The City of Mercer Island was authorized by the City Council last week to open the bidding process for the construction of two pedestrian signals along Island Crest Way.

The signals will be installed on Island Crest Way at S.E. 42nd Street and S.E. 47th Street.

The project, which is slated to cost $350,600, will be paid for in large part by a grant from the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). The grant will cover $241,587 of the total, while the city is required to match 25 percent of the total project cost.

Once completed, the signals — when activated by a pedestrian — will turn red to stop traffic on Island Crest Way. All other times, the light will remain green to keep traffic moving. At both locations there will be pedestrian crossing signals, marked crosswalks and curb ramps. A sidewalk will also be installed on the east side of Island Crest Way at S.E. 47th Street.

Once construction begins, it is estimated to take approximately a month.