CITY OF TONASKET
SR20/US97 Sidewalk Improvements and Lighting

Varela client since 1996

The city’s challenges
A state highway (SR 20) enters Tonasket on a steep downhill grade and sends big trucks right past the elementary, middle, and high schools before it ties into the principle north-south highway linking central Washington to Canada (US 97). It’s the only pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle link between the school and downtown and residential areas. With neither sidewalks nor lighting on SR 20 – along with poor lighting at the intersection of US 97 and SR 20 – conditions were at best unsafe, especially during evening school events.

How we helped
Varela helped the city obtain affordable funding to improve the situation. Once the project was funded, we planned, designed, and managed this important and attractive asset to the community and its safety.

• obtained funding for design and construction
• project management, design, and construction inspection
• accomplished a significant construction cost savings with proactive construction management

What the city accomplished
Important safety improvements resulted from this project, as well as an attractive addition to the city. The project included:

• safe sidewalk from downtown to the schools
• decorative lighting for safety and aesthetics
• electronic traffic speed indicator that effectively improves driver compliance with school speed limit
• improved drainage
• WSDOT Award of Excellence, Director’s Award Category, 2004
• completed a sidewalk and street reconstruction project on Jonathan St. and Whitcomb Ave.