MONROE — Whereas just one,200 toes lengthy, a brand new path going up alongside U.S. 2 will make an enormous distinction for Monroe residents and avid cyclists like Rosie Tatel.
The venture, six years within the making, will assemble a multi-use path on the north aspect of the freeway subsequent to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. Development might begin this fall after the Monroe Metropolis Council awarded a $1.4 million contract to Taylor’s Excavators on Tuesday.
The 12-foot-wide path, which will probably be separated from automobiles, will stretch from 179th Avenue SE to the North Kelsey Road procuring space. The venture goals to supply a secure route for pedestrians, cyclists and energy wheelchairs touring alongside the identical route because the busy freeway.
Tatel, 64, nearly solely makes use of a bicycle to get round. She doesn’t have a driver’s license and doesn’t prefer to depend on her husband Harvey for rides. Plus, she likes the train.
Together with her bicycle geared up with two baskets, she travels from her residence close to the EvergreenHealth Monroe Medical Middle to close by retailers. She generally bicycles by means of the fairgrounds, however the gates are sometimes closed. She avoids driving on the freeway’s slim shoulder as a consequence of unhealthy drivers.
“I used to be getting extra cautious through the years,” she mentioned.
Bicycle security is private for Tatel. Her first husband Barry Stankevich died in a bicycle accident in 1993 on Freeway 203.
Tatel introduced her security issues concerning the U.S. 2 path to the town in 2016, mentioned Kim Klinkers, senior engineer with the town of Monroe. Work on a repair started the next yr.
The Puget Sound Regional Council awarded federal grants for design in 2020 and development in 2022, totaling about $545,000. After the venture got here in over-budget, the town went again to search for extra funding. Up to now two weeks, the town was awarded a $798,000 federal grant by means of the state Division of Transportation, Klinkers mentioned.
The entire venture prices about $1.8 million, in keeping with the town. The remaining steadiness, about $422,000, will probably be paid with the town’s transportation influence payment and actual property excise tax income.
Klinkers anticipates development might begin in mid-September after the Evergreen State Honest.
The venture will even add new fencing, lighting, timber and landscaping, a pedestrian bridge and a marked crosswalk at Cascade View Drive.
“We wish it to be inviting and secure,” Klinkers mentioned.
As for Tatel, she mentioned the brand new pathway will probably be an improve. Nonetheless, she has various extra concepts for future security enhancements for cyclists.
Jacqueline Allison: 425-339-3434; [email protected]; Twitter: @jacq_allison.
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