Traffic limited as Garrett Street project moves forward

Southbound traffic on Garrett Street will be prohibited for at least two more weeks as work crews continue extensive upgrades to the road serving a handful of Enumclaw’s light-industrial businesses.

Funded primarily through a state Transportation Improvement Board grant, the project includes removal of the previous road surface, widening of Garrett Street from Griffin to Battersby avenues and installation of curbs and sidewalks on both sides of Garrett. A left-turn lane is being added from Griffin almost to Battersby.

In addition, a 700-foot stretch of Battersby Avenue has been upgraded, running east from Garrett Street.

Rand Black, project manager for the city, said Enumclaw scored the TIB grant through a competitive process. Including both design work and construction, the grant totaled nearly $2.5 million. Johansen Brothers, a Buckley firm, was the top bidder to complete work on the project, also through a competitive bidding process.

Black said the project’s primary aim is to create a bypass for the large rigs that serve the light-industrial area just a couple of blocks east of Enumclaw’s downtown core. In addition, the city scored well from a safety standpoint with the addition of curbs, gutters, sidewalks and lighting. Previously, there were areas that only had ditches along Garrett Street.

Black said the current project is the third phase of an overall process that improves Garrett from state Route 410 to Battersby. Previous projects saw upgrades from the highway to Griffin Avenue and the addition of a traffic light.

Black said the travel restriction on Garrett Street will remain through Oct. 17 and the entire project should be wrapped up by the end of the year.

Contact Enumclaw Courier Herald Senior Writer, Editor Kevin Hanson at editor@courierherald.com or 360-802-8205.

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