Expect more roundabouts to be built
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The city is set to embark on a transformative project aimed at revamping the U.S. Highway 2 corridor between Lundstrom and Lawson streets.
Planner Heather Trautman said the plans promise to reshape the community’s central business district.
The initiative — which encompasses planning, designing and engineering efforts — seeks to enhance safety and functionality for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit-users along a one-mile stretch of the highway.
With roots in the 2017 U.S. 2 Corridor and 2021 Downtown Strategic plans, the project aims to foster safer access to daily amenities and alternative transportation options.
The endeavor has garnered support from two funding sources: a Surface Transportation Block Grant for design and construction of roundabouts between Lawson and Lundstrom, and the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Pilot Program administered by the state Department of Transportation.
Trautman said that the grants signify a collective effort to reshape transportation corridors.
The city successfully secured a grant from the Connecting Communities Pilot Program, enabling the implementation of corridor design concepts outlined in previous studies.
This funding injection underscores the commitment to crafting a streetscape that aligns with the evolving needs of its residents, Trautman said.
Phase 1 of the project, slated for completion by June, will redesign of the area between Lawson and Lundstrom and include include new sidewalks and paths, intersection treatments pedestrian crossings, and speed control measures, Trautman said.
Phase 2 of the project remains on the horizon, with funding and scheduling details yet to be determined. The phase will explore design options for the remaining portion of U.S. 2 within the city.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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