Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this project? King County protects public health and the environment by conveying and treating the region’s
wastewater. King County’s Boeing Creek Trunk Sewer in Shoreline is more than 40 years old.
Upgrades are necessary to increase capacity and ensure safe and reliable operations in the future.
When will construction begin?
Construction is expected to begin in summer 2006 and will last approximately two years. The
entire 12,000 feet of pipeline will not be under construction at once. King County expects to
receive a detailed schedule and work plan from the contractor this summer and will then be able
to tell residents when work will occur in front of their homes.
>>back to top How much will this project cost? Who is paying for it?
The total construction cost for the three Hidden Lake sewer projects in Shoreline is $21 million
This project is part of King County’s regional wastewater sewer system that has been protecting
public health and the environment for more than 40 years. The project will be funded by monthly
sewer rates charged throughout the service area, not just the area that the facility directly serves.
Will any streets be closed during construction?
We anticipate that most of the work will be able to be done with single lane closures. However,
King County's contractor will determine if any road segments need to be temporarily closed to
through traffic or if any detours are necessary. The contractor will also need to obtain the city's
approval of any proposed traffic revisions and a traffic control plan.
The contractor is required to maintain emergency access to properties at all times. There may be
short term access restrictions to driveways during the work day. The contractor is required to give
the county one week advance notice of these restrictions. Clear access to driveways is required at
the end of each work day. Once the contractor's traffic control plans are approved by the City of
Shoreline, King County and the contractor will work with the city to notify residents of any
traffic revisions.
>>back to top Will access to homes and businesses be blocked?
The contractor is required to maintain emergency access to properties at all times. There may be
short term access restrictions to driveways during the work day. The contractor is required to give
the county one week advance notice of these restrictions. King County will work with the
community to provide advanced notice and address any special access needs. Clear access to
driveways will be required at the end of each work day.
Will utility service be interrupted? If so, for how long?
Water or sewer service may be interrupted in `localized areas for brief periods (e.g., several hours
at a time). The county and Seattle Public Utilities will work together to provide advance notice of
any outages. In some locations, water service to a few homes located directly adjacent to the
construction work may be interrupted for short periods of time (up to 8 hours, with 4 hours being
more typical). SPU crews prefer to conduct these short term outages either late at night (9:00 PM
to 6:00 AM) or during the middle of the day while people are at work. In either case, SPU will
notify everyone affected at least 48 hours in advance and see if any special arrangements need to
be made (e.g., for health or safety issues like in-home kidney dialysis).
>>back to top Will you repave the road? Will it be a full overlay?
King County will provide a full-width overlay of the road once construction is completed.
Does the project include pedestrian walkways and storm water collection?
No. However, the City of Shoreline is requiring the county to install a four foot widened asphalt
shoulder along the north and east sides of the road along the sewer replacement area.
Can’t the county place our electrical wires underground during construction? Or
replace our aging underground electrical service?
Electrical wires and sewer lines should not share the same trench. The county does not need to
dig a trench for electrical utilities to install our new sewer. County sewers are also deeper in the
ground than the electrical lines. We generally do not want other utilities located above our
sewers, because we'd have to disrupt service to maintain our repair our sewers.
There would be an additional cost to all property owners for converting from overhead to
underground lines. Neither the city nor the county would pick up this cost. Residents are still
eligible to underground their electrical wires via the Local Improvement District process.
>>back to top What will you do if you damage private property during construction?
Most work will be performed on public property or in the public street right-of-way. King County
and the contractor will conduct a preconstruction photo survey. The contractor will be required to
repair or replace anything that is damaged. King County will have a 24-hour construction hotline
where problems can be reported.
Will parks be closed during construction?
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park will remain open with possible trail detours and some restricted
areas. In Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, the sewer will be constructed across the entrance road
and vehicular traffic will be prevented for one day, perhaps more if needed.
What is planned for park restoration?
In Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, the county will hydroseed and restore any landscaping
damaged by the construction. The entrance road will be repaved where the new sewer pipe
crosses the road. The contractor will restore the sign at park entrance.
In addition, the county will turn over the southern part of the Richmond Beach Pump Station site
to the City of Shoreline for a new community park. The city is preparing a master plan for the site
and will implement park improvements.
>>back to top How can I learn more about the project?
This Web page is also available as a pdf file (38 KB).
>>back to top | Boeing Creek Sewer Trunk Replacement main page |
