The Crosswalk Upgrade Program is a citywide program for maintaining and improving crosswalks throughout the City of Kirkland. The improvements for the 2011 program include installing specialty signage and pedestrian crosswalk lights known as Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at select locations.

Those locations include: N.E. 124th Street at 103 Ave. N.E. (North Kirkland Community Center); Market Street at 18 Avenue (leads to Kirkland Junior High School); 132 Ave. N.E. at N.E. 74 Street (leads to Rose Hill Junior High School); and N.E. 60 Street (Benjamin Franklin Elementary School).

The city’s contractor began construction this week and is expected to be complete by the end of November. Work hours are scheduled between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on N.E. 60th St. and 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on the arterials.

There may be inconvenience associated with driving through the work zone.

RRFBs are user-activated flashing amber lights that supplement pedestrian warning signs at un-signalized intersections and mid-block crosswalks. The devices enhance safety by increasing driver awareness of the presence of pedestrians wishing to cross the street.

Other work elements associated with the installation of the RRFBs includes: replacement of existing non-conforming wheelchair ramps with new ADA (Americans with Disabilities) wheelchair ramps and new pavement crosswalk markings.