The Engineering Department (SED) maintained the City's streets and bridges, designed and oversaw construction of public works projects, provided traffic and transportation planning, and operated the sewer and solid waste utility. The position of City Surveyor was created in 1873 to survey the City, establish boundaries and street grades, and administer condemnation processes. This position was renamed City Engineer in 1890. In 1931 the Engineering Department absorbed part of the Department of Public Utilities and in 1936 it assumed the responsibilities of the Department of Streets and Sewers and the Traffic Department. In 1997, the water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater utilities from the Engineering and Water departments were merged with the Engineering Services Division of SED and the Customer Service Call Center and Construction Engineering Sections of City Light to form Seattle Public Utilities. The traffic and transportation functions of the Engineering Department were consolidated in the Seattle Transportation Department.

In October 1928, work began on the repaving of the deteriorating brick pavement of Third Avenue in downtown Seattle. The four-month project took place during the autumn, presenting potential weather problems, and was further complicated by the busy holiday shopping season, when both car and pedestrian traffic were heavy. Fortunately, the weather was favorable, and construction proceeded with speed and efficiency. In fact, one-way traffic was able to continue on Third Avenue during the construction, and much of the work was done before the Christmas shopping rush, opening streets up to traffic.

The repaving project was completed on February 2, 1929, and was considered "...a rush work project that may be without a parallel, considering the season of the year during which the work was done."