Tukwila's Southcenter Parkway extension nears completion

The 1.4-mile extension in Tukwila of Southcenter Parkway from South 180th Street to South 200th Street is expected to be completed by the end of July.

The old Frager Road has been closed (except to local traffic) since crews started work on the new five-lane street two years ago.

“We’re starting the final lift of asphalt paving this week,” said Bob Giberson, city public works director, during a phone interview last week. “It could be done by the end of July. It’s close to being ready.”

Giberson said the city will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony once a date can be finalized for when the new street will open. It sometimes takes a bit of extra time for the city to sign off on an accepted contract in case any minor corrections need to be made.

Scarsella Brothers, Inc., of Kent received the $18 million construction contract. Overall, Giberson said the cost of the project is $22 million, including design, construction, construction management and agreements with Puget Sound Energy and the Highline Water District.

The city received about $18 million in state and federal grants for the project and funded the rest through general obligation bonds.

The street extension is part of the city’s Tukwila South Development project expected to provide up to 25,000 jobs, 1,700 housing units and 10 million square feet of office and retail space. The Segale family owns most of the property along the new street and plans to develop the area, which will have much approved access to Interstate 5.

“It’s a major improvement in the area from South 200th to Orillia Road to the South 188th Street interchange with I-5,” Giberson said.

The curvy, two-lane Frager road has been replaced by a five-lane street that also runs much further to the west, especially up by South 200th Street.

“It was realigned close to the hillside to maximize development,” Giberson said.

A 35 mph speed limit will be posted along the street. A new signaled intersection has been added at South 200th Street and Southcenter Parkway.

Other parts of the project included construction of a sanitary sewer main and new pump station; new storm drainage facilities; water main construction for the Highline Water District; and relocation of a PSE gas main.

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Contact Tukwila Reporter Reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@tukwilareporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

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