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Capital Projects

In addition to the projects listed below, the City has several other projects in design and construction. For more information, please call 253-931-3010, or check our road closure/construction notices.

2012 Active Capital Improvement Projects Map (Updated 07/24/12) (PDF)

Bi-Annual Sanitary Sewer Repair and Replacement Project

The Bi-Annual Sanitary Sewer Repair and Replacement Project will construct sanitary sewer conveyance improvements to repair damaged lines and/or replace problem lines as shown on the Project Vicinity Map link below and as follows:

  1. Auburn Way South (at 7th Street SE) - internal spot repair;
  2. D Street SW (3rd Street SW) - 300 linear feet of 8-inch sewer main replaced and 4-inch water main replacement;
  3. H Street SE (in sewer easement between H Street SE and alley east of H Street SE) - 8-inch main replacement;
  4. 3rd Street SE (north of 3rd Street SE, in easement west of R Street SE) - 200 linear feet of 8-inch main replacement;
  5. Main Street (south of Main Street, in easement west of R Street SE) - 100 linear feet of 8-inch sewer main replacement;
  6. 1st Street NE (north of 1st Street NE, in easement east of K Street SE) - 275 linear feet of sewer main replacement;
  7. L Street SE (at 120 L Street SE) - internal spot repair, and;
  8. SE 320th Street (at 10815 SE 320th Street) - side sewer replacement in right-of-way.

Improvements include replacement of 1,000 feet of 8-inch diameter sewer main, 300 feet of 4-inch diameter water main, and 300 linear feet on internal slip-lining on a sewer main. Additionally, 1,000 square yards of asphalt pavement will be repaired as part of the trench restoration work.

It is anticipated this project will begin construction in June 2012 and be completed in October 2012.

White River Storm Pump Station Maintenance and Repair Project

The City is conducting maintenance and repair of the existing storm pump station at 4640 A ST SE, situated between A ST SE and the White River within Cools Residential Park. The work includes reconstructing the station walls and roof, replacement of the station pumps and emergency generator, and general site restoration. The existing station requires maintenance and repair to comply with current code requirements and the pumps are nearing the end of their useful service life.

Construction started in early May 2011 and is expected to be complete in late 2012.

Thank you for your patience as we complete this essential work.

For more information, please contact Leah Dunsdon, Public Works Department, 253-931-4013.

South Division Street Promenade Project (sketch)

The City of Auburn is in the midst of redeveloping the Downtown area. The Promenade is an integral part to Auburn's Downtown Redevelopment and implements the vision for downtown established in the Auburn Downtown Plan adopted in 2001. The Promenade begins at the edge of the City Hall Plaza at W Main ST and runs along S Division ST to 3rd ST SE.

The project included the reconstruction of South Division ST including roadway pavement, crosswalks, sidewalks, street trees, potted plants, pedestrian lighting, street lighting, city-owned electrical and fiber systems, and aesthetic treatments at the intersections of 2nd ST & S Division ST, 1st ST & S Division ST, and at Main ST & S Division ST, all in accordance with the City's Promenade plan and the adopted Downtown Sidewalk Guidelines. In addition, the project included storm drainage improvements in accordance with the City's Surface Water Management Manual, the relocation of city-owned sanitary sewers lines, upsizing of city-owned water lines, and coordinating with private utilities regarding relocation work and the undergrounding of power and communication facilities.

For more information on this project, please contact Ryan Vondrak, Project Engineer at 253-931-3086 or contact Elizabeth Chamberlain, Planning Services Manager at 253-931-3092.

A/B Street NW Corridor Project

This project will extend A ST NW from 3rd ST NW to 14th ST NW. This will complete the 1.47-mile missing link that is part of the 3.5-mile A-B Street corridor, which begins at the Auburn Transit Station and terminates at S. 277th ST. The new roadway segment will consist of a new 3-lane and 4-lane road with sidewalks between 3rd ST NW and 14th ST NW. It will align with the existing A ST NW and B ST NW on its southern and northern termini, respectively. Construction is anticipated to begin in July 2011 and be completed in late 2012. This project is primarily funded with federal funds. For additional information about the project, please contact Ingrid Gaub, at 253-804-3113 or via email.

M Street SE Underpass Project

This project will separate 'M' Street SE from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway's Stampede Pass line by lowering 'M' Street SE between 4th St SE and 6th St SE and constructing a new railroad bridge. The project will improve traffic flow and safety for vehicles, pedestrians, and bikes. 'M' Street SE will be widened to a 5-lane road with bike lanes and sidewalks. The project will also replace the existing traffic signal at the intersection of 'M' Street SE and 4th St SE as well as complete utility relocations to accommodate the new lowered roadway.

Construction for this project began in February 2012 and will continue through Summer 2013, depending on weather and train traffic. 'M' Street SE from 4th Street SE to 6th Street SE closed to through traffic from April 16th, 2012 through approximately June 2013, weather dependent.
Watch a live camera feed of the construction!

For more information on this project, please contact Ryan Vondrak, Project Engineer, 253-931-3086.

Auburn Way South Projects

Auburn Way South (SR 164) is a regionally significant route and provides important economic and transportation benefits. The three Auburn Way South Projects involve road, signal, storm, transit, water and pedestrian improvements to approximately 1.0 mile of Auburn Way South.

Auburn Way South Pedestrian Improvements, Dogwood St SE to Fir St SE - Project CP1118

This pedestrian safety project primarily includes constructing a designated mid-block crossing on Auburn Way South protected by pedestrian activated rectangular rapid flashing beacon warning lights. The project also includes new street lighting, relocating and/or undergrounding existing utility poles to mitigate roadside hazards, constructing a median island to eliminate multiple left turning conflicts, upgrading the signal at Dogwood St SE to countdown pedestrian signal heads and ADA compliant push buttons for improved access for the physically impaired, and ITS modifications.  Design began in the Spring of 2012 and construction is anticipated to be completed in late 2014. 

Project CP1118 has a total estimated project cost of $940,830 with state, federal and local funding.

Auburn Way South Corridor Improvements, Fir St SE to Hemlock St SE - Project CP1119

This project includes the construction of a new 5 lane section of roadway with illumination. There will be 2 through lanes in each direction and a center turn lane with a u-turn/wedge and transit pullouts at Hemlock St SE. There will also be 10-foot wide sidewalks and storm drainage improvements. Associated with the project, a new traffic signal will be constructed at the intersection of Hemlock St SE and Auburn Way South with ADA compliant ramps, push buttons, and signal heads. Design began in the Spring of 2012 and construction is anticipated to be completed in late 2014. 

Project CP1119 has a total estimated project cost of $3,033,000 with Transportation Improvement Board funds and a local match provided by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

For more information on the Auburn Way South projects, please contact Leah Dunsdon, Project Engineer at 253-931-4013.

Auburn Way South Corridor Safety Improvements, Muckleshoot Plaza to Dogwood St SE - Project CP1218

The purpose of this project is to improve Auburn Way South between the Muckleshoot Plaza and Dogwood St SE, including access management, providing for u-turns, upgrading transit stops and street lighting, widening Auburn Way South to accommodate turn lanes and pedestrians and bicycles, upgrading pavement markings, installing countdown pedestrian signals and audible pedestrian push buttons, and upgrading traffic signals to change the phasing and to improve the visibility of signal heads.  In addition, the water utility department has plans in the future to master meter the Muckleshoot Casino site.  This project will include the connections to the existing water main, pipe, valves, and shutoffs within the project area as needed to avoid future work within the new roadway improvements to allow for the future master meter project.  Design will begin in early 2013 and construction is anticipated to be completed in late 2015.

Project CP1218 has a total estimated project cost of $2,333,000 and the project is federally funded.

For more information on the Auburn Way South projects, please contact Leah Dunsdon, Project Engineer at 253-931-4013.

S 277th Street Corridor Capacity & Non-motorized Trail Improvements - Project C222A

The only remaining two lane segment on the corridor between SR-99 and SR-18 is S 277th Street in Auburn. This causes tremendous congestion, delays, and degradation of safety for the transportation network on the entire region. This project is needed to complete the final unimproved segment on this vital arterial connection. The project will improve access to the Urban Centers in Auburn, Kent, Federal Way and Covington including three Sound Transit Bus/Rail Stations. In addition to the valuable motorized improvements, this project will complete a separated non-motorized trail connection between the Interurban and Green River Trail systems and connect with City of Kent's Trail across the Green River.

The S 277th Corridor Capacity & Non-motorized Trail Improvements Project consists of intersection improvements and major roadway widening on S 277th Street from Auburn Way North to L Street NE.  Project components include adding two new eastbound through lanes, one new westbound through lane, a Class I separated non-motorized trail, street lighting improvements, storm drainage improvements, streetscape improvements, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) improvements, intersection capacity and safety improvements, and auxiliary turn lanes at Auburn Way North, D Street NE, and I Street NE.  The project length is approximately 3,300 feet.

Design will begin in early 2013 and construction is anticipated to be completed in late 2015.

For more information in this project, please contact Ryan Vondrak, Project Engineer, by phone at 253-931-3086 or by email.

Well 1 Transmission Main

This Project will construct a water transmission line from the Well 1 site to the Howard Road Corrosion Control Treatment Facility (CCTF) and construct a replacement storm drainage main on M Street SE, consisting of the following:

  • Water main improvements consists of 4,500 linear feet of new 16-inch main on M Street SE from the Well 1 Site to the Howard Road CCTF along the route depicted on the linked vicinity map.
  • Storm drainage improvements consists of upgrading 2,400 linear feet of existing 12-inch main to new 18-inch main along M Street SE from 8th Street SE to Auburn Way S and addressing street drainage needs along the route.

Construction of this project is expected to begin December 2012 and be completed May 2013, with the M Street SE work proceeding during the existing road closure of M Street SE for the Underpass Project.

For more information on this project, please contract Robert Lee, Project Engineer by phone at 253-804-5071 or by email.

Auburn Way South Flooding Improvements, Phase 2 - Project CP1202

The intersection of Auburn Way South (AWS) near the SR 18 underpass frequently floods during large and/or intense rain events.  The low-slope, gravity storm drain adjacent to the underpass provides limited capacity for upstream tributary flows.  A combination of trunk line improvements and installation of a pump station has provided some benefit, but has not alleviated all the flooding at the depressed underpass.  The downstream drainage system is also capacity-limited causing a "recirculation" of the pumped discharge, thereby limiting its effectiveness during large rain events.

The Comprehensive Stormwater Drainage Plan (2009) identified a two phase project to reduce stormwater flows to AWS at SR 18 by diverting upstream flows from the impacted area.  The total 25-year flow to be directed away from AWS is being estimated at 10 cfs.  Water would be redirected by gravity flow at AWS and 17th Street SE, toward the existing stormwater ponds located at 17th and A Streets SE, and 21st and S Streets SE.  Final modeling will be conducted by the City's on-call modeling consultant to determine pipe size and slope.

Phase 2 will intercept all flow from the diversion structure at AWS and 17th Street SE to the west.  At the intersection of K Street SE and 17th Street SE, a new flow control structure will in installed to maintain the current discharges pattern to K Street SE.  From this point west, approximately 3,100 LF of 24" - 30" pipe will be required to replaced the existing lines in 17th Street SE.  The existing pipes along 17th Street SE at the intersections of J Street SE and B Street SE will be plugged, diverting existing flows away from AWS.  Eliminating the discharge into these two pipes will add 4.5 cfs to the 17th Street SE line.  Inlet spacing along the project shall be considered to meet design standards.  This project also includes deepening the existing pond, and modifying the outlet control structure at 17th Street SE and A Street SE to gain an additional 7 acre-feet of storage.  Once complete, the diversion structure at 17th Street SE and AWS will be modified to prevent flow to Auburn Way North.

For more information on this project, please contact Robert Lee, Project Engineer by phone at 253-804-5071 or by email.