Overflow tank excavation work at Lowman Beach extended to Saturdays

| Utilities | West Seattle news

(UPDATE: The county announced Friday that this won’t start until October 11)

(WSB photo looking into excavation site from Lincoln Park Way, taken today)
If you live near Lowman Beach, and/or along the routes that are being used by trucks to haul away dirt from the excavation for a million-gallon sewer-overflow tank, here’s an alert: Starting this Saturday, crews will be working on Saturday as well as weekdays, at least for this month. Here’s the announcement:

To keep the project on schedule and avoid digging during heavy rains, King County’s contractor will work Saturdays in October. Saturday work will begin at 9 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m. The County contractor expects to finish digging out the tank area by early November, before the largest winter storms usually arrive. Digging during storms takes longer and increases the chance of mud from the site getting on to streets and storm drains.

What to expect on Saturdays:

· Upcoming Saturday work days:

o October 4
o October 11
o October 18
o October 25

· Work hours from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Weekday work hours continue to be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
· Noise from trucks and excavators, including backup alarms
· Excavators, pumps, and trucks working on and near the site
· Up to 55 trucks entering and leaving the site each day (about 7-8 trucks per hour)
· Flaggers to keep traffic moving as trucks access the site
· No parking on the eastern side of Beach Drive S.W.
· Limited parking on the western side of Beach Drive S.W.
· Limited access to the eastern sidewalk on Beach Drive S.W.
· Beach Drive S.W. and Lowman Beach Park remain open
· Primary haul routes remain Lincoln Park Way and 48th Ave N.W.
· The sound of running water may also be noticeable. Groundwater is being pumped from the tank area into a holding tank on site to allow for safe digging. The sound you may hear is typical for this kind of work.

The excavation work began two weeks ago – the report we published then includes the truck-hauling routes, if you aren’t familiar with them already.

chuck & sally's van man October 1, 2014 (5:26 pm)

I remember seeing something here recently about the proposed route their excavation trucks would be taking: down Fauntleroy to the tennis courts, turning right on 47th, filled with earth then exiting up the hill to 48th and out the Junction, I believe. However, I’m sorry to report that their big (though empty) double haulers go tearing down Graham each morning, then turn left to 48th and down to Lowman. Graham is still a relatively narrow thoroughfare due to parking on one side, and these guys really do come (literally) hauling down the steet. Is this part of the plan, or are drivers taking liberties? Anyone I can alert? Even empty, these truck are house shakers and window rattles. Damned irritating!

sc October 1, 2014 (6:22 pm)

Again the question.
Where does the dirt go?

WSB October 1, 2014 (7:37 pm)

Answered in the followup we did the day after the previous story. Sorry, can’t get link right this moment, am on a bus..,

Mark October 1, 2014 (7:57 pm)

I agree with Sarah’s parents. The trucks are not following the announced plan. I would encourage the county to look into queuing on Fountleroy and then being brought down as needed. They recently were blocking street above the site.

Eileen October 1, 2014 (8:43 pm)

Here the link to the map:
https://westseattleblog.com/2014/09/up-to-55-trucks-a-day-as-murray-cso-storage-tank-digging-begins-across-from-lowman-beach/
If they aren’t following their hauling route I think contacting DPD would be at
http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/codesrules/makeacomplaint/default.htm
There SEPA decision is here:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/LUIB/AttachmentProject3013278ID49443013278%20&%203013465.pdf
and it requires that King County set up a 24 hour hot line for construction issues. I found one at 205-9186

WSB October 1, 2014 (8:49 pm)

The King County hotline IS the first place to call. Thanks, Eileen. I’m back at the desk now but cutting and pasting URLs is tough when typing on the phone .

Rick October 1, 2014 (10:15 pm)

In this town “proposed” is worth about as much as the word weighs. Same goes for “promised”.

chuck & sally's van man October 1, 2014 (11:08 pm)

Thanks Eileen! I’ll be making calls in the morning.

Azimuth October 2, 2014 (9:10 am)

It’s a pain in the neck so the sooner they get it down the better as far as I’m concerned. But yes, do voice concerns to the county or city if they’re not doing it safely.

chuck & sally's van man October 2, 2014 (9:47 am)

Very happy to report that a call to the King County hotline (205-9186) netted immediate results. An earnest young woman responded within 15 minutes of my call, and called back after talking with contractors on-site at Lowman. The drivers are NOT supposed to be on Graham at any time–coming or going–and she asked that I call back if it continues (she thought it might take a few hours for all drivers to get the word). So, I ask all my neighbors along Graham between 48th and California to call if you see (or hear!) any of these huge trucks. It’s unbelievable the noise they create, and this is still a residential street and not an arterial. They’ve been traveling much too fast, to boot. Presumably to get up the hill before California, I’d imagine. Thanks again Eileen!

Roger October 2, 2014 (11:52 am)

Thanks Van Man for making the call! One of the huge dump trucks cut up Eddy St over to 47th and onto Graham at 720 this morning (hopefully it was just lost). I also couldn’t believe how loud the vibrations are, even when traveling at low speed.

chuck & sally's van man October 2, 2014 (12:58 pm)

Well, so far the gal’s statement that “it may take a few hours for all drivers to get the word” is ringing true, and then some. Three more fully laden double dumpers came through around 12:15 to 12:40, each blocking traffic at the top of Graham as they jut out in the street to avoid parked cars. Enough! Please, please make the call if you’re a neighbor. I’ve resorted to openly taking pictures of these drivers who are likely just ignoring the directive to follow the appointed path. That might get their attention. I work from home–yeah, this is a big deal to me. Grrrr…..

Jacob October 3, 2014 (7:02 pm)

@chuck & sally’s van man — your call(s) seem to have worked for the most part. I didn’t notice any trucks today on Graham between California & Fauntleroy. Thanks!

Clairdesol October 17, 2014 (9:34 am)

I was wondering what was going on with all the trucks along 48th, and thought I might find the answer here. Thanks WSB for doing such a great job reporting! Just my observations, as a resident on 48th, those trucks go by literally every 5-10 minutes and yes, they are earth-shaking and window-rattling. Unfortunately I cannot complain because I have the misfortune to live on an arterial. The speed bumps do little to no good (we call them “speed-up” bumps). A couple of days ago there was a pile of freshly-spilled dirt in the middle of Erskine (the uphill continuation of 48th), causing slick dangerous conditions in the rain. Someone must have cleaned it up overnight (I heard street sweepers along 48th that night) because it was all gone the next day. Thank you, whoever called it in and got it fixed. Let’s hope for a speedy completion of the project!

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