The Factoria Boulevard Stormwater Conveyance Improvements project improved stormwater infrastructure and reduced risks of flooding during heavy storms in the Factoria-Richards Creek drainage basin.
For the project, jointly funded by the city and the King County Flood Control District, the city replaced a segment of stormwater pipe with a larger concrete storm box conveyance system under the northbound lanes of Factoria Boulevard Southeast, next to the Factoria Village commercial area. This conveyance system continues to drain into Richards Creek, which had channel improvements as part of the project.
Project Need
Flooding was a recurrent event in the Factoria-Richards Creek drainage basin during major storms. In August 2014, a heavy storm inundated Factoria Boulevard with nearly four feet of water. Businesses were flooded, streets were impassible and the community was significantly disrupted.
These kinds of storms have increased in frequency in the last decade and may continue to increase as a result of climate change. If the city didn't expand and improve the capacity of the existing storm drainage system, more flooding events on Factoria Boulevard could have occur, causing significant disruption to traffic flow in the region and economic impacts to the many businesses in this area.
Project Location
The project was located along Factoria Boulevard between Southeast 38th and 36th streets, south of Interstate-90. Project work also included a portion of Richards Creek, along the east side of Factoria Boulevard and south of Southeast 36th Street.
Timeline
- Second week of January 2024: Alternating lane closures for initial construction activities.
- February 25 – May 2024: Two northbound lanes will close completely, and one southbound lane will convert to a northbound lane, resulting in two southbound lanes and one northbound lane.
- May 2024 - July 2024: The curbside northbound lane is closed.
- August to November 2024: Intermittent northbound and southbound lane closures.
- November 2024: Project completed.
Public engagement
The City provides the following video overview of the project purpose, benefits, and potential impacts — PDF of the presentation is available.
Utilities
City Manager's Office
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