Bike2Health project construction begins

Map of Bike 2 Health routes.
Map of Bike 2 Health routes.

Bike2Health, a collaborative effort to complete 11 critical missing links of the existing regional bicycle network in South Snohomish County, began construction in Lynnwood last week. Bike2Health is a joint project of the cities of Lynnwood, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace funded by a grant from the Verdant Health Commission.

After a year of design work, the City of Lynnwood awarded the contract to implement bike lane improvements and roadway channelization to Colacurcio Brothers Construction. Improvements in Lynnwood include creating north/south connector routes and wayfinding signage on:

-48th Avenue West, from 200th Street SW to 188th Street SW
-52nd Avenue West, from 212th to 208th
-200th Street SW, from 50th Avenue W to 48th Avenue W and 68th Avenue W to HWY 99
-212th Street SW, from HWY 99 to 63rd Avenue W

Drivers, particularly Lynnwood Transit Center users, should be aware that on-street parking in bicycle improvement areas — including segments of 200th Street Southwest, 212th Street Southwest and 48th Avenue West — may be restricted due to construction activities. In addition, some on-street parking areas will be permanently altered or eliminated as part of this project, so drivers should pay close attention to new signage to avoid being ticketed or towed. Increased parking patrols will be in effect during and after construction.

Construction for the Lynnwood portion of the Bike2Health project should be complete in October. Similar improvements in Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace will follow on the heels of Lynnwood’s, with construction expected to take place next summer. Both cities’ projects are at 90-percent design. A series of interactive maps showing where all Bike2Health improvements will occur can be found on the project website: www.verdanthealth.org/bike2health.

The three cities are continuing to conduct bicycle counts to understand how many people currently ride bikes in the streets where the routes will be located. The cities will also conduct counts after construction is complete in order to determine how the new routes affect ridership. These counts will occur quarterly until April 2017. The next round of bicycle counts is scheduled for Nov. 15-17 at the following locations:

76th Avenue West & Olympic View Drive – Edmonds
9th Avenue South & Walnut Street – Edmonds
76th Avenue West & 212th Street Southwest – Edmonds/Lynnwood
52nd Avenue West & 212th Street Southwest – Lynnwood
200th Street Southwest & 48th Avenue West – Lynnwood
68th Avenue West & 200th Street Southwest – Lynnwood
56th Avenue West & 230th Street Southwest- Mountlake Terrace
80th Avenue West & 224th Street Southwest – Edmonds

The project has allocated $20,000 to fund bicycle storage and lockers in the Bike2Health network. The project team will work with the Edmonds Bicycle Advocacy Group (EBAG) to determine locker locations and types. Lockers will be installed once the Bike2Health Project improvements are constructed.

Funded by a $1.9 million grant from the Verdant Health Commission, the Bike2Health Project will improve access to health and wellness choices, make bicycling safer, and increase the region’s connectivity. For the most up-to-date information on Bike2Health, visit verdanthealth.org/bike2health or email bike2health@verdanthealth.org.

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