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White Center Drainage Improvement Project
This project will add a new drainage system on 1st Avenue S between SW 102nd Street and SW 104th Street and on SW 102nd Street between 1st Avenue SW and 1st Avenue S
February 7, 2026: A portion of SW 102nd Street lacks a formal drainage system. Road Services crews will add an underground drainage system to prevent flooding and erosion.
Status update
March 2026
Road Services plans to install a new drainage system in White Center in the spring of 2026. We expect construction to last up to five weeks. This project could be delayed or rescheduled due to weather, crew, material, or equipment availability.
For the most up-to-date information on current Road Services work, please visit our MyCommute map. To receive an email or text message notification about Road Services work in White Center, please register for Road Alerts.
Overview/project description
There is currently not a drainage system under 1st Avenue S between SW 102nd Street and SW 104th Street or SW 102nd Street between 1st Avenue SW and 1st Avenue S in White Center. When it rains, this can cause damage to the road shoulder and pavement. At times, water from the road can enter private property and cause erosion.
Before the Road Services drainage work begins, utility companies will be on site to relocate their underground systems.
In the spring of 2026, crews will add new catch basins that lead to a new drainage system. Crews will install 12” diameter pipes approximately three feet underground. This will collect rainwater and connect it to an existing drainage system.
What is a catch basin?
A catch basin is a type of stormwater drainage structure designed to collect surface water runoff and direct it into an underground storm sewer system. It typically consists of:
- Grate on top: Allows water (and sometimes debris) to enter from streets, parking lots, or landscaped areas.
- Underground chamber: Where water collects temporarily.
- Outlet pipe: Connects to the storm sewer system, carrying water away to prevent flooding.
Catch basins often include a sump at the bottom to trap sediment and debris, helping prevent clogging of downstream pipes and improve water quality. They’re commonly found along roadsides, in parking lots, and near curbs.
What to expect during construction
- Crews will work during daylight hours and neighbors can expect the following during work:
- Noise and odor from saw cutting, jackhammers, excavators, generators and pumps.
- o Increased truck traffic for hauling materials to and from the construction site.
- This project is a moving operation and driveway access may be limited for one to two days at a time as crews install the new drainage system. Crews will give advance notice so that neighbors can prepare.
- Road Services will coordinate with Waste Management and US Mail. It is possible that roads may be closed for local access only, however that should not impact garbage collection or mail delivery.
