With the opening of school Tuesday, Renton school buses and students are again navigating through the closure of Duvall Avenue Northeast, which is undergoing a major widening and upgrade project.

The City of Renton and the Renton School District have notified the neighborhoods affected about any changes in bus stops and bus routes, including a bus stop that was moved from Duvall deeper into a neighborhood.

Officials are warning drivers and walkers to use extra precaution, now that school is back in session.

“Motorists need to take the added precaution of using the designated detour routes, obeying traffic laws, watching for students boarding and exiting buses, and following the safety rules in school zones,” said Commander Kent Curry with the Renton Police Department.

The suggested detour routes around the Duvall closure are Northeast Sunset Boulevard and Interstate 405.

The city and school district have implemented several safety measures near Sierra Heights Elementary School. These include:

• Adding additional traffic safety officers during school drop-off and pick-up times.

• Establishing a center turn lane on Union Avenue near Sierra Heights Elementary School.

• Designating specific loading and unloading areas to drop and pick up students during school days

• Making it safer for students to walk near the school by posting no parking signs on the shoulder near the school; the city is working on adding a walkway near the school.

Duvall is closed northward from just north of Sunset Boulevard Northeast to Northeast 95th Way for a multimillion-dollar widening project that is expected to be completed next July or August.

Duvall was closed prior to the end of the last school year, so local residents have some experience with getting around the closure.

“We obviously had learning pains, mainly related to people having to make alternative patterns to driving,” said Peter Hahn, deputy administrator for the city’s Public Works Department.

The city didn’t receive “a huge flood” of e-mails or phone calls about the closure, Hahn said.

Some businesses near Sunset were concerned about the effect the closure would have on their customers. A large sign was installed on Sunset, reminding travelers that those businesses on Duvall are still accessible.

Hahn said the construction in general is “more or less on schedule.” Work was affected by the recent heavy rains, he said.

New signal

for Hoquiam

Work will begin soon on a new traffic signal at Hoquiam Avenue Northeast and Sunset Boulevard Northeast, according to Peter Hahn, deputy administrator for the City of Renton Public Works Department.

The signal has been a priority for residents near Hazen High School and students and staff there.

The signal is expected to be operational sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Duvall updates

Updates for the Duvall Avenue widening project are available online at duvall.rentonwa.gov. For maps, additional information on detour routes and to find out more about Renton’s major construction and transportation projects, go to rentonwa.gov.