|
|
Yelm Highway Project Receives Final
Funding: March Start Expected
On Friday, January 22, The State Transportation Improvement
Board awarded Thurston County $3.9 million for the Yelm
Highway Improvement Project. The section of Yelm Highway
between Henderson Boulevard and Rich Road (approximately 1 1/4
miles) will be widened to provide two driving lanes in each
direction, sidewalks and bike lanes. Two roundabouts, one at
Boulevard Road and one at Brassfield Street, will also be
constructed. The project, slated to begin in late March, is
expected to be completed in the fall of 2011. In advance of
the county construction, utilites such as power, gas, and
telephone, will be doing work. Currently Potelco is moving
power poles so they are out of the way during road
construction.
Motorists can expect delays as lane
restrictions will be in place at various times throughout
construction. We advise commuters
to build in extra time into their travel plans, and to
consider alternate routes when possible.
The $10 million road portion of the project is funded from
several sources: State Transportation Improvement Board, $3.9
million; Thurston County Roads Fund, $3.5 million; federal
funds, $1.6 million; City of Olympia, $506,000; County
Mitigation fund, $444,000, and Intercity Transit, $15,000. In
conjunction with the county project, the City of Olympia will
upgrade sewer and water utilities in the area.
The county designed the improvement project following the
“East-West Corridor Study,” conducted in 1998 for Thurston
County and its cities. The study identified Yelm Highway as
the most feasible east-west corridor in the county, provided
that it be widened from two lanes to four and also provide for
bicycle and pedestrian travel.
In addition to updates sent to the
media, we’ll also be using reader boards, fliers, the web and
twitter to keep the public informed.
Contact: Theresa Parsons,Project
Coordinator 754-4580
Keith Eisner, PIO,
786-5245 |
| To see the
library of design plans, engineering and discovery
documents and summaries of public meetings previously
available on this page, please click
here. |
|
|
