Vancouver, Wash. – Work will begin to enhance public safety by improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the west side of a 15-block stretch of Highway 99.

On Wednesday, July 5, Colf Construction, LLC, a Vancouver-based contractor working for Public Works, is scheduled to begin replacing portions of sidewalk on the west side of Highway 99 between Northeast 63^rd Street and Northeast 78^th Street.

Access to all businesses will remain open during construction.

The existing substandard sidewalk along this three-quarter-mile section of Highway 99 will be reconstructed to at least 6 feet wide, creating a safer, disabled-accessible walkway.

Construction will include:

• Replacing most of the west-side sidewalk on Highway 99 and removing pedestrian obstacles, such as cracked, heaved or broken sidewalk and some utility poles. The project also will improve sidewalk curb ramps at streets and driveways to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
• Building a pedestrian crossing on Highway 99 between crosswalks at Northeast 72^nd and Northeast 78^th streets. The crossing will have a refuge area so people don’t have to cross all four of Highway 99’s lanes at once.
• Widening the west-side bicycle lane from 6 to 8 feet and adding bicycle lane striping and symbols. A bicycle repair station will be constructed to help cyclists fix flat tires and make other repairs.

Drivers may experience delays and potential lane closures during construction, which typically will be done during daylight hours. Pedestrians should follow temporary signs or use alternate routes. 

Once the bicycle and pedestrian improvements are complete, a different contractor, Granite Construction Co., will pave Highway 99 from the railroad bridge at the Vancouver city limits north to Northeast 78^th Street. Because of traffic volumes, paving will be done overnight, from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Paving is scheduled for two weeks beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, and ending no later than Tuesday, Sept. 19. This work is weather dependent and could be delayed by rain.

The contractor will close the intersection of Highway 99 and Northeast 78^th Street two consecutive nights, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for paving. Drivers should watch for temporary roadside signs in September announcing specific closure dates.

This project is made possible by the following grants from state and federal agencies:

• Washington Pedestrian and Bicycle Program, $725,000.
• Federal Highway Administration Surface Transportation Program, $300,000.
• Federal Highway Administration Transportation Alternatives Program, $250,000.
• Washington State Transportation Improvement Board, $250,000.

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CONTACT
Scot Brantley
Project manager
Public Works
360-397-6118 ext. 4364
scot.brantley@clark.wa.gov