Weigh in on plan to fix busy Lake Stevens intersection
Published 1:30 am Sunday, August 13, 2017
LAKE STEVENS — State transportation planners are getting close to a preferred design for upgrading the congested intersection of highways 9 and 204.
Final designs will be done by planners and contractors as the project is under construction in the coming years, said Travis Phelps, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation. It’s called a design-build project, and is meant to create flexibility during such extensive work. Still, an initial concept is needed, and that’s wrapping up this summer.
State officials, with input from local leaders and an advisory group, have narrowed options for the revamped intersection down to a single recommendation. Those designs are to be presented to the public at an open house Wednesday and to city leaders later this month.
Redoing the intersection near Frontier Village is a long-sought project with $69.5 million set aside in state funding. It’s a notorious spot for back-ups, with an average daily traffic count of roughly 32,000 vehicles on Highway 9 and 19,000 vehicles on Highway 204.
Planners started with a list of 16 potential concepts.
The recommendation is to use a diamond interchange. Highway 9 would run under 204 at the intersection, with on and off ramps connecting to the other highway and to nearby streets. It would be an elongated interchange to allow for several on and off ramps in Lake Stevens, Phelps said.
“It’s going to separate traffic a little bit, and direct traffic through specific areas in that interchange,” he said.
Wednesday is the third open house for the project. Past events, along with comments from the advisory group, raised concerns about business access.
There was talk of closing at least part of the frontage road that parallels Highway 9 at Frontier Village, including access to several businesses. It’s unclear if the final design would require that closure, Phelps said. There also were plans to build a new Frontier Village Road through part of the shopping center, but that is not part of the updated proposal, he said.
A presentation is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday, at the start of the open house, followed by time to ask questions, voice concerns or offer ideas.
“Nothing is set in stone,” Phelps said. “We still certainly want to hear from people who use this intersection every day.”
Construction could start as soon as spring 2019.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
Open house
Learn more or share ideas about the proposed redesign of the Highway 9/204 interchange on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hillcrest Elementary School, 9315 4th St. SE in Lake Stevens.
