Thorton Creek Restoration Closes Part of 35th Avenue NE

Road will be closed for up to six months for creek restoration/flood control project

Beginning next Monday (June 2), a portion of 35^th Ave. Northeast, between Northeast 110^th Street and Northeast 105^th Street, will be closed to through traffic for approximately six months while the city’s longest creek is reshaped to reduce chronic flooding and restore habitat for threatened salmon and other species.

For years, the confluence of the North and South branches of Thornton Creek, just east of 35^th Avenue Northeast, has been prone to flooding. High waters have frequently inundated nearby homes, Nathan Hale High School and Meadowbrook Community Center and closed the road to traffic.

To fix the problem, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will remove an undersized culvert under 35^th Avenue Northeast and realign the existing creek channel through a new two-acre flood plain. The wider channel and flood plain connection will help native fish habitat by spreading out and slowing the peak flows of Thornton Creek.

Additionally, the project will construct a new bridge under 35^th Avenue Northeast slightly north of where the creek currently runs.

Meadowbrook Community Center and Pool will remain open during construction and accessible from the south and a detour route is in place for vehicular traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Traffic will be detoured from 35^th Avenue Northeast to Lake City Way Northeast via Northeast 110^th Street and Northeast 95^th Street. Detour signs will be in place prior to the closure and Seattle Department of Transportation will be providing additional pedestrian safety measures, including speed limit signs on NE 110^th Street.

Southbound Metro buses (Route 64 and 65) will be detoured to Lake City Way Northeast via Northeast 110^th Street and Northeast 95^th Street. Northbound Metro buses will be diverted to Sandpoint Way Northeast via Northeast 95^th Street and Northeast 110^th Street. As the closure date approaches, more information will be found at http://metro.kingcounty.gov/alerts.

To learn more about Seattle Public Utilities’ Thornton Creek Confluence Project and get up to date construction information, please visit: www.seattle.gov/util/meadowbrookthorntoncreek.