Assistant City Engineer Eric Shjarback said closing the intersection completely allowed the city to complete the improvements in less time with less month. The project cost about $280,000, with the funds coming from a $675,000 Safe routes to Schools grant awarded to the city two years ago. The same grant funds were used for the earlier improvements at 32nd St. & M Ave.
The new intersection was re-built from the ground up, so to speak, with concrete replacing asphalt and with terra cotta-colored crosswalks. Also added were new sidewalks, curbs and ramps and reflective roadway striping. New LED street lights were part of the project, too.