An open house is scheduled to inform residents about road construction that will prompt the temporary closure of the intersection at Zylstra and Hastie Lake roads.

The open house goes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the Sierra Country Club located at 2685 San Juan St.

County officials are planning a safety improvement project for the intersection that is scheduled to begin in March. Plans call for reducing the height of the hill, construction of retaining walls, drainage improvements, the insulation of paved shoulders, rumble strips and flashing stop signs on Hastie Lake Road, according to information from Island County.

County officials are expecting to close Zylstra Road between Hastie Lake Road and Cloud Way from July 7 through Aug. 15 while the retaining walls are constructed. Residents living in the construction area will be provided access.

The closure will be coordinated with school districts and fire departments to minimize impacts to buses and emergency services.

“It will save time and money and should mean less overall inconvenience to the public,” county Public Works director Bill Oakes said in the press release.

During the remainder of the project, one lane will remain open during the work day with some delays expected. The road will be open to two-way two-lane traffic nights, weekends and holidays during the periods before and after the road closure.

This project is one of three Federal Highway Safety Improvement Grants that were awarded to Island County. These grant opportunities targeted safety improvements in select areas that had experienced five or more collisions within a half-mile radius within three years.

Contact Joseph Araucto, construction engineer, at 360-679-7331 or JoeA@co.island.wa.us for more information.