Knickerbocker Project Brings More Truck Traffic

The Knickerbocker Floodplains Project off NE 100th Street will be bringing more truck traffic to the neighborhood in the next few weeks. Construction began last week on the project which so far has cleared the land in preparation for the relocation of Thornton Creek (see photo comparing the site over the past four weeks):

In an e-mail to residents Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) said,

We’ve heard concerns about truck traffic in the neighborhood. Because of the nature of the neighborhood streets, our contractor carefully considered pedestrian and traffic safety when they chose a route for trucks to enter and exit the site. All delivery trucks larger than a pickup will follow the directions below.
-Exit I-5 Northgate Way and travel East on NE Northgate Way
-Turn right going South on 23rd Ave NE.
-Turn right going West on NE 102nd St.
-Turn left going South on 21st Ave NE
-Turn left [sic] going East on NE 100th St.
-Back down into site.
We have implemented the following safety procedures for all truck deliveries:
• All deliveries are required to call Project Superintendent 10-15 minutes before entering the neighborhood.
• The contractor will provide flaggers throughout the route for all semi-tractor trailer trucks.
• The contractor will place “No Parking” signs 24 hours in advance for semi-tractor trailer truck deliveries.
• Flaggers and drivers will not allow truck staging or idling on 21st Ave NE.

Why they don’t just go down Lake City Way and then straight up NE 100th Street from Summa is a mystery. It would be a much shorter and direct route rather than through the entire neighborhood. I guess that’s “carefully considered” for you (or a cheap-ass Google Maps route search).
As for the project itself:

Anticipated work during the week ahead
The contractor will:
• Prepare equipment that will divert the creek through flexible pipes while they construct the new creek bed and floodplain.
• Remove the steel frame of the current pedestrian bridge.
• Begin work in the creek July 1 and continue through the fish window.

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