To reduce the possibility of water main breaks in the Lake Hills neighborhood, the city of Bellevue will replace up to 100 feet of aging pipe under 160th Avenue Northeast near Tillicum Middle School.

Several homes in the area were flooded on Oct. 10 when the main broke at the intersection of 160th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 12th Place. Utilities crews replaced 10 feet of pipe then as a temporary fix. New, eight-inch, iron ductile pipe will replace this section and surrounding pipe that may have been compromised by the break.

Crews are scheduled to begin the two-week project on Monday. Construction will begin each day at 8 a.m., to avoid drop-off traffic at Tillicum earlier in the morning. Some congestion and delays may occur during the afternoon dismissal, but traffic flaggers will be on duty.

Southeast 12th Place will be closed to through traffic and pedestrians between 158th and 160th avenues. One lane will be closed on 160th Avenue. Children who walk or ride their bikes to school along Southeast 12th Place will need to use an alternate route.

The water main replacement should take two weeks or more, depending on the condition of the pipe. Roadway reconstruction, paving and re-striping will take an additional one to two weeks, depending on weather conditions.

Residents in the area and students and staff at Tillicum have been informed about the project with fliers.

Questions should be directed to Bellevue Utilities Engineering at 425-452-6977.