Negotiations to acquire the necessary right-of-way for the construction of the Tjerne Place extension project are currently underway, following the Monroe City Council direction to city staff to proceed with the project.
Authorization was granted during the regular business meeting of the Monroe City Council on Tuesday, March 3, in an amount not to exceed $247,900.
"As you are aware, we have been working on the design of the Tjerne extension from Chain Lake Road to Woods Creek Road,GÇ¥ said Monroe Public Works Director Brad Feilberg. "The plans are pretty much wrapped up and we've been negotiating with the adjacent property owners for the necessary right-of-way.GÇ¥
The projected right-of-way costs for the project were included in the city's approved 2015 budget. The city will work to negotiate right-of-way costs with Safeway, Chain Lake Retail LLC, Oak Street Development, Beta-Monroe Plaza LLC, Emerald City Properties Monroe LLC and ABS WA-O LLC.
Property acquisition must be secured before construction can begin.
The Tjerne Place extension is being funded by the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB), a state-funded agency that provides grant opportunities to various communities statewide to improve their network of roadways. TIB revenue is generated from the state gasoline tax, which is then funneled back to municipalities via various TIB programs, including the Urban Arterial Program, the Urban Sidewalk Program and the Arterial Preservation Program.
The agency awards approximately $100 million each year for transportation projects across Washington state.
Funding for Tjerne Place was awarded through the TIB's Urban Arterial Program, which provides funding for urban arterial projects that score highly on various criteria such as safety, growth and development, physical condition and mobility. The Tjerne Place project was targeted as a means for improving east-west traffic flow and alleviating congestion on U.S. 2.
The project will construct a new segment of roadway that extends Tjerne Place from Chain Lake Road to Woods Creek Road. The new thoroughfare will begin southeast of the Emerald City Athletic Club (14925 Chain Lake Rd.), traverse behind Ben Franklin Crafts and Frame Shop (19505 U.S. 2) and Safeway (19651 U.S. 2), and connect with Woods Creek Road west of Oaks Street.
Currently, Tjerne Place, which is located north of U.S. 2, begins at Fred Meyer and travels in an east-west direction until it comes to an end directly east of Chain Lake Road.
Funding secured through the TIB includes the design, a portion of the right-of-way acquisition costs and project construction. The city's total estimated cost for right-of-way acquisition is $247,900, 85 percent of which will be reimbursed by the TIB.
The new section of roadway will include two travel lanes, curbs and gutters, with either a two-way left turn lane or a landscaped median with turn pockets. Additionally, a seven-foot landscaped strip and sidewalk will be constructed, along with a new storm drainage system and LED lighting.
Total funding provided by the TIB amounts to $3,151,000. Total project costs are being estimated at $4,847,700, leaving the city with an obligation of approximately $1,696,700. The project is expected to go out for bid in mid-March, with a tentative completion date of fall 2015.
The Monroe City Council voted unanimously to authorize the city to proceed on obtaining the right-of-way.
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