The city of Kenmore recently released several updates on the ongoing reconstruction of State Route 522.

• On June 22, crews completed repaving the 68th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 181st Street intersection and reopened the roadway as a four-way stop. Originally slated to reopen in early July, the intersection paving was completed ahead of schedule. The four-way stop will be in place until mid-September when the new traffic signals are installed and activated.

Throughout the summer, crews will remain on-site to complete various improvements around the intersection. Lanes on 68th and 181st may be limited intermittently during construction, at which time flaggers and traffic control will guide vehicles and pedestrians through the work area.

Police ask that drivers not cut through business parking lots to avoid traffic on 68th. Kenmore Police are monitoring the area and ticketing drivers.

• In the area of 68th between SR 522 and Northeast 175th Street, crews were scheduled to begin undergrounding utilities in a joint utility trench the week of June 29.

To build the trench, crews will remove the sidewalk and pavement, dig the trench, install the utility conduit, fill the trench and then place steel plates over the area until paving can occur. After the utility conduit is laid underground, construction crews will rebuild curb, gutter and sidewalks and repave individual driveways. Drivers and businesses can expect to see steel plates covering the trench intermittently during this work.

The trench will cross driveways to businesses on the west side of 68th, and some businesses will have gravel driveways for periods of time. Construction barrels, cones and business access signs will be used to help guide drivers to driveways. Additionally, while crews are widening 68th in this area, there will be times when the westernmost lane of the roadway will be closed.

This trench work is anticipated to take a couple of weeks to complete; however, crews will be completing improvements in the area throughout the summer. Also, at times, crews will alternate between working days and nights.

For more information, visit the project Web site at www.KenmoreSR522.com.