New traffic and pedestrian signals at 236th Street Southwest and 65th Place West in Mountlake Terrace were activated Monday morning, a significant milestone for the $3.4 million Lakeview Trail project that runs from the Ballinger Lake neighborhood to the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center.
The signals were deemed necessary as the Lakeview Trail route crosses 236th Street Southwest at the busy intersection. Pedestrian and trail users will be able to stop all vehicular traffic at the intersection with the walk signal activation button; when the signal is on for pedestrians, it will be on for all the crosswalks.
City officials say the new trail and traffic intersection alignment will provide “safe and convenient connections for pedestrians and cyclists from West Mountlake Terrace, east Edmonds, and the Interurban Trail to the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center and the Town Center.”
“This signal has been set up this way due to the large volume of vehicles which travel southbound on 65th Place W and then turn left onto 236th Street SW,” according to the city’s official website.
The city received a grant of $2.08 million to help pay for the Lakeview Trail and accompanying improvements to 236th Street SW, Lakeview Drive and the 7200 block of 228th Street Southwest.
— Story and photos by Doug Petrowksi