The city of Auburn hopes to widen Auburn Way South from Hemlock Street to Poplar Street Southeast to make room for two travel lanes in each direction and a center turn lane or median.

But to make that happen, the city has to acquire property rights including rights-of-way, as well as temporary and permanent easements, through condemnation from 12 properties owned by nine different parties.

Right now, the city is in the process of negotiating acquisition of property rights by approving an ordinance that declares public use and necessity, and authorizes condemnation action for properties for which negotiations have not yet led to agreement and closing.

On Monday, the Auburn City Council gave the go-ahead.

The roadway widening will connect to the roundabout recently constructed by the Auburn School District with the re-construction of Chinook Elementary School. The project will likewise build new 10-foot-wide sidewalks, street lighting, surface water management, transit stop improvements, noise walls, an enhanced pedestrian crossing, and re-alignment of Poplar Street SE.

Property owners have been given notice of the ordinance in accordance with state law. First reading and discussion of this ordinance occurred at the City Council Study Session on Jan. 22, 2024.

Project construction is planned to start later this year.