The Main Street construction project in Duvall includes new road surfacing and features such as a planted median and wooden panels on new light poles. The water main system below the surface, however, is what drove the project. This week, the City of Duvall’s Main Street Reconstruction Project will receive an award from the Washington State Main Street Program in the “Outstanding Design or Rehabilitation” category. On May 12, a ceremony will be held in conjunction with RevitalizeWA, Washington State’s Main Street and Preservation Conference. This award will be the fourth the City has received since the project was completed. Other awards include recognition from the American Public Works Association, the Association of Washington Cities and the Governor’s Smart Choice Award.

The Main Street Reconstruction Project began in 2003-2004, driven by the need to make infrastructure improvements such as the replacement of an aging water main. “We replaced the old asbestos concrete main that was undersized with 12-inch ductile iron pipe,” explained Shaun Tozer, who worked as a community liaison to businesses on behalf of the city during the project. The new system increased utility capacity along the corridor to accommodate future growth.

The project was funded with $3 million from the federal Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) project and an estimated $1 million came from the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). An additional $270,000 was obtained from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) through a deferred maintenance program. These funds paid for the asphalt overlay and road striping.

Citizen input was obtained, and a cohesive vision and implementation plan was developed, said a press release from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation which is based in Seattle. Ultimately, the project was designed to revitalize and showcase the historic city center, making it more appealing to businesses and consumers. This included traffic calming measures, cross walks, bike lanes, landscaped medians, a new street lighting system, the undergrounding of utilities and a heritage inspired streetscape that incorporates the work of local artists.

Tozer pointed out that “perhaps the greatest impact is that the King County Library System (KCLS) has chosen to build a new $4 million library within the project limits. Prior to completion of the project KCLS had acquired property to build the new library in the southern part of the city.” He said that KCLS opened the bidding on the project last week and it is moving forward.

Tozer noted that several businesses opened on Main Street despite the ongoing construction. Businesses such as the Laurel Tree, Armadillo barbeque and the Duvall Coffee House, had successful openings. At the end of the construction project, new businesses opened at the north end of town and some businesses chose to relocate or expand. Red Pepper Pizza, Match Coffee and Wine, and Chic Essentials are also new businesses in town, a sign of a local economy that is determined to improve.

“The downtown seems busier these days,” noted Tozer. “There is a lot of foot traffic and places are packed...the project seems to have been good for business.”

He explained that getting overcoming challenges during the project rested on open and consistent communication. Tozer feels the city has “bonded” with businesses through the project. This goodwill was due, in part, to the fact that businesses “had a say at business meetings. We explained to them what we were doing and why. And we adjusted plans for individual owners’ schedules.”

“We are delighted to present this award to the City of Duvall for their Main Street Reconstruction Project,” said Sarah Hansen, Washington State Main Street Coordinator. “This project demonstrates how good planning and public input can elevate an ordinary infrastructure project to an outstanding revitalization project. By creating an inviting streetscape and paying attention to pedestrian needs, the City of Duvall has enhanced their downtown dramatically - and shown that strong civic leadership creates a chain reaction of positive reinvestment.”

Tozer stated that the city would like to continue the Main Street corridor and that an eventual connection with Big Rock Road is a long-term goal.

The Excellence on Main Awards are organized by the Washington State Main Street Program to recognize communities, organizations, and individuals who are helping achieve sustainable communities and economic vitality in Washington State through downtown revitalization and preservation.

Washington’s Main Street Program is housed in the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and administered, under contract, by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.