Date:  Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Contact: Chris Tams, Columbia Gorge Area Engineer, (360) 759-1310 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2057 (Vancouver)

VANCOUVER - The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will host a public open house and a formal access hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 14 for a project that will widen SR 502 from I-5 to Battle Ground.

The open house will be held at the WSDOT Southwest Region office, 11018 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver from noon to 3 p.m. in conference room 102. The hearing will begin at 3 p.m.

WSDOT staff will present the proposed access plans for property owners next to the project area: SR 502 west of NE 21st Court and east to the end of the project area at NE 102nd Avenue. The hearing will also document testimony from owners whose property will be affected by the widening project. While hearing testimony must be related to property access issues, attendees will have an opportunity to discuss other questions or concerns with WSDOT staff before or after the hearing.

Local and regional growth has increased transportation demand along SR 502. The SR 502 Widening project will improve safety and increase mobility along the corridor by adding two additional lanes and by controlling access onto and off of the highway. Median barrier will be installed to improve safety along this high-speed corridor.

This project is scheduled for construction in 2012. For more information, please visit the project Web page at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR502/Widening.

Public testimony can be sent and/or project information may be reviewed and obtained prior to the access hearing by contacting the Project Engineer:

Chris Tams, Columbia Gorge Area Engineer
WSDOT SW Region
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
E-mail: swgorge@wsdot.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 759-1310; or fax: (360) 905-2062

The site of the access hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities.

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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