Date:
Monday, October 09, 2006
Contact:
Sylvia Ross, WSDOT Communications, (360) 902-2058 (Vancouver)
Alissa Bateman, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2078 (Vancouver)
VANCOUVER – Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) invites the public and media to attend a ribbon-cutting event celebrating the newly widened I-5 in Clark County. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 11 a.m. – 12 noon, at the NE 129th Street bridge over I-5. Come join Washington Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald, elected state representatives, and WSDOT employees as they pronounce this big project complete.
The event will celebrate the conclusion of the I-5 widening project from Salmon Creek to I-205. Construction on the 43-million-dollar project began in 2003, and concluded in the early hours of Monday, October 2, when WSDOT reopened the highway, in its new full capacity, to all motorists. This project was the largest in Southwest Washington to be funded by the 2003 Nickel gas tax.
“This transportation project has long been needed in the Vancouver area, and I am pleased to announce that it is now complete,” said Governor Chris Gregoire. “I want to thank our partners in this project – the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.”
Refreshments will be served, and project engineers and contractor will be on site to discuss the project. State Representatives Deb Wallace (D-WA-17), Jim Dunn (R-WA-17), Bill Fromhold (D-WA-49), and Jim Moeller (D-WA-49) will also be present to address the audience and celebrate the project.
This project was the fourth stage in improving the interstate. This project and the earlier projects have helped to reduce congestion and improve safety on this heavily traveled section of I-5. Earlier phases included the 99th Street interchange, and the widening from Burnt Bridge Creek to 78th Street, which included two phases fused into one project.
Landscaping and permanent striping will be completed in the spring, when conditions are favorable.
To learn about this project or the ribbon cutting ceremony visit the project Web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SalmonCreektoi205/ or call the Vancouver Area Engineering Office at (360) 905-1500.
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Editor’s Note: Project Engineer Casey Liles and Regional Administrator Don Wagner will be available after the ribbon cutting event for interviews. To arrange for an onsite interview, contact Sylvia Ross at (360) 905-2058 or Alissa Bateman at (360) 905-2078.
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