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Eastside Interceptor Section 14 joint rehabilitation

Repairs are underway to a sewer pipe that runs along the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) Trail north of 108th Avenue NE.

Eastside Interceptor Section 14 (ESI 14) sewer pipe is a 7-foot diameter pipe, which carries 10 million gallons of wastewater a day on average during dry weather. In late July 2025, King County and City of Kirkland crews detected a leak from the County’s ESI 14 sewer pipe that was entering Kirkland’s piped stream. King County coordinated with Public Health – Seattle & King County, and no public health risk was identified.

In September 2025, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks issued a Declaration of Urgency to expedite the repair efforts. The City of Kirkland also issued a Proclamation of Emergency to aid in repairs.

Project update

December 5, 2025 

Since September, King County crews and contractors have been repairing the section of CKC Trail between NE 52nd Street and 108th Avenue NE (see map). Repair work consists of installing a temporary above-ground wastewater diversion, repairing the joints inside the underground 7-foot diameter pipe, and restoring the construction site.

Crews installed a 3,000-foot above-ground temporary 18-inch pipe to divert the wastewater. They dug in two locations on each side of the leaking joints to connect the sewer flows to the above-ground temporary diversion pipe.

  • Wastewater flows will be diverted to the above-ground pipe using a bypass pump with four generators to maintain sewer service for the community.
  • While flows are diverted above-ground, crews will enter the empty 7-foot diameter underground ESI 14 pipe to repair the leaking joints.
  • Once repairs are complete, crews will restore flows to the ESI 14 underground pipe, remove the above-ground temporary pipe, and restore the trail. 

To safely complete repairs, a section of the CKC Trail will remain closed through the end of the year (see map). Trail users are advised to avoid the closed area and use designated alternative routes during this period.

A temporary pipeline (above ground) is being set up next to the trail.

The project is weather-dependent, and the schedule may be subject to change. We will keep the community updated as work progresses. 

What to expect

  • Construction work hours are Monday through Friday from 7 am to 8 pm and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Pumping diverted flows from the underground pipe to the above-ground pipe will occur 24 hours a day.
  • Detour signs directing trail users around the closed section of the CKC Trail.
  • Lights, generators, heavy equipment, and possible odors near the diversion locations.
  • Vehicles parked on the closed section of the trail.  

Past project updates

Project background

The Eastside Interceptor (ESI), which consists of 14 pipe sections, is a large and critical component of King County’s wastewater conveyance system. The ESI collects and carries untreated wastewater from homes and businesses in Kirkland and sends it to South Treatment Plant in Renton, where it is cleaned and disinfected before the water is released into Puget Sound.

Project location

Cross Kirkland Corridor trail displaying the closed section between 108th Ave NE and NE 52nd St, and the trail detour.

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