HELP FOR U.S. 2: Deadly highway now eligible for more funding, governor says

Published 10:18 pm Monday, October 8, 2007

Gov. Chris Gregoire announced today that U.S. 2 is being designated as a “safety corridor” making it eligible for increased federal funding for education, engineering and enforcement efforts on the deadly highway.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission will formally make the designation then develop a corridor safety program to curb the number of accidents on the route.

Gregoire also said the state will install wider rumble strips in the median than previously planned. Rumble strips will also placed on the shoulder of the highway in select locations between Monroe and Skykomish.

She is making the announcement to reporters at Paine Field where she stopped enroute to Bellingham.

The county also will pay for use of a higher quality striping paint that lasts longer and is more visible at night, said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, who joined Gregoire at the Paine Field event.