Businesses Open During Main Street Improvements in Edmonds

Main Street between 5th Ave and 6th Ave is about to take on a new look and feel.

Pedestrian and business friendly improvements include wider sidewalks, improved street lighting, a midblock crossing, new landscaping and artwork.

The work means that that stretch of Main is closed to vehicle traffic now through Nov. 16, according to the Public Works department.

Businesses will remain open construction.

In addition, the environmentally friendly project includes low-impact development stormwater improvements, reduced pavement widths and replacement of an old water main. 

Additional public parking can be found one block north at the Public Safety Complex on the corner of Fifth Avenue South and Bell Street. 

, an ordinance signed by former Mayor Mike Cooper that gets its name from the Washington, D.C.-based National Complete Streets Coalition.

It strives to “complete” streets originally designed with only cars and trucks in mind to make them accessible to all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users.

Part of the project is low-impact stormwater improvements on the 1.1-acre section of Main Street.

The existing street will be reconstructed with 11-foot traffic lanes and 7-foot parking lanes. Sidewalks will be widened to 12 feet from the current 10 feet. Sidewalk "bulb-outs" are proposed at Sixth and Main, and a midblock crossing will be raised about six inches for traffic calming purposes.

Crosswalks will be paved with stamped and colored concrete to match the existing crosswalk at the fountain.

Street improvements include new lighting, trees, flower poles and planters.