Construction crews will begin their work on Newcastle’s new Transit Center project Monday, May 18. The south end of the project will be completed first.

Work will start on the south side of Newcastle Way at 129th Avenue Southeast and proceed east across Coal Creek Parkway down to 132nd Place Southeast.

The initial phase of the project will impact eastbound traffic on Newcastle Way. Drivers proceeding straight through the intersection of Coal Creek Parkway will share the same lane as traffic turning right onto Coal Creek.

Work along the north side of Newcastle Way will start in the middle of July, beginning at 132nd Place Southeast and moving west across Coal Creek Parkway down to 129th Avenue Southeast.

Construction of the new concrete intersection of Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way will start in mid-June. Crews hope to have the entire project finished by the end of November.

Except on rare occasions, at least one lane of traffic will be open in all directions at the intersection of Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way. Delays through the downtown area can be expected for the duration of the project. Businesses will be open during construction.

The Transit Center is expected to showcase the changing character of Newcastle’s community business center, focusing on a pedestrian and transit friendly urban core. It will feature four new bus shelters with design elements that are in some ways evocative of a coal miner’s cabin, but yet are completely contemporary.

The project also will bring major improvements to Newcastle’s main intersection of Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Way including bike lanes, realigned crosswalks to enhance pedestrian visibility, and new sidewalks.

The city of Newcastle is partnering with Sound Transit on the $4.6 million project, 87 percent of which is funded through Sound Transit.