(Top) A new odor control building has been under construction on the site of the Barton Street Pump Station upgrade. (Below) A temporary bypass system has been installed on the site to permit water to be conveyed while the upgrade continues. The project is expected to be complete by 2015.
King County has been developing the upgrade to the site adjacent to the Fauntleroy Ferry dock as the Barton Street Pump Station since June of 2012. The project is an underground wastewater conveyance facility that moves wastewater from parts of West Seattle north toward the West Point treatment plant in Magnolia. They expect to have it completed in 2015.
While the pump station is primarily underground the construction has called for both above and below ground preparation to keep the site safe during construction, even as the station in operation.
King County notes that the work completed this past year includes:
- Removal and safe storage of existing artwork and relocation of beach driftwood
- Installation of an erosion control fence
- Utility relocations to make room for construction activities and pump station upgrades
- Installation of a safety fence around the site and a concrete retaining wall on the north edge of the site
- Soil stabilization using both jet grouting and pile driving techniques to ensure a safe underground work zone
- Installation of a temporary bypass system that allows the conveyance system to carry flows while crews work on pump station upgrades
- Excavation of odor control/generator building
As the project proceeds the county has taken precautions to protect Fauntleroy Creek and it's salmon run. They note that, "As part of Salmon Watch program, the Fauntleroy Watershed group documented a record run of 374 Coho salmon returning to spawn from October 24-November 17, 2012.
The county added that the proximity to the ferry terminal has meant lane closures but they are working to keep them minimal. The longest closure ran from January 21 to May 9 of this year with the north entrance and toll booth opening six days early.
Neighbors and ferry users can expect more updates and notifications including temporary lane closures over the next two years.
The county said a flagger will be employed when necessary to keep traffic moving through the ferry entrance/exit.
Work hours will be 7am to 5:30pm Monday through Thursday, and the site restoration is set to begin in late 2014.
