Nyanza Road project to add roundabout, 10‑foot sidewalks, benches; final design due April, construction to open by Nov. 14

Project manager JV Herr and Capital Projects Manager Troy Pokwinski briefed the Lakewood City Council on March 10 about the Nyanza Road street‑improvement project and its schedule, traffic control plans and design details.

JV Herr said key dates for the project are final design completion in April 2025, council contract award anticipated May 5, 2025, and an expected full opening to traffic on Nov. 14, 2025. “Final design complete will be the April 2025. And then, council award anticipated May 5. And then fully open to traffic is another key date, November 14, of this year,” Herr said.

The project limits include the intersection with Gravelly Lake Drive and associated approaches. Herr said right‑of‑way acquisition is required on four parcels (two south of the proposed roundabout and two north), totaling roughly 3,000 square feet. City staff reported two of four property acquisitions are secured and the remaining two are in negotiation with a right‑of‑way agent.

Design elements described include a two‑phase roundabout construction strategy that will keep eastbound traffic flow open on Nyanza while crews build first the southern half and then the northern half of the circulating island. Project staff said Nyanza will operate as local‑traffic only during periods of work and that northbound traffic may be maintained for limited water‑main tasks.

Planned pedestrian amenities include two benches (proposed at Nyanza Park and at 18th Street) and a 10‑foot multiuse sidewalk designed to accommodate pedestrians and bicycles; staff said the 10‑foot width is being used to allow multi‑use activity while also meeting ADA considerations. Project staff said five trees will be removed as part of the work; landscaping in the roundabout and medians will be rolled curbs to reduce impact from large vehicles.

The scope also includes coordinated water‑main work and enhancements to yield signage (flashing, enhanced visibility) at the slip lane approaches. Project managers said the design team has coordinated utilities and planned conduit for future streetlight or plaza power in locations the council flagged as potential gateway features for the downtown.

Council members asked about potential traffic queuing, semi‑truck impacts and the roundabout’s diameter. Staff said the roundabout is slightly smaller than an ideal larger‑diameter roundabout but cannot be expanded without acquiring additional property or impacting a nearby creek and condo driveways; rolling curbs are planned to reduce damage from occasional truck incursions. Herr said the roundabout geometry and traffic analysis indicate the design will meet projected operations for the intersection.

Staff also noted the project design is forward‑compatible with other planned regional projects, such as a WSDOT‑led interconnector and a potential RAISE grant multimodal path, to avoid future rework. Construction staging is expected to include roughly three weeks for the primary phase of the roundabout and a subsequent shorter phase to complete the full circulating island; staff said traffic controls will be signed and detours routed primarily via Gravelly Lake Drive during staged construction.

Why it matters: the project will add pedestrian connectivity, a multimodal sidewalk, safety treatments at a high‑use intersection, and an at‑grade roundabout that will reshape traffic movements near Lakewood’s town center.

Next steps: complete final design in April, finalize right‑of‑way acquisitions, award construction contract in May and begin staged construction with an anticipated full opening for traffic by Nov. 14, 2025.

Sources: Lakewood City Council study‑session briefing, March 10, 2025; presentation by JV Herr (project manager) and Troy Pokwinski (Capital Projects Manager).