Date:
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Contact:
Casey Liles, Area Engineer, (360) 905-1537 (Vancouver)
Allen Hendy, Assistant Area Engineer, (360) 905-1522 (Vancouver)
Alissa Bateman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2078 (Vancouver)
A Step in Easing Congestion and Improving Safety in Clark County
VANCOUVER – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has completed the I-205 Southbound Off-Ramp Project – the first Transportation Partnership funded project to go to construction in Clark County. Construction of the new lane, originally scheduled to be complete in October, was completed ahead of schedule when it opened to traffic July 8. This is one of 13 Clark County projects funded by the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account, helping to improve safety and ease congestion.
This project added a second left turn lane to the I-205 southbound off-ramp at Mill Plain– improving safety and easing congestion in this heavily traveled area. The ramp was in need of improvement, as backups from vehicles waiting to turn onto Mill Plain stretched all the way onto the freeway, impeding safety for motorists.
“The new ramp is already helping to reduce delays at this busy Mill Plain intersection,” said Casey Liles, Project Engineer. “The ramp was identified as a High Accident Location, so completing this project was a priority, as it will help to reduce rear-end-type accidents,” he added.
While construction of the new lane is complete, landscaping work in the area will be completed in the fall, when planting weather is more favorable. No traffic impacts will occur during landscaping work. Construction of the new left-turn lane was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.
The project was funded through the 2005 Transportation Partnership Accountt, which will fund 13 projects in Clark County, totaling $244 million. In addition to the I-205 Southbound Off-Ramp, some of the other local Transportation-Partnership funded projects include the Columbia River Crossing Environmental Impact Statement, the SR 500-St. Johns Interchange, and the widening of SR 502 from I-5 to Battle Ground. The final projects from this funding to go to construction in Clark County will be advertised in 2011.
Statewide, 274 projects totaling $7.1 billion were funded through the same transportation package. For more information on others projects funded through the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account, visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Funding/2005/.
###
< Back to News Home