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Last updated: July 25, 2024
Project Overview
Rainier Ave S plays an important role in moving people and goods throughout the region. Renton has experienced rapid growth in the previous decades, outpacing all other major populated metros in the state. To accommodate, the City of Renton has completed several multimodal projects along Rainier Ave S to improve traffic operations, reduce collisions, and provide greater ease of non-motorized and transit-based travel.
The city is currently constructing Phase 4 of the Rainier Ave S Improvements. Phase 4 improvements will create a safer, more accessible, and vibrant pedestrian environment and improve overall traffic flow through the corridor.
The project will include the following elements:
- Sidewalk widening with streetscaping
- Pedestrian-scale lighting
- Pedestrian activated traffic signal
- Upgrading existing traffic signals
- Transit improvements, including an extended Business Access and Transit lane (BAT lane)
- Planted buffer strips and landscaped medians
Phase 4 of the Rainier Ave S Improvements will extend from S 3rd St to NW 3rd Pl. A pedestrian and bike path will also be built on the east side of Rainier Ave N, between Airport Way and NW 3rd Pl.
Project Schedule
Click here - updated 6/4/2024
Project Look-Ahead Schedule
7/22/2024 - 8/24/2024
Project Status
In December 2022, Renton City Council awarded the construction contract to Pivetta Brothers Construction Co. Construction started in Spring 2023. Since then, crews have worked on tree trimming and removal, surveying activities, digging a new joint utility trench, installing new utilities in the shared joint utility trench, and installing a new watermain.
Here’s what to expect for the rest of construction:
- 2024: Utility upgrades continue for storm and sewer.
- 2025: Crews begin demolishing and upgrading the street and sidewalks along Rainier Ave S.
- 2025: Street and sidewalk upgrades continue. Crews will also install medians and landscaping.
On July 9, 2024, the City of Renton approved a contract extension that includes a new construction completion date in late 2025. We know that construction is impactful, and we are coordinating with our contractors every single day to make sure that we complete this project as quickly as possible.
There are a few reasons why the project has been extended, which include:
- Working with multiple utility companies and needing to be flexible to their schedules, which can be impacted by weather, material availability, and more.
- Excavating and disposing of underground materials to resolve utility conflicts.
- Installing the utility trench much deeper than expected.
- Upgrading utilities before other work can be completed.
This extension is necessary for crews to complete the work efficiently and safely. The project team is dedicated to delivering a high-quality project while trying to reduce any additional impacts.
In 2024, utility crews are working on electrical system upgrades. This has to happen before the City's contractor can move forward with improving the sewer lines and stormwater systems. This work will continue over the next several months because it requires coordination with various utility companies that provide internet, phone, electrical, and gas services to the community.
Once these underground utility upgrades are completed, we will begin repairing the street and sidewalks. During this work, you can expect:
- Noise and vibration. Crews will aim to complete as much noisy work during the daytime when possible. Occasional nighttime work will be needed to close multiple lanes during the street and sidewalk upgrades. Crews plan to complete their noisiest work as early as possible during early evening hours, though some of this noisy work may continue into the late night and early morning hours.
- Street, sidewalk and/or lane closures and detours. Driveways may need to be temporarily closed when we upgrade the sidewalks that cross driveways on Rainier Ave S. Access in and out of driveways will be maintained. If driveways need to be closed for upgrades, our team will notify individual properties in advance.
- Dust and debris
- Crosswalk and sidewalk closures and detours for people walking and biking
Please call the outreach team (425) 224-2446 if you have any questions or concerns about noise during construction. The hotline is monitored 24/7. When contacting the outreach team, please be as specific as possible, even if you are only leaving a voicemail.
Community Outreach
Prior to the start of construction, the project team reached out to the community to share information on the project, discuss upcoming construction activities, and gather information from frontline stakeholders. This helped to anticipate needs and minimize construction impacts on the community.
Project Timeline
Project Map
Keep Informed
Title VI
The City of Renton hereby gives public notice that it is the City’s policy to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Title VI requires that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any Federal Aid Highway program or other activity for which the City of Renton receives federal financial assistance.
Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint with the City of Renton. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with the City of Renton, Human Resources Dept. within one hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. Title VI Discrimination Complaint Forms may be obtained from the City of Renton, Public Works Dept., Transportation Div. at no cost to the complainant by calling 425-430-7380 or by visiting www.rentonwa.gov/city_hall/public_works/transportation_systems/title_v_i.