MARYSVILLE — Parents were angry about road construction projects outside two elementary schools that dragged on for months longer than expected, but the work is nearing an end.
Snohomish County traffic engineers flipped on new traffic lights outside Shoultes and Cascade elementary schools last week. Original plans called for finishing work before the school year began.
“Pretty much, it’s completed now,” said John Bingham, the Marysville School District’s capital projects director. “They were originally scheduled to be completed before September’s opening of school.”
The traffic improvements were among 46 neighborhood projects that county leaders fast-tracked in 2006. The aim was to make intersections safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Other goals were expanding opportunities for recreation, improving water quality and lowering flood risk.
Work outside the Marysville schools started in June. County officials estimated the final tab at $1.55 million — $200,000 less than the original bid.
Crews added a traffic signal and left-turn lanes at a three-way intersection in front of Shoultes Elementary at 51st Avenue NE and 136th Street NE. Outside Cascade Elementary, they replaced stop signs with stop lights at the four-way intersection of 51st Avenue NE and 100th Street NE. That project also included left-turn lanes, crosswalks and sidewalks.
Trouble acquiring right of way for the work caused delays in both cases, county officials said. Late delivery of the signal equipment slowed progress outside Shoultes.
Marysville annexed both areas on Dec. 30. County traffic engineers expect to spend another month or so wrapping up before turning management of the intersections over to the city, said Mo Kashani, the county’s project manager.
Noah Haglund: 425-338-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
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