Closure Of 6th St. In Kirkland Delayed Due To Labor Strike

KIRKLAND, WA - An ongoing labor strike in Western Washington has shut down scores of construction projects, including two in Kirkland: The closure of 6th Street South for new traffic signals and the water main project under 120th Avenue.

The International Operating Engineer’s Union (IOEU) Local 302 strike began Tuesday morning, halting work at construction at sites in cities around the region, including many in downtown Seattle. The union has been negotiating a new labor agreement with construction contractors for three months.

Here's what's up with the two projects in Kirkland:

• 6th Street South at Kirkland Way was scheduled to be closed 24/7 for four or five days to complete work, including paving and installing traffic signal towers. That work will be postponed until September or October, according to the city.
• Since May, construction crews have been working to replace a water main along 120th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 85th and 80th streets. That project had about a month left until completion, but will be on hold until the strike ends.

The local 302 workers operate heavy machinery, but other non-302 construction workers will still watch over the two Kirkland projects.

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