Project Overview
The Lincoln-Maple Signal & Non-Motorized Improvements Project (ET034) will construct a full traffic signal at Lincoln/E Maple to improve intersection operation and safety and break the 0.86-mile corridor in half by providing a protected pedestrian crossing. The scope of the project has been expanded to include other improvements in the corridor:
- Lincoln Street will be re-channelized from 5 lanes to 3 lanes with a center turn lane.
- Existing bike lanes will become buffer-protected bike lanes.
- A flashing crosswalk and transit island will be constructed at Lincoln/Viking Circle.
- A 5-foot-wide sidewalk will be constructed along the west side of Ashley/E Maple between Lincoln and Consolidation.
Project Status – March 2024
Construction began on September 5th and is expected to last through Spring 2024. Due to supply chain delays, the signal at Lincoln and Maple will not be ready to install until early Spring.
Construction Impacts
There will be periodic lane closures throughout the project. While construction is underway, traffic will be reduced to a single lane with flaggers during working hours. Expect delays while travelling through the area.
Some street parking along E Maple St will become a no parking zone during construction. Please follow posted signs.
During construction of the new sidewalk on E Maple St, access to the Lincoln Creek Park & Ride parking lot via the pedestrian bridge will be limited.
More Information
The planned improvements are covered in Projects 12 & 18 of the Six-Year (2023-2028) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). A future phase 2 will look at extending these improvements to the Lincoln/Lakeway intersection but requires additional work.
Research indicates that the intersection at Lincoln St/E Maple St requires the planned traffic signal to improve safety. This was confirmed in three recent independent traffic impact analyses (TIAs) for private residential development and in the 2020-2021 Lincoln-Lakeway Multimodal Transportation Study conducted by the City, WSDOT, WTA, and WCOG.
Several hundred student apartments and significant commercial development has been approved or is under construction along both sides of Lincoln Street and E Maple. This intersection also abuts the WWU Lincoln Creek Park-N-Ride and WTA high-frequency transit service to WWU campus.
The traffic signal is supported by a Transportation Improvement Board grant of $480,000 and street funds including money from private development (Transportation Impact Fee and SEPA mitigation fees). The non-motorized improvements are funded by the voter-approved Bellingham Transportation Fund.
Contact
Jessica J. Bennett, Project Engineer
Phone: (360) 778-7923
Email: jjbennett@cob.org
Media inquiries: Email askpw@cob.org
