King County’s future Algona Transfer Station should begin operation in 2023 at 35101 W. Valley Highway S., replacing the 53-year-old transfer station on West Valley Highway just south of the new site.

But recent engineering and design challenges may delay the opening date by a couple of months, Doug Chin, project manager for the King County Solid Waste Division, said Aug. 18.

“We’re slightly off the schedule at this point, but there’s a possibility we could recover that schedule and get back on as we advance through design and go through construction,” Chin said. “We have reached 30 percent design, so we are still fairly early in the project yet. We’ll see how it goes.

“I suppose if things don’t turn out well in terms of the pandemic,” Chin added, “that could impact the project. But the pandemic’s impact has not been signification at this point.”

Community engagement will continue as the county seeks input from the community on design elements it considers important, such as green building features, aesthetics, site improvements that would benefit the community and mitigation of project impacts.

King County expects to hold a virtual open house for the project at a date as yet unannounced this fall.

When it does open, the new facility, just north of the present station, will offer services the present one cannot — including recycling, yard waste and household hazardous waste disposal, making them more accessible and convenient for South King County residents.

King County’s Solid Waste Division chose the parcel after a multi-year siting and environmental review process.

The preliminary design phase was to run through January 2020, with the final design scheduled for 2020-2021, and the actual construction phase to span 2021-2023.

The Design Advisory Group, a group of community members keen to help King County shape the design of the new facility, first met on Nov. 29, 2018.

Additional information about the Algona Transfer Station project, including opportunities to stay informed and engaged, is available online, or by contacting King County’s Solid Waste Division at 206-477-4466.

King County operates eight transfer stations, two drop-boxes, the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, and many programs to help customers recycle.