Date:
Monday, July 11, 2005
Contact:
Mike Westbay, Communications Manager, (509) 577-1617, (509) 945-7702
Paul Gonseth, Project Engineer, (509) 577-1811, (509) 945-2154
Brian Bell, Chief Inspector, (509) 577-1816, (509) 930-0222
YAKIMA - At 12:45 pm on July 12, 2005 Governor Christine Gregoire will meet with Senator Alex Deccio, Yakima Mayor Paul George and media to dedicate the SR 24/I-82 to Keys Road project that will bring an end to one of Yakima's biggest traffic problems. The dedication ceremony will take place at the Yakima Greenway's Robertson Landing.
The long lines that develop early in the morning and late in the day at 18th Street/Nob Hill Blvd. and on SR 24 in front of Kmart will be resolved when this project is complete. A new six-lane bridge over I-82 will improve traffic flow between Yakima and Moxee. A new 4-lane bridge over the Yakima River will replace the two-lane bridge that has been plagued with erosion problems.
The 2003 Legislative Funding Package, now referred to as the "nickel package", provided the needed funding to construct this project. Max J. Kuney, General Contractor, was awarded the $34 million dollar contract to construct one additional lane in each direction on SR 24 from I-82 to Riverside Road. Project Manager Tobin Smith is planning an aggressive work schedule with hopes of pouring the bridge deck this year and moving traffic to the new bridge in the spring of 2006. All new lanes are scheduled to be open to traffic in November, 2006. The current Yakima River Bridge will be demolished in the summer of 2007.
Don Whitehouse, WSDOT Regional Administrator said; "This is a great project that cures one of the worst choke points in our local transportation system. This project also improves access to economic developments between Yakima and Moxee."
The Max J. Kuney Company and the Washington State Department of Transportation wish to encourage caution when entering the work zone. Most accidents are caused by excessive speed and driver inattention. So please, go slow through the cone zone.
For more information on this project visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/I82/keysrd/default.htm
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