Traffic travels north Feb. 22 along a stretch of Highway 99 without sidewalks in Hazel Dell. Clark County Public Works will host an open house at 6 p.m. today about a project to add sidewalks to the north end of Highway 99. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
Clark County Public Works will host an open house at 6 tonight about a project to add sidewalks to the north end of Highway 99 in Hazel Dell.
The county plans to build a sidewalk along the east side of the highway from Northeast 102nd to 104th streets, Project Manager Paul Morin said. The sidewalk will be extended to connect with the existing sidewalk to the south and fill missing segments to improve pedestrian mobility.
Morin said the Highway 99 project also includes pedestrian safety enhancements at the Tenny Creek crossing, an extension of guardrail along southbound Highway 99, potential landscaping improvements and potential stormwater management enhancements.
The heavily traveled section of Highway 99 is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists. Without sidewalks in place, they are forced to walk or ride close to speeding cars. In February 2018, a man walking along Highway 99 near 107th Street was struck and killed by a small SUV. Three years earlier, a man was struck and killed by a pickup while trying to cross Highway 99 near Northeast 102nd Street, according to Columbian archives.
The total budget for the project is $1.5 million with money coming from a mix of county road fund and federal funding. Morin said project design is nearing 90 percent completion with construction expected to begin in 2025.
“There are many variables that impact the timing of projects, most significantly, funding,” Morin said.
The sidewalk project was part of the planning and development of the Highway 99 subarea plan completed in 2008, Morin said. It was also included in the county’s Transportation Improvement Program, which outlines projects and estimated costs for the next five years and is adopted by the county council annually.
“Similar projects in support of the Highway 99 subarea plan have already been completed in the southern portion of the area, with plans to continue projects to the north,” Morin added.
Additional sections of sidewalk along Highway 99 will be connected in the future, he said.
Staff will share the draft concept during a presentation, which will be available virtually beginning at 6:30 p.m. via WebEx. Registration and meeting links are available on the project page at https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/hwy-99-sidewalk. Registration is not required.
A recording of the presentation will also be available on the project page later.
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