West Lake Sammamish Parkway reopens after January mudslide

Published 1:28 pm Tuesday, April 10, 2012

To the relief of thousands of commuters, West Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast has reopened after crews rebuilt a segment of the road severely damaged by a mudslide in late January.

The slide and resulting construction work closed the street from Northeast Second Street at Northup Way to Southeast 26th Street, forcing motorists to take detours. On a typical day, approximately 11,800 vehicles travel this section of the Parkway.

The repairs were needed after a slide and water main break in the 500 block of the Parkway washed out a steep embankment and undermined the roadway. Four homes were damaged, but no one was hurt.

City Manager Steve Sarkozy signed a declaration of emergency, and three separate contracts were issued to fix the road and repair the water line. The total cost for the work is estimated at $550,000. Damage to the private properties is still being calculated.