After sitting untouched for more than two months, work has restarted on several pedestrian safety crossings around Federal Way.

A grand total of eight flashing-light pedestrian crossings were abandoned in May after Construct Company LLC, the general contractor for the projects, defaulted on the work, according to the city of Federal Way Public Works Department. Work resumed Monday on the nearly $280,000 in projects, which are set to be completed in early August, according to Cary Roe, Federal Way’s Public Works and Parks Director.

Aside from the eight pedestrian safety crossings, Construct Company defaulted on another local project. The Sumner-based business was also working on the South 348th Street and 1st Avenue South Intersection Improvement Project in Federal Way.

Prior to defaulting, Construct Company had added several turn lanes to the busy intersection. Work was suspended in December to wait for warmer weather, but did not resume because of the default. Construct Company won the project with a bid of $1.886 million.

The 348th/1st Avenue project is currently 80 percent completed and is awaiting a final asphalt overlay and striping. This project will restart Aug. 1 and take about a month (weather permitting), according to city spokesman Chris Carrel. ICON has been hired as the completing contractor.

“We will continue to press to have the work completed as soon as possible,” said Roe.

The defaulting of Construct Company will not cost the city any actual money. According to Roe, Federal Way requires a performance bond on all public works projects to ensure work can be completed in spite of situations such as contractor bankruptcy. It’s unusual, however, to have a prime contractor default mid-project, he said.

In this case, Construct Company’s woes mean the city must work directly with the bonding company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, on securing the completion of the work. While the city can still ensure the projects are done, it has limited influence on the speed at which that happens, said Chris Carrel, the city’s communication and grant coordinator.

The Pedestrian Safety Project includes eight flasher-light crossings at the following locations:

• Southwest 320th Street at 10th Place Southwest

• South 348th Street at 6th Avenue South

• Southwest 320th Street at 14th Way Southwest

• 11th Place South at South 322nd Stret

• Southwest 336th Street at 26th Place Southwest

• Southwest 312th Street at 8th Avenue Southwest

• South 304th Street at 16th Avenue South

• South 312th Street at Steel Lake Park

Before defaulting, Construct Company had installed safety islands, poles and some signs. The flasher equipment was installed prior to the default and the entire project was 95 percent complete. DBE Electric has been hired as the completing contractor by Travelers Casualty and Surety Company to do the crosswalk striping and signage.

City officials claim it’s important to have the crossings done before the school year begins in September because several are located near schools.

Citizens interested in more information about either project should contact John Mulkey at (253) 835-2722 and john.mulkey@cityoffederalway.com or Marwan Salloum at (253) 835-2720 and marwan.salloum@cityoffederalway.com.