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County scrambles to repair flood damage between storms

The county closed the Upper Preston Road after it began sliding into the Raging River.

Now that the water is receding from roads following last week's major flooding, crews are getting their first good look at what's left behind. As of Monday, Nov. 13, the King County Road Services Division reports damage to nine roads and bridges, with two roads and a bridge in the Upper Preston area the most severely damaged.

As repairs continue on the Preston Frontage Road Bridge, additional damage to nearby Upper Preston Road Southeast has now led to a full closure. Pedestrian and emergency access, however, is still permitted. An early morning inspection revealed more sliding occurred below the road overnight. The Roads Division has now determined that the road and shoulder are simply not safe for vehicles to use. A section of road and the ground beneath it were washed away last Monday (Nov. 5) by high flows on the Raging River. Until today, the division had been periodically allowing one vehicle at a time through the inner lane and road shoulder.

Flooding was widespread in the Carnation area.

Given the long-term nature of the closure, county road crews began working this morning with the Washington State Department of Transportation to forge a temporary road around the damaged section of roadway. Work is now underway to create a single gravel lane up the hill and onto the eastbound shoulder of Interstate 90 located directly above the road and then back down onto Upper Preston Road Southeast.

During construction, the far right lane of I-90 will be closed. Once the work is completed tomorrow, a barrier will be added to separate the makeshift access road from oncoming traffic. Initially, the road will provide access to emergency vehicles and for the delivery of critical necessities, such as food, fuel and emergency medical services, given the steep grade up to I-90. However, the county will continue to explore ways to provide broader access once it gages safety and sees how well the temporary road functions.

In the meantime, the Roads Division has commissioned King County Metro Transit to help ease the hardship being experienced by residents in the Upper Preston neighborhood.

Early this morning an Upper Preston Road shuttle was established and will tentatively continue through this Friday. The shuttle will be operated daily between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7:40 p.m.

The shuttle will run from where the I-90 overpass crosses Upper Preston Road to Southeast 118th Street. The operator will make flagged stops along the route. Residents living in the Upper Preston neighborhood should go to Metro Online to monitor potential revisions in schedule or routes.

For a complete list of road closures, visit the King County Road Alert web page.

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Updated: March 07, 2007

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