Fairhaven improvements will include new traffic signal and crosswalks with flashing lights
A new traffic signal and lighted crosswalks are planned next year for one of the main streets through the historic Fairhaven district of Bellingham.
Increased traffic is expected with the upcoming construction of a parking garage and buildings at the site of “The Pit,” a dirt lot at 11th Street and Mill Avenue, according to a presentation at the Monday meeting of the City Council’s Public Works and Natural Resources Committee.
City Council members unanimously approved a $1.3 million bid for the project, which is expected to start in spring and last through summer. Delays are possible because traffic signal poles and crossing signals are in high demand, Joel Pfundt, interim co-director of the Public Works Department, told the council.
There have been requests for the crosswalks and traffic signals, and studies showed that they were needed, Pfundt told the committee.
“This project is one that is right in the heart of one of our busy urban villages. It provides for a lot of pedestrian circulation both crossing some fairly busy streets in the neighborhood as well as some missing links on some fairly busy sidewalk sections,” he said.
Bellingham received a $400,000 grant for the project from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board, and the rest will come from street and transportation funds, he said in a memo.
Project Engineer Kyle Carlson said flashing lights will be added to the crosswalk at the south side of the intersection of 12th Street and McKenzie Avenue, near a bus stop in front of the Haggen supermarket. Curbs will be extended on the southwest and northwest corners to give pedestrians, cyclists and drivers a better view of people who are crossing there.
A traffic signal will be added at the intersection of 12th Street and Mill Avenue, uphill from Village Books. Timing of that light will be linked to the one located a block south at 12th Street and Harris Avenue, Carlson said.
A crosswalk is planned for the intersection of 11th Street and Finnegan Way, which is an angled intersection that has difficult sight lines. In addition to a flashing crosswalk, there will be a new sidewalk along the west side of Finnegan Way, along with on-street parallel parking and trees.
