From King County

To protect public health and the environment, King County is continuing to build a new 85-inch siphon pipe under Salmon Bay between the Ballard and Interbay areas of Seattle. The project will prevent sewer overflows into Salmon Bay and sewer backups in North Seattle homes and businesses.

The project will reach a major milestone next week as the tunnel boring machine completes the 2,000 foot tunnel underneath Salmon Bay and enters the north shaft in Ballard. Onsite activity will increase at the north site as crews complete the tunnel and remove the machine from the 93-foot deep shaft.

It is currently anticipated that the four-month Shilshole Avenue Northwest detour will begin in early to mid-October and the entire project will be complete by mid-2014.

Remaining work

• Reline existing siphon (Westbound traffic on Shilshole Avenue Northwest lane detoured)
• Connect new siphon to conveyance system and test system
• Complete north and south site restoration

What to Expect at the North Site

• High levels of activity involving crews, equipment and trucks
• Increased truck traffic on and around Shilshole Ave NW
• Shilshole Ave NW sidewalk remains closed in front of the project site

King County urges drivers and bicyclists to continue to use caution near the site. Pedestrians in Ballard should follow sidewalk detour signs (see above) around the north site.

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