Downtown Kent drivers will face alternating lane closures over the next two months at the intersection of Fourth Avenue North and West Meeker Street.
“The plans are to leave at least one available lane of traffic in each direction on Fourth Avenue North,” said city capital projects manager Phil McConnell in an email. “Meeker may experience a single direction of traffic (say eastbound) with the other direction (westbound) being detoured to other streets.”
The 24/7 closure is from Monday, Oct. 1, through mid-December. Crews will do curb, crosswalk and roadway improvements in conjunction with the city’s Meet Me on Meeker project.
Meet Me on Meeker is the city’s plan to make West Meeker Street from State Route 516 to historic downtown a vibrant corridor of inviting, wider and attractive sidewalks and bike paths. It is part of a proposal to connect downtown with the new Marquee on Meeker mixed-use development being built at the former Riverbend par 3 golf course property that will feature 500 apartments and restaurant and retail shops.
City staff says Meet Me on Meeker is to rejuvenate properties along the corridor and attract more development.
The cost of the Fourth and Meeker intersection work is approximately $580,000, with $250,000 coming from a grant from the Washington State Improvement Board’s Complete Streets program, according to a city news release. The balance will be paid for out of the city’s street funds.
The work will include:
• Addition of curb bulb-outs to decrease street crossing widths and improve safety
• Installation of benches, a bike rack and trash can
• Addition of landscaping
• Upgraded ADA ramps and pedestrian push buttons
• New concrete crosswalks
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