Pedestrian improvements coming to this Parkland intersection near PLU
On July 6, Pierce County will begin constructing sidewalks, streetlights and a pedestrian crosswalk near Pacific Lutheran University, bringing a safer road to pedestrian students and residents.
Drivers can expect minor delays from construction from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The blocks north and east of the corner 12th Avenue South and 124th Street South will be reduced to one lane until the end of August.
Pierce County public information specialist Anne Radford said the project is “high-priority” and was developed in collaboration with the Franklin Pierce School District as part of Pierce County’s Safe Routes to School Plan, which entered the design phase in 2018.
A flashing stop light also will be installed at the crosswalk, which will be located on 12th Avenue South, between PLU and Keithley Middle School.
Radford wrote that there have been no pedestrian safety complaints in the area, but the additions will lead to safer walking conditions for students of nearby Keithley Middle School, Washington High School and PLU and their employees.
According to a 2016 Washington State Department of Transportation survey, 11.9 percent of Pacific Lutheran University employees commute by walking, biking or using public transportation. It will make the area more accessible as required by the American with Disabilities Act.
Other nearby areas frequented by pedestrians, such as Pacific Avenue to the east, are expected to receive similar accessibility and safety improvements as part of the 121st Street South Streetscape Improvements. Similar measures are also planned for the Bethel, Puyallup and Peninsula school districts.
The Auburn-based Nordvind Co. was awarded the $280,000 contract for the construction this past April. The funds came from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board Sidewalk Program and county road funds.
The project has not been delayed by COVID-19 concerns.
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 5:00 AM.