Drivers on Burbank Avenue NW in west Olympia will encounter new speed bumps and signage starting next week, as construction crews begin street-level work tied to the RJD West Olympia housing development.

Freeman Bell Construction & Development, a heavy civil contractor based in Pacific, Wash., will install the traffic-calming features on Burbank Avenue NW east of Division Street NW, along Milroy Street NW and 24th Avenue NW.

The City of Olympia Public Works Department announced the work in a construction and traffic alert issued Monday, July 14.

Traffic will be affected daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday, July 31. Residents will keep access to their properties during that window, according to the city's alert.

What's behind the work

The signage and speed bumps are part of the broader RJD West Olympia project, a residential development at 2000 24th Ave. NW that has been moving through the city's permitting pipeline since at least January 2025. City permit records show an on-site utility revision for sewer and water mains was filed that month.

A civil engineering permit for water, sewer, stormwater and street lighting was issued Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, under applicant John Marquardt.

The July 20 street work is the first publicly announced construction activity on public roads connected to the project.

What's not yet known

The total number of housing units planned for RJD West Olympia has not been publicly disclosed. The identity of the developer behind the "RJD" name and the project's full buildout timeline remain unclear in available city records.

The permit category lists the site as "Civil Engineering - Outside City Limits," though the City of Olympia Public Works Department is coordinating traffic management on adjacent streets. The jurisdictional relationship is not explained in available records.

Who to call

City of Olympia Construction Inspector Kris Carpenter is the point of contact for questions and can be reached at 360-753-8721. Freeman Bell's office line is 360-972-4394.