Since June 2014 the arterial 35th Ave NE has been closed at the point of NE 107th Street while the South Branch of Thornton Creek has been rechanneled and a flood plain created for greater capacity to hold water.  The work of the Confluence Project necessitated digging up the roadbed.  The work is coming along, but the target date for re-opening 35th Ave NE has been set back due to delays caused by rainy and cold weather.  The roadway is being rebuilt with a bridge-like structure, sidewalks and rails, and time is needed for the concrete to “cure.”

We see progress, as work is also continuing on the creek channels and the flood plain.  The South Branch crosses under 35th Ave NE and at a point farther east of the road, the South and North Branches of Thornton Creek converge before flowing into Meadowbrook Pond — which is why this area is called The Confluence.

Looking eastward from 35th Ave NE, in the foreground we see the road repair work with sidewalk and rails, which will give this section a bridge-like appearance. A flood plain is being created at NE 107th Street where the South Branch of Thornton Creek flows into Meadowbrook Pond. The house at left faces 36th Ave NE.

Construction update info on the Seattle Public Utilities project page says:

Through November and into December, work will continue on the Thornton Creek Confluence project. Due to storms in July and August, followed by a wet October, the contractor will need additional time in December to get the roadway open.

• Concrete pouring and curing on the 35th Ave NE bridge, including the approach sections. The contractor will be using a type of concrete that will generate more heat during the curing process, minimizing the impact of colder ambient ground and air temperatures. The cure time needed for the concrete is ten days.
• Following the concrete curing, the contractor will finalize utility connections under 35th Ave NE, including a water main connection. Asphalt paving, striping and sidewalks, curb and gutter will also be completed following the concrete cure.
• Landscaping within the floodplain is ongoing, along with work on 36th Ave NE.