On Jan. 2, the Auburn City Council accepted $782,477 in grant funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation to support the implementation of the Lea Hill Safe Routes to School Project.

This project will build new sidewalks and other improvements on portions of 124th Avenue SE and SE 304th Street near Hazelwood Elementary School and Lea Hill Elementary School at a total cost of $1.04 million.

Project improvements include nearly 500 feet of new sidewalk, an enhanced pedestrian crossing, and improved sidewalk and street lighting on Southeast 304th Street between 116th Avenue SE and 121st Place Southeast.

Other improvements will add approximately 400 feet of new sidewalk and improved sidewalks and street lighting on 124th Avenue Southeast between Southeast 307th Place and Southeast 310th Street.

Construction should begin in late summer 2024.