Many years ago Snohomish County placed sidewalks on Marine Drive. However, the project did not take the sidewalk past 7th Ave (The Grange area). There are many walkers who travel this route daily and with the large number of cars and trucks that also travel Marine Drive it is often dangerous. A couple of years ago the Tribal General Council passed a mandate to take corrective action and the Tribal Board instructed staff to undertake this action.
After much coordination with the County who controls the Right of Way for this road a design was completed and agreed upon. Next step finding the funds. This task proved hard but tribal staff was able to accomplish it with funding coming from a Safety Enhancement Grant through the Puget Sound Regional Council.
The new pathway will cut soil and re-slope the sides of the Marine Drive on the upland or non-water side. Three feet of additional asphalt will be placed making the 1.2 Mile pathway six feet in total width thus meeting ADA requirements. Turtles or round white buttons will be placed as well as rumple strips to separate cars and trucks from walkers. Five hundred feet of the pathway will be on a separated lighted board walk that will span the wetland near the entrance to the admin building on 64th. With “Safety always in mind” we have performed a lighting study and additional lights will be installed to provide better lighting and eliminate the dark zones.
After a competitive bid process Reece Construction was awarded the project as the general contractor
Work commenced this AM and will continue as long as the rains allow. The teams will work Monday-Friday (8AM to 5 PM) with anticipated completion March 2017, weather permitting. With daylight savings time in affect it is dark at 7:30 and again at 4:30 in the afternoon. And with the large number of vehicles on the roadway we ask that our members and staff support this project in any way possible. Traffic control flaggers are on site and will remain on site for the duration of the project.
Should you have concerns or questions please feel free to contract the Debra Bray, 425-754-2294 dbray@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov or Christina Parker 360-913-4205 christinaparker@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov