Date:
Friday, July 07, 2006
Contact:
Bart Gernhart, Region Engineer, (360) 905-2012
Alissa Bateman, Communications Office, (360) 905-2078
CENTRALIA – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced today that it eliminated one of the proposed alternatives for the I-5 Mellen Street Interchange. The decision to eliminate the Salzer Creek Interchange (also referred to as combined or “mega” interchange) was made after several meetings with a group of local leaders revealed substantial concerns and limitations around the Salzer Creek area.
A Sounding Board, made up of local community leaders, provided valuable information to the project team, leading to the conclusion that the Salzer Creek Interchange alternative is not a viable option for the location of the Interchange. Among the many reasons for the decision were impacts to the existing businesses on Mellen Street and Chamber Way, impacts to Chehalis’s wetland mitigation site, impacts to National Frozen Foods effluent treatment facility, lack of previously envisioned development opportunities on the east side of I-5 due to a land fill and a flood plain.
“It was always our goal to construct an interchange that makes sense for the community – both in the short and long term,” said Bart Gernhart, WSDOT’s Region Engineer. “We are happy to say that we are one step closer to that by eliminating an option that did not work for the community.”
WSDOT supports the Sounding Board’s conclusions and recommendation to eliminate this alternative. There are three interchange locations still being considered. WSDOT plans to select the preferred alternative by this fall.
The Sounding Board is comprised of major stakeholders in the community including the Mayor of Centralia, one city councilor from Chehalis and one from Centralia, hospital representative, college representative, Port Commissioner, and a business owner/representative from Chehalis and Centralia. Conclusions about this option for Mellen Street Interchange were made over the course of four meetings held within the past month.
For more information about this project, or visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/MellentoGrandMound/ .
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