A road closure this month on heavily traveled 112th Street East will allow reconstruction of 112th Street East between Woodland and 58th avenues to be completed months ahead of schedule.

The $4.2 million project, which started in August 2005, is scheduled to be completed in early 2007. However, contractor Woodworth & Company Inc. believes it can finish the work this fall, according to field engineer Jerry Bryant of Pierce County Public Works and Utilities.

That section of 112th Street East was originally closed during May, and traffic was diverted south to 128th Street East. “While monitoring the detour in May, we concluded that motorists would spend less time traveling the detour route than they would waiting in line to use a single lane during the construction zone,” Bryant said. The May closure allowed Woodworth to expedite construction of a 25-foot-deep sewer line and installation of a large culvert.

“By extending the road closure, the contractor will be able to complete major construction work in the roadway earlier and reduce the overall period of time in which the traveling public will be impacted,” he said.

Remaining work includes widening the roadway, making storm drainage and sanitary sewer connections, and installing curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

The closure is scheduled to continue through June 30.

The most serious traffic traffic impact of the road closure occurs at the intersection of 128th and Woodland, which is a four-way stop. To assist with the traffic flow, uniformed police officers are assisting with traffic flow during morning and afternoon peak hours.

When the project is completed, 112th Street East will have two traffic lanes in each direction, a center two-way left-turn lane and traffic signal improvements.