Improvements to Kirkland's Juanita Drive Being Seriously Considered

There's some promising news for people who live in and around Kirkland—and that includes Max Meyers Law! Whether you're normally walk, bike, or drive, you should be pleased with this news.

The Juanita Drive corridor is currently being studied by the city of Kirkland in an effort to come up with improvements to the area; the planners’ focus is on pedestrian, bicyclist, and driver safety. The city is hoping for state, federal, and regional grants to help cover the estimated $20 million cost. If funds are secured, construction could begin as early as 2015 and we could see the addition of crosswalks, a buffered bike lane, roundabouts, and more.

If you live in the area, there's a good chance you understand why this is happening. The corridor is well known for all of the wrong reasons. The Juanita Drive Corridor Advisory Committee has been studying the four-mile stretch for about nine months. Its study found that almost 40 percent of drivers in this area ignore the speed limit. There have also been several fatal accidents throughout the years. This road sees between 10,000 and 14,000 drivers every single day.

Speaking to KOMO News, cyclist Wiebke Schultz, who recently moved to Kirkland from Germany, agreed with the city's plan: "That would be great," she said. "The attitude of the drivers—they're not as good as I'm used to from Germany. They're not taking any care. They're not looking out for you. They just go their way."