The city of Mercer Island celebrated bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Southeast 40th Street, near Northwood Elementary, last week. The project was aimed to enhance the city’s Safe Routes to School program.

At a ribbon cutting event, Mayor Debbie Bertlin, Councilmember Wendy Weiker and city staff welcomed Mercer Island School District and School Board representatives, state grant stakeholders, community members, advocates and neighbors.

The work is part of the city’s current six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan and was partially funded through a $500,000 grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board.

Starting June 18, the city began making improvements to Southeast 40th Street from Island Crest Way to Gallagher Hill Road. As part of the project, concrete curbs, sidewalks and bicycle lanes were constructed on both sides of the roadway. The city also addressed minor modifications to the traffic signal at 86th Avenue, repaved Southeast 40th Street from 85th to 88th avenues, added new pavement markings and removed the small amount of on-street parking on Southeast 40th Street.

According to the city, the project addressed one of two remaining “missing links” on a continuous North-South Island bicycle route long-awaited by the community. The other “missing link” will be studied next year.

See www.mercergov.org for more.

As part of the project, concrete curbs, sidewalks and bicycle lanes were constructed on both sides of Southeast 40th Street, from Island Crest Way to Gallagher Hill Road. Photo via Facebook

Mayor Debbie Bertlin celebrates the opening of a new Safe Route to School on Mercer Island on Dec. 6. Photo via Facebook