GRANITE FALLS—The Snohomish County Public Works unveiled a brand-new roundabout on 84th Street Northeast and 163rd Avenue Northwest near Granite Falls, on Thursday, September 12, to reduce traffic congestion on the corridor while preventing risk of collision. The two-lane road was previously controlled by a two-way stop.
Attending Thursday’s ceremony was Senator Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro Wooley), Representative Carolyn Eslick (WA-39), Representative and County Councilman Sam Low (WA-39), County Councilman Nate Nehring, along with County Executive Director Ken Klein, and County Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director Doug McCormick.
“The new roundabout at 84th St NE and 163rd Ave NE near Granite Falls is the first of several improvements we have planned along this very busy corridor,” said Snohomish County Engineer Doug McCormick. “We appreciate the partnership and support we received from the Highway Safety Improvement Program that supplied the grant funding to complete this needed improvement.”
Approximately 14,000 trips take place on 84th Street Northeast (also called Getchell Road) daily, the county said, making it a main connection for commuters traveling between Marysville and Granite Falls. Unfortunately, frequent rear-end collisions also occur on the corridor due to drivers speeding or following too closely. More than half of these collisions happen near intersections and driveways.
The newly completed roundabout is part of Snohomish County Public Works’ strategy to improve traffic flow and safety along the corridor.
In addition to the construction of a roundabout at this intersection, the county will also be installing street lighting, radar feedback speed limit signs, intersection ahead warning signs, flashing traffic stopped ahead warning signs and flashing signal ahead warning signs, as well as upgrading street name signs and narrowing travel lanes using striping.
Posted speed limits in the project stretch will also be reduced, and speed limit signage will be upsized to improve visibility and driver awareness.
Construction began on the project on April 15, which closed the intersection for 10 days, and its $1.8 million price tag was funded through a state Highway Safety Improvement Program grant (in the amount of $653,000) as well as the county’s road fund. Reese Construction served as general contractor.
The Public Works Department has further planned to continue adding safety improvements along the 84th Street Northeast later this year going into 2025.
Another roundabout is planned to open on 84th Street Northeast and 123rd Avenue Northeast in 2026.
