Construction Along Bridgeport, City Conducts Bar Sweep And More

Bridgeport Way - Steilacoom Blvd to 83rd - Lane Reduction

Bridgeport Way between Steilacoom Blvd and 83rd will be reduced to one lane in each direction to facilitate construction of new roadway improvements. Starting
Feb. 10, vehicles will travel on the west half of Bridgeport Way for approximately two months. Once the east side of the roadway is completed, vehicles will be shifted to the east side in order to complete the west side of the roadway starting the middle of April.

The roadway improvements include adding a continuous 2-way left turn lane, curb, gutter, sidewalks, wider outside shared vehicle and bicycle lane, street lights, storm drainage and a new traffic signal at Bridgeport Way and 86th Street.

Agencies conduct bar sweep

Lakewood Police, Lakewood Community Development Building and Licensing, the Washington State Liquor Control Board and the Lakewood Fire Department joined together on Feb. 5 to conduct a bar sweep on several local establishments between the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Some violations of liquor laws, city codes and building codes were
identified but nothing to cause a shutdown of any business. The sweep provides
an opportunity to educate businesses on violations.

Traffic Signal Improvement project

All but 15 of the City’s more than 70 traffic signals have now been retrofitted with new controllers. The 15 remaining traffic signals are primarily the outlying stand-alone intersections.

As a result, with the new controllers and other related improvements, the traffic signals along Gravelly Drive from 112th Street to Bridgeport Way have been coordinated for smoother afternoon traffic flow. Similarly — except for the queue associated with the construction work on Bridgeport Way between Steilacoom Blvd and 83rd Street — Bridgeport Way traffic signals from Interstate 5 to the signals in the WalMart area are also coordinated for the smoother afternoon traffic flow.

Tillicum/Woodbrook Sanitary Sewer projects

Starting next week betwen Feb. 14-18, the project contractor with Pierce County will be testing the generators at all three sewer pump stations associated with the project. These pump station are located at Boundary Street, Portland Avenue, Spruce Street, 146th Street and Spring Avenue.

In addition to testing the generators, they will be run continuously over a 6-hour period for breaking purposes. Flyers will be handed out to residents adjacent to the pump stations, making them aware that the generators will be running.

This will occur during business hours, and the noise level should be reasonable.

Disabled Parking Enforcement Program

The Lakewood Police Department’s Disabled Parking Enforcement Program was reviewed in a February issue of “The Senior Scene”. Highlighted was DPE
volunteer Bob Pack, but the news piece primarily focused on the program.

Tyee Park After-School Program

The Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department awarded a grant to Tyee Park Elementary to increase the amount of physical activity that students engage in each week, which has resulted in a new after-school program.

Several community agencies are engaged to improve the health and fitness of our young people. Lakewood Parks and Recreation Community Services is providing staffing, planning and implementation of the program. The Clover Park School District is providing the facility, support and students and the TPCHD and the Franciscan Health System are providing technical assistance.

The program runs Monday and Tuesday of each week. A typical day includes a healthy snack, a warm-up activity utilizing the Wii, stretching, at least two games or activities, more stretching and journaling to keep track of their progress. This program is the result of partner organizations created through the Healthy Start Task Force of Lakewood’s Promise.

Apartment garbage issue improved

A garbage issue at a local apartment complex that had been a chronic problem for months has improved. Recently, their garbage service had been terminated for lack of payment, which resulted in large piles of garbage accumulating by the compactor.

With coordination by Public Works and the Community Safety and Resource Team, the owner replaced the compactor with dumpsters with regularly scheduled service, and the oil spill was cleaned up.

Lakewood Collaboration and Washington State Military Kids and
Families Partnership conduct joint meeting

The Lakewood Community Collaboration invited the Washington State Military Kids and Families Partnership to a joint meeting initiating what should become a quarterly event. The Lakewood Community Collaboration, which convenes monthly, draws human service providers together to network, develop strategies and work together to better serve kids and families.

The Washington State Military Kids and Families Partnership is committed to meeting those same needs on and off Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Bringing the groups together allowed a cross-representation of service providers to network and bridge service gaps.