Construction on

S.E. 40th Street

Road closures near the high school began last week as Puget Sound Energy is relocating power poles in preparation for the city’s S.E. 40th Street Corridor Improvements Project starting in summer 2008.

The road closures have shut down a section of S.E. 40th near the high school since May 27. There is no access to S.E. 40th from 85th Avenue S.E. Only local, preauthorized traffic and escorted pedestrians will be allowed on the closed section of 40th.

The city expects PSE to be done later this week or early next week, but work will continue intermittently until the end of July. PSE and other utilities are installing new 90-foot poles, stringing new high voltage transmission lines and transferring low-voltage communication lines along the north side of S.E. 40th Street from Island Crest Way to 86th Avenue S.E.

The Metro bus stop at 85th and 40th is also closed due to the construction. Please visit www.transit.metrokc.gov for the most current rider information.

For more information: www.mercergov.org/SE40th; Joan Weiser, 275-7880, joan.weiser@mercergov.org.

Road construction has also started on 76th Avenue in the western edge of the Town Center. The work will affect daily travels through the neighborhood, and residents should expect some driving delays, one-way traffic controlled by flagmen, and parking restrictions.