A step toward a safer U.S. 2

Published 8:43 pm Sunday, July 4, 2010

SULTAN — A road’s intersection with U.S. 2 may close permanently later this month as the state Department of Transportation continues to make changes along the deadly highway.

The western end of Sultan-Startup Road will become a cul-de-sac, shutting off an access point to the highway. The road’s eastern outlet onto U.S. 2 will stay open.

Crews may get to work on the project July 12, as the state continues to implement a plan to address hazards on U.S. 2. It was put together in 2008 with help from the community.

Since 1999, 54 people have died on the highway between Snohomish and Stevens Pass.

During that time, the intersection with Sultan-Startup Road hasn’t been the scene of any fatal accidents. It has been the site of 21 collisions, however. Most were rear-end accidents.

State officials and advocacy groups such as the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition blame the accidents on the intersection’s design. Cars entering and exiting the highway face a hairpin turn, hampering sight lines.

“It was time to close that road off,” U.S. 2 Safety Coalition president Fred Walser said.

The work is expected to cost about $190,000, a small slice of the $4.9 million set aside for work on U.S. 2.

Other projects include changes at the highway’s intersection with Fern Bluff Road and the addition of two-way left turn lanes between 245th Avenue SE and 153rd Place SE east of Monroe.

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.

U.S. 2 changes

Learn more about what the state Department of Transportation has in store for U.S. 2 at tinyurl.com/US2Changes.