Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, July 6, 2009 Edmonds ferry traffic changes planned By Amy Daybert For The Herald EDMONDS -- For nine months, white rubber pylons have blocked one of two entrances to Paradise Lane off Edmonds Way. That will change by the end of summer. "We have heard from the community and worked with the City of Edmonds and agreed to move the pylons when the ferry revisions occur," said Mike Swires, traffic engineer with the state Department of Transportation. The changes, he said, will reverse both ferry lane striping west of 100th Avenue West and the Paradise Lane closure back to conditions before September 2008. The changes were initially made for safety reasons and to reduce ferry traffic during the heavy summer months, Swires said. Residents told officials they have disliked the Paradise Lane closure since the changes occurred. City officials supported the closure until February but agreed to support re-opening the street as long as the city's police department has the ability to use portable barricades to block off the entrance to Paradise Lane if necessary. "My understanding is (Edmonds police) would only close off the entrance during high traffic times," Mayor Gary Haakenson said. "We'll have our own barricades we put up during peak traffic hours … DOT doesn't have anything to do with that." The city was informed the changes will happen this year, Haakenson said. The intent is to finish this summer but it won't be as easy as just getting a few good days of weather, Swires said. "The materials we put down were very durable and it's going to take quite a bit of effort to remove or replace it back to the way it was," he said. "Given other priorities it's something that's difficult for us to get a schedule for." It's likely that the work may have to be contracted out, he added. Still, the plan is to reverse the changes this summer. That's good news for resident Joe Scordino, who has difficulty using the one available entrance -- a sharp right turn -- onto Paradise Lane when towing his boat. "It's a really awkward turn and making the right turn with a boat doesn't work well at all," he said. "I think it's going to make things a lot safer for everybody in the neighborhood. That's good news." READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Shot ends search for man sought in killing of Seattle police officer 2. Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton 3. No charge will be filed in death of Everett pedestrian 4. Rain, thunderstorms forecast for lowlands 5. Bothell steamrolls Stanwood 6. PREP FOOTBALL/SWIMMING ROUNDUP: Halfback pass for touchdown sparks Sultan win 7. More jibba-jabba 8. Obama OK's homebuyer tax credit 9. Suspect identified in Seattle police killing 10. Dana nibbles into Somers’ lead 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Gough on track to keep job • Jazz vocalist headlines NPAC • Mountlake Terrace makes football history • Tax revenue sagging, city budgets lagging • ‘Touch of Magic' show opens at Gallery North • Jackson repeats as South champs • Holiday Bazaars Calendar • Meadowdale storms back to grab title • Edmonds moves to Fire District 1 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million