Here’s one of those problem areas that just keeps coming up, year after year.
Rick Ogden lives just off of Filbert Road, known better on transportation documents as Highway 524.
“Back in 1996, I received a notice in the mail that the WSDOT was going to start widening the stretch between Lynnwood and Thrasher’s Corner. It never happened and now it is almost 20 years later,” Ogden wrote. “If any road needs the sidewalks, two lanes going each way and the suicide turn lane, this is the road. What is the status of this stagnated project?”
Tom Pearce, a spokesman at the state Department of Transportation, first gives us a quick history on this area.
“The idea of widening State Route 524 between Lynnwood and Bothell has indeed been around for a long time. As originally proposed by Snohomish County, SR 524 would have been widened to two through lanes in each direction, including turn lanes and traffic signals. In 2007, voters rejected a transportation funding package that would have widened the highway to the Bothell city limits.”
So what now? Signals are out. Roundabouts are in.
“We’re actively pursuing smaller SR 524 projects, such as widening the SR 524 intersections at Larch Way and Locust Way for roundabouts, and extending sidewalk along the north side of SR 524 from Lynnwood east city limits to approximately 196th Place SW,” Pearce said. “Roundabouts at Larch Way and Locust Way will help simplify and control traffic flow through the intersections and reduce the risk and severity of collisions.”
The $4.9 million project is proposed for funding in the 2015-17 transportation budget. If money comes through, design would start this fall and construction could take place in 2018.
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