Lakewood council member tells Clover Park board 112th Street work will temporarily limit access to Idlewild Elementary

Lakewood City Council member Branstetter provided a report to the Clover Park School District board at its Jan. 12 meeting detailing a string of transportation projects that will affect school access in the district.

Branstetter said crews are close to completing utility work and that weather will determine when crews pour concrete needed to reopen routes. He warned that for a short period—he estimated about three months—drivers and pedestrians may find primary routes to some schools less usable because 112th Street work will overlap with the Nyanza project. "The plan on 112th Street is to continue to have it open to local traffic," he said, but added that it would not be as usable for through traffic.

He described the project as part of a larger connection to Hipkins Road and Washington Boulevard and said the city is coordinating with Sound Transit to create walkability to the Sounder Station and to Bridgeport. Branstetter also said the city is preparing a contract to add sidewalks and repave 112th Street between Holden and Far West near Lake Louise Elementary as a Safe Routes to School effort.

Branstetter noted Pierce County funding secured to continue late-night YMCA programming and said the city is willing to partner with the district on youth activities. He also touched on internal police-department issues, saying two police unions had sent letters expressing no confidence in the chief but characterized most concerns as personnel matters for the city manager to address.

He invited questions and concluded with congratulations to the board for its recognition month honors.