Kent drivers will face a temporary realignment of the intersection at Fourth Avenue South and Willis Street.

Crews removed the traffic signals on July 20 and started to remove much of the intersection pavement as they prepare to install a two-lane roundabout.

Work is expected to be completed this fall on the $4.75 million project, which will include new sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian lighting, landscaping and art installations to spruce up the gateway to downtown.

The state Department of Transportation required the city to build a roundabout along State Route 516 (aka Willis Street) in exchange for allowing the city to extend Naden Avenue and allow right in/right out traffic access from the Naden site to Willis Street. City officials wanted the access to attract developers to potentially purchase the city property, which sits just northwest of the Fourth and Willis intersection. The only current access to the Naden property is from West Meeker Street to the north.