South Bellevue residents, get ready to reclaim your roadway. Lakemont Boulevard is set to swing its lanes open once again the week of June 10, bringing an end to the detours and traffic headaches caused by a culvert-triggered emergency closure last fall, the City of Bellevue has announced a much-anticipated reopening, and patience is soon to be rewarded.
Since the road shut down, city workers have been hustling to replace a collapsed culvert that threatened to turn the busy arterial into a sinkhole — but now, a new bridge is almost ready for rubber to meet the road, according to Bellevue Utilities director Lucy Liu, she's tipping her hat to the community for bearing with the hustle and bustle of reconstruction.
"We appreciate the community’s understanding and patience as we completed this critical piece of infrastructure, ensuring the stability of the roadway and safety to the public," Liu said, as per a city news release. Acknowledging the disruption caused, the director emphasized the importance of the task at hand and the city's commitment to public safety.
If you're all about pomp and celebration, mark your calendars for a grand re-opening event. The city is hosting a Community Walk/Bike Across the Bridge gig on June 10, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m, local dignitaries including the City Council and Environmental Services Commission will dish on the project details, plus they'll spill the beans on a second phase to rejuvenate the channel where the old culvert bit the dust.
Those who can't make the in-person shindig can still catch the action live. Bellevue TV will be streaming the event on their YouTube channel, for those unable to attend or prefer the digital front seat. More details about the project and the reopening festivities are available online on the city's official website.
