 "Photo: Courtesy of Capital Projects")
The Green River Community College (GRCC) main campus in Auburn is currently undergoing a major construction project with Salish Hall, and has more building planned for the 2010-11 school year as well. However, the largest improvement – and burden – is the work on 124th Avenue.
For those who remember streets in other ways than by their names, 124th Avenue is the road perpendicular to campus, on which Campus Corner Apartments (CCA), the city playground, GRCC's tennis courts and the Family of Grace Lutheran Church reside.
The improvements will be made between 316th and 320th street, for the purpose of "[improving] traffic flow and pedestrian safety," according to Sam Ball, dean of instruction and capital projects.
"I park in a neighborhood on 124th and walk from there," said Justin Callender, a freshman at GRCC. On whether or not he feels safe walking on the road, he replied, "sometimes I feel safe, but a lot of people fly by and speed like crazy."
By the start of fall quarter, students can expect a wider street and an extended left turn lane leading to the campus from the north – or the freeway, for the directionally-challenged. In addition to more street space, sidewalks will be added to the west side of the road to increase the safety of those students who walk to school.
Callender was previously unaware of the future roadside improvements. "Sounds good to me! I would feel a lot safer," he replied when he heard of the news.
Unfortunately for summer quarter students, Green River's latest construction project will cause occasional traffic delays, which could mean the difference between being five minutes early or being five minutes late. But, Ball explained, there will be no complete road closures.
Strangely, only one side of 124th Avenue will be given attention throughout this project. Ball noted that there are "no funds to pay for those much-needed improvements on the east side."
GRCC will be funding the entire endeavor. Ball estimates that the whole project will cost the college between three and four-million dollars from the capital budget. The project's budget was approved at the Board of Trustees meeting on May 24.
Callender was shocked when he found out the amount of funds that is going into this job. He said, "I think with that money instead they should be trying to expand parking to some degree. It's obvious that parking is a problem and should be more of a priority." The reason he has to walk along 124th Avenue in the first place is because he can't find parking on campus.
"I believe [the traffic] is a big problem, especially in the mornings," said local resident and Running Start student, Mckenzie Maynard. She believes the future improvements are a good idea for Green River. "It will help with the traffic going to the college."
The construction work should be completed before students return to campus in September. Drivers should be aware of the extra turn lane to avoid any unnecessary confusion in that first week of fall quarter.
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