King County will be improving traffic safety along Southeast Lake Holm Road between Auburn and Enumclaw with federal funding from the Rural Safety Innovation Program.

The $200,000 grant will provide 80 percent of the funding to complete safety improvements.

The King County Road Services Division identified the location as a high-collision area. Over the years, the majority of the collisions along the corridors have involved single vehicles running off the road, or vehicles crossing the center line. County traffic engineers say there are steep grades and tight curves along the road that have contributed to the higher accident rates.

The proposed safety improvements include lower-cost projects that use technology to enhance roadway safety.

The improvements include: installing warning flashers that detect the presence of approaching vehicles; driver feedback signs that measure and display the speed of approaching vehicles; and message signs that warn drivers when they are going faster than the advised speed limit.

“The competition for these funds was intense, and only 19 projects out of 96 nationwide were awarded grant funding,” said Road Services Division Director Linda Dougherty. “We are very glad to have this financial boost to improve safety in unincorporated King County.”

The federal RSIP program is part of a $287 million national effort to help local and state governments reduce crashes on dangerous rural roads. The design for the project in King County will start late this year, and is expected to be completed in 2009.