Construction on Legion Way in downtown Olympia set to begin Monday
Construction to improve walkability and bike connections on Legion Way Southeast in downtown Olympia is set to begin Monday, and the city is warning travelers to expect delays.
Starting Monday, construction crews will be on Legion Way from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a city announcement. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians should be prepared for alternating one-way traffic and flaggers in the area.
The work will stretch from Franklin Street Southeast to Water Street Southwest and includes extending an uphill bike lane, adding downhill shared-lane markings for bicyclists, paving the roadway between Capitol Way and Franklin Street with asphalt, and raising the intersection at Washington Street Southeast, according to the city’s project page.
A raised intersection brings the street up to the same level as the sidewalk, according to the project page, slowing traffic and making it easier for pedestrians to cross the street. At a study session last April, Transportation Planning Supervisor Sophie Stimson said the Washington Street crossing will get upgraded lighting and landscaping.
The city estimates the project will cost $2 million. It plans to finish the project by the end of June, Senior Engineer Jeff Johstone told The Olympian, but the timeline is weather-dependent.
Legion is the first of four major downtown streets slated for improvements over the next few years as part of the city’s “Downtown Strategy.”
Next year, Franklin Street is up for an estimated $4.7 million in improvements. Construction on Capitol Way and Washington Street is planned for 2022, but those projects are not yet designed.
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 8:56 AM.
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