Issaquah-Fall City Road Phase 2
Project Overview
This project is located on SE Issaquah Fall City Road between the Duthie Hil Road/Issaquah Fall City Road intersection and the Endeavor Elementary School Driveway. The elementary school and regional park located on the east side of the roadway draw a significant number of visitors from neighborhoods on the west side of the roadway. The roadway travels through the bottom of a large topographical depression. During the winter seasons, extended periods of rain saturate the ground and pond in the low-lying area, sometimes causing water to overtop the roadway.
The project will reconstruct approximately one-quarter mile of roadway to address issues of seasonal roadway flooding and improve pedestrian access to the elementary school and nearby parks.
History and Background
The existing roadway initially started almost one-hundred years ago as a narrow gravel two lane roadway. It now consists of two travel lanes with paved shoulders and non-continuous roadside ditches. In the 1990's it saw additional improvements with development of the Klahanie neighborhood and Endeavor Elementary School. Its current classification is a principal arterial roadway.
Additional efforts to continue improving the corridor began soon after Sammamish annexed the Klahanie neighborhood and other neighborhoods on the north side of the road (additional annexation information can be found here - City Annexations | Klahanie Annexation | City of Sammamish).
Improvements were split into two phases. Phase 1 extended from Issaquah Pine Lake Road to Klahanie Drive - it was completed in 2021. Phase 2 extended from Klahanie Drive to Issaquah Beaver Lake Road. Design for Phase 2 began in 2020, however, it was paused to work through the Balanced Land Use and Mobility Analysis (BLUMA) and evaluate Capital Improvement Project Funding scenarios. Design for Phase 2 was then restarted in late 2024.
What's the Latest?
The next effort will be to finalize the project concept. Before the Phase 2 project was paused for the BLUMA, the initial concept that was being evaluated for design at this location included sidewalk on one side and signalized intersections at Endeavor Elementary and the Issaquah-Fall City Road Intersection. When Phase 2 was restarted, effort continued to finalize a concept that will be advanced to design. We are currently gathering community input and data from various traffic and environmental studies to refine the preliminary design concept.
The three concepts below are the three options currently being considered for Phase 2. Concepts are based on the City’s Arterial Street standard consisting of two travel lanes, a center turn lane or planted median, bike lanes, sidewalks and streetscaping. The final option will include roundabouts or a combination of signals and roundabouts. The final concept will seek to balance competing community goals to minimize impacts to corridor travel time and preserve trees while improving safety.
Timeline
The project timeline provided below is approximate and subject to change. The schedule is contingent on a variety of factors, including permitting, material availability, and unforeseen site conditions. We will make every effort to keep the project on track and will communicate any significant changes as they arise.
Why Are Improvements Needed?
The SE Issaquah-Fall City Road/Duthie Hill Rd corridor is a vital connection route to residents of the City of Sammamish and surrounding communities. With recent decades of community growth, the needs of this old rural corridor have evolved, and change is needed. The corridor today consists of two-lanes with shoulders and open ditches, and lacks sidewalks, landscaping, and designated bike lanes. Numerous driveways are along the south side of the corridor to access homes, schools, and small businesses; and Klahanie’s pedestrian trail and Green Space Preservation Tract is on the north side. Overgrown roadside vegetation often restricts sight distance and near Endeavour Elementary School, heavy rains in the winter often result in water over the roadway.
Updates are being made to better traffic flow and promote the City’s goal of complete streets by including bike lanes, sidewalks, and landscaping along with other safety and environmental improvements.
How Will the Community be Involved in the Phase 2 Design Process?
The City’s goal is for the Phase 2 design to reflect the community’s priorities and input. Early in the design process we will be gathering feedback to inform the preliminary design process. In 2022, the City will share updates and gather additional public input to refine the vision for the design.
As design progresses, the City will continue to engage with the community to solicit feedback on specific design details, including landscaping, sidewalk and bike lane design, connections to community resources and amenities, and corridor aesthetics. We look forward to working with the community to develop this project to meet your needs and priorities.
To request ADA accommodation, including materials in a format for the visually impaired, call 425-295-0563. Persons with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. Persons with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.