The city of Maple Valley was notified by the State Transportation Improvement Board the 216th Avenue Southeast roadway improvements project was awarded grant funding from the Urban Arterial Program for $1,614,888.

This grant agreement will implement eligible construction funding as identified in the State Transportation Improvement Board Urban Arterial Program for the 216th Avenue Southeast roadway improvements. The agreement to accept the grant funding was graciously accepted by the Maple Valley City Council at the Monday, December 14th Council meeting.

The transportation board typically issues a call for projects each June for the following year’s funding program. The recipients of project awards were announced on Nov. 20 at the regularly scheduled board meeting. This was one of 35 projects statewide that were selected from an applicant pool of 81 applications to be funded by the Urban Arterial Program by the board. This grant will provide the needed construction funding necessary to construct roadway improvements for this gateway street beginning in the spring of 2016 with expected completion in the fall of 2016.

This grant will fund approximately 65 percent of the total cost of construction for this project, which was estimated to be $2,486,044. In addition, Puget Sound Energy will contribute 60 percent of the cost of under ground electrical facilities, per Schedule 74 requirements.

The 216th Avenue Southeast roadway improvements project will construct missing sidewalks along both sides of the corridor; provide designated bicycle lanes, landscaped medians and left turn pockets where applicable. The improvements will extend from Southeasat 272nd, Kent-Kangley Road-SR 516, to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad crossing. This project is currently included in the city’s approved six year transportation improvement program.