New roundabout means busy Thurston Co. intersection will be closed for months
A Tumwater intersection will be closed for months starting Monday to allow for the construction of a new roundabout.
The roundabout will be built at the intersection of Second and Linwood Avenues, which is near the Tumwater School District office and Michael T. Simmons Elementary.
The $4.2 million project replaces a four-way stop and includes pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Second Avenue, according to the City of Tumwater website. The city hopes these changes will make the intersection safer and encourage non-motorized travel in the area. Crews will reopen the intersection once the roundabout is completed around mid-July. The city expects to fully complete the project later in the summer.
Drivers will be directed to follow a detour around the intersection. A map of the detour route shows drivers can take Capitol Boulevard South to travel north or south rather than Second Avenue.
The city says locals will still be allowed to access the area around the intersection with some possible delays.
Pedestrians should still be able to move through the area, per the website. Meanwhile, bicyclists will be expected to dismount and walk their bicycles through the pedestrian route.
From mid-July to August, the city says work crews will close Second Avenue between B Street and 3rd Avenue for paving.
The city is paying for the project with a $2.1 million grant from the Washington Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program, per the city’s website.
Since 2005, the program has awarded $252 million for 348 projects aimed at making it safer and easier for children to walk and bicycle to school, according to the WSDOT website.
This program is partially supported by the state’s Climate Commitment Act, which is targeted at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The remaining $2.1 million for the project is being paid for with money from the Tumwater Transportation Benefit District and private development fees, per the city’s website.
