 2 weeks.
Street Related Utility Improvements – Crews will continue with their water and storm drainage work on East Mercer Way between the 5400 and 6500 blocks next week. They should be finished up and demobilizing by about July 14 or 15. Please expect continued daytime one-lane closures with flaggers during the day and a few steel sheets on the roadway overnight. This contractor is not working on July 5.
Arterial and Residential Overlays – Work began July 1 on the residential phase of this project (see project vicinity map). Watson Asphalt Paving has moved in some equipment and started some prep work. The scope of work in this neighborhood includes removal of most of the pavement to its full width and full depth, regrading of the existing gravel base, and repaving the roads with hot mix asphalt. Pavement removal work will be occurring on July 6, 7, and 8, and some paving work will likely occur on July 8 and 9. The goal for the week is to have all the roads paved back with at least a bottom lift of asphalt by end of Friday, July 9. Top lift paving will likely occur the week of July 12 and should take 2 to 3 days. Please expect to see significant dump truck traffic on Island Crest Way, SE 68th Street, and 84th Avenue over the next two weeks while this residential project is underway. Work hours will be between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Watson crews will not be working on July 5. The start date for the East Mercer Way repaving work has not been determined yet.
Update for the Week of June 21
East Mercer Way Landslide Repair – Work on the 75-foot long soldier pile wall is finishing up this week. New guardrail was installed on Monday and the contractor has moved his equipment and remaining materials off the site. The temporary traffic signals that have been operating since December are scheduled for removal on Thursday the 24th. On Friday the 25th, a contractor working for CenturyLink will be replacing an underground phone service near the wall. They will have a daytime one-lane closure with flaggers in the 5600 block. This work may need a second day next week to finish. Also in the coming weeks, PSE crews will be reinstalling overhead power lines that were moved out of the way for the retaining wall’s construction. Please expect a daytime one-lane road closure with flaggers in the 5600 block for this work as well.
Street Related Utility Improvements – Crews are working this week and next week on East Mercer Way between the 5400 and 6500 blocks to replace 4 galvanized water services and to construct some minor storm drainage improvements. This work will result in some daytime one-lane roadway closures and minor travel delays. Next week there will also be some steel sheets on the roadway for a few days.
Arterial and Residential Overlays – This is the City’s annual hot mix asphalt paving work. Locations are EMW from SE 53rd to the 6600 block, and the small residential area comprised of SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, 82nd Avenue, and 83rd Place. Work on this job will likely not begin until early July. No schedule is available yet from the contractor. More info on this project will be coming in the next 2 weeks.
Update for the Week of June 14
East Mercer Way Landslide Repair – Crews made great progress last week. Shafts for all nine steel pilings were drilled and the pilings were installed and concreted into place. Timber lagging installation was about 50% completed and back filling behind the wall was started. For the week of June 14th, timber lagging and gravel backfill work will continue, along with down slope restoration. By June 18th, the wall should be nearly complete and the contractor will begin moving his equipment off the Island. A new guardrail will be installed in front of the wall, early in the week of June 21st. After the guardrail is in place, the temporary traffic signals that have been operating since December will be removed, and the roadway will be returned to two open traffic lanes.
Street Related Utility Improvements – Crews completed about 50% of the planned work in the SE 62nd Street/82nd Ave area last week. A water main shut down has been scheduled for that area on June 16th so the contractor can replace two water service connections. The affected residents were notified last Friday. The contractor will also be completed some drainage repair work this week, and will then move to East Mercer Way the week of June 21st to begin minor water system and storm drainage work there.
Arterial and Residential Overlays – This is the City’s annual hot mix asphalt paving work. Locations are East Mercer Way from SE 53rd to the 6600 block, and the small residential area comprised of SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, 82nd Avenue, and 83rd Place. Work on this job will likely not begin until late June or early July. No schedule is available yet from the contractor. More info on this project will be coming in the next 2 weeks.
June 3, 2021
East Mercer Way Landslide Repair – This builds a soldier pile retaining wall at 5638 East Mercer Way to repair a slide that occurred in December. The contractor began work this week with mobilizing equipment and excavating for the pilings. Next week we will be drilling and installing the steel pilings. From June 7th to 11th, the 5600 block of East Mercer Way will be closed to vehicular traffic from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, but will re-open each evening. School buses, garbage/recycle, mail, and emergency vehicles will be allowed through. After the drilling is completed, most of the remaining wall work will be accomplished utilizing the temporary traffic signals and one-lane roadway configuration that has been in place since December. The wall should be completed by the end of June and then the temporary traffic signals will be removed and the roadway fully opened.
Street Related Utility Improvements – This project replaces old galvanized water services and repairs damaged storm drainage pipes prior to our asphalt overlay project. Work is set to begin next week, in the SE 62 St/82nd Avenue area. These roadways are wide and our work areas are fairly small, so the impact to the traveling public on this project will be minor.
Arterial and Residential Overlays – This is our annual hot mix asphalt paving work. For this year, we are paving East Mercer Way from SE 53rd to the 6600 block, and a small residential area comprised of SE 62nd and SE 64th Streets, 82nd Avenue, and 83rd Place. Work on this job will not begin until late June, so school bus traffic will not be affected. There will be more information on this in the coming weeks.
Residents affected by these projects received a letter from the City in last week’s mail.
