UTILITY WORK ALERT: Date set for expected start of Fauntleroy culvert repairs

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Separate from upcoming projects to replace two culverts that carry Fauntleroy Creek under local roads, emergency repairs are needed for the California SW culvert in the Fauntleroy Church/Y/Schoolhouse area. Seattle Public Utilities has announced the start date:

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will be making emergency repairs to a storm drainage culvert under California Ave at the Fauntleroy Creek crossing. Severe cracks and breaks have damaged the culvert crossing and within the Fauntleroy Church parking lot and will impact and wash out the arterial should it fail. This emergency project is intended to provide asset life until the greater culvert replacement project is constructed.

LOCATION
California Ave SW (Fauntleroy Church parking lot)

SCHEDULE & HOURS
Work will start as early as September 22 and will last through October 2025
Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm

ANTICIPATED IMPACTS
-Equipment in the right of way on California Ave SW
-A new traffic pattern on California Ave SW, with flaggers directing traffic thru the work zone during working hours
-Parking restrictions near the work zone
-Pedestrian and bike lane detours
-Increased construction traffic, noise, dirt, and vibrations
-Pavement excavation and restoration
-Limited access to driveways during construction work hours

Here’s the construction notice featuring all of the above.

Nitro August 28, 2025 (5:38 pm)

I know the workers will be there Monday through Friday, but is this going to affect the church parking lot use and accessibility for the Fauntleroy fall festival?

Judy P. August 28, 2025 (6:04 pm)

We have worked closely with the SPU team regarding parking and the fall festival. The contractor will keep the ramp to the church’s middle and upper lots open as much as possible so Y and other users can access it, both weekdays and weekends. The project is to end shortly before the fall festival and, even if all equipment is not yet removed, the big tent can be installed before that weekend so that the event can proceed as usual.

VBD August 28, 2025 (7:37 pm)

This schedule runs into salmon spawning season. Will the work disrupt the creek flow?

Judy P. August 29, 2025 (8:46 am)

Short answer – no. The contractor will install a bypass to convey creek flow from the park, and it will include a screen to keep coho fingerings from releases last spring from getting into the bypass. Assuming all goes as planned, creek flow through the lined culvert will resume on or about Oct. 20. We plan to start Salmon Watch 2025 on Oct. 26 in the lower creek.

R September 8, 2025 (1:22 pm)

When will the no parking signs go up? How will this work impact the parking on the church/YMCA/preschool grounds and/or street parking? There are lots of seniors that use the Y facility Monday thru Saturday that drive and park in the lot as well as families dropping off and picking up kids at the preschool, basketball practices etc.