City of Tacoma officials announced Monday work has been completed on a $2.5 million project to rehabilitate a seven-block stretch of South Mildred Street near Tacoma Community College.

The construction took nearly five months to complete, and removed the existing asphalt roadway between South 12th Street and South 19th Street, replacing it with eight-inch thick concrete that provides a longer lasting road surface, according to City officials. Bicycle lanes were added, along with bus pullout curb ramps and driveways to meet ADA requirements. To improve pedestrian crossings along South Mildred Street, crosswalks with flashing beacons and mid-block pedestrian islands were also installed. In addition, the existing storm water drainage system was replaced with a larger pipe to reduce flooding that occurs during high-intensity rainfall.

In spring 2013, the Federal Highways Administration awarded a grant totaling nearly $945,000 to the City to help pay for the project (see “City Council OKs accepting 16 grants, $31M for 12 Tacoma road projects,” Tacoma Daily Index, May 16, 2013; and “16 grants net $31M for Tacoma infrastructure projects,” Tacoma Daily Index, April 30, 2013). The City put the project out for bid later that year (see “City of Tacoma REQUEST FOR BIDS Specification No. PW13-0693F Public,” Tacoma Daily Index, Nov. 19, 2013; and “City of Tacoma REQUEST FOR BIDS Specification No. PW13-0154F Department,” Tacoma Daily Index, June 25, 2013).

“I’m thrilled that we have finally improved this important corridor,” said Tacoma City Councilmember Anders Ibsen. “I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback from constituents, and they couldn’t be happier.”

More information about the project is available online here.