Staff Report

Two-way travel will soon be rolling onto downtown Redmond’s Cleveland Street and Redmond Way.

Cleveland Street’s conversion is slated to begin on Sept. 8 and Redmond Way will follow on Oct. 10. These approximate dates are subject to change due to sudden changes in weather or construction delays, reads a City of Redmond press release. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The work already completed at the 11 intersections includes utility improvements, new traffic signals, lighting, paving and sidewalk improvements, the addition of plazas near Anderson Park and more, the release reads.

The project has a budget of $27 million, including right of way design and construction, and Redmond Economic Development Manager Jill Smith said it is within budget.

Cleveland Street is designed to be the new “main street” and traffic will move at a slower speed. Commuters who are not planning on stopping in Redmond are encouraged to use State Route 520 or Bear Creek Parkway, Smith said.

Parking will soon be re-established on the south side of Redmond Way, and should help reduce the parking crunch downtown.

The project was undertaken as the final project for the city in connecting the downtown street grid, Smith said.

Over the past years, the city constructed roads in downtown Redmond, including Bear Creek Parkway, 171st Avenue Northeast, 164th Avenue Northeast and the Cleveland streetscape as well as the Redmond Central Connector trail.

Ongoing construction by private developers on the north side of Redmond Way will continue. Developers investing in the City of Redmond will be building the second westbound lane of Redmond Way east of 164th Avenue, improving remaining sidewalks and parking areas as well as completing frontage improvements.