Shell Valley Emergency Access Road Complete; Ribbon-Cutting Is Dec. 8

Residents of Edmonds' Shell Valley, who live in a deep bowl whose only access has been the steep and winding northern end of Pioneer Way to Bowdoin Way, finally have some relief from snowy and icy conditions that made access to their homes nearly impossible.

The City of Edmonds willl be hosting a ribbon cutting for the on Dec. 8 at 2:20 p.m. at 8620 Main St. Inclement weather will move the ceremony to the Edmonds Library Plaza Room, 650 Main St.

The 15-foot-wide emergency access road connects the north end of Pioneer Way to Main Street.

The road, an important pedestrian and bicycle link between the Shell Valley neighborhood and the Five Corners area and beyond, can also be opened to resident motorists during freezing weather and will provide a safer route for them to access their homes during those times.

The roadway also cuts between two critical areas—a small wetland and a treed slope—and the city of Edmonds says it took great care to minimize the impact on the two features. The road is constructed of porous asphalt, where rainwater can soak through, be cleaned of roadway contaminants in a filter gallery below, and reintroduced to the wetland.

The access road is the result of years of negotiations with city officials and residents of Pioneer Way portion of Shell Valley, called Shell Park II.

The emergency access road project is funded by a state appropriation of $250,000, a Washington State Department of Ecology grant of $100,000, and by the city of Edmonds.