This month, the city will begin work on the installation of two traffic signals in the town center as part of a series of capital improvement projects scheduled this summer.

The focus of the improvements will be on increasing pedestrian safety and improving traffic flow at the intersections that are currently four-way stops.

The traffic signals will be installed on S.E. 27th Street, the main east-west street through the town center (refer to the locations on the map below).

Totem Electric Co. will begin work in early August and will finish by October. The signals will include sensors that identify when vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians are waiting at the intersection to provide efficient signal operation for all users.

The project also includes pedestrian signals and marked crosswalks at the two intersections to improve street crossings for pedestrians.

The city thanks Island residents for their patience during construction as there will be some intermittent sidewalk and lane closures near the intersections.

Questions can be directed to Patrick Yamashita, city engineer, at (206) 275-7722 or patrick.yamashita@mercergov.org.