Date:  Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Contact: Allen Hendy, WSDOT Assistant Project Engineer, (360) 905-1522 (Vancouver)
Annie Linstrom, WSDOT Communications, (360) 601-1760 (Vancouver)

VANCOUVER – Construction activities will close the northbound I-205 on-ramp from Mill Plain Boulevard on Saturday, Jan. 31, announces the Washington State Department of Transportation. The ramp closure will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday and conclude at 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

During the closure, crews will pave and extend the existing temporary northbound on-ramp to I-205, shift concrete barriers and apply striping. Paving operations are highly weather sensitive and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather or freezing temperatures. Paving preparations may begin as early as Friday, Jan. 30, but will have no impacts to traffic.

Extending the temporary ramp will allow crews to safely access and complete walls and embankments on the north end of the new NE 112th Connector bridge, which is currently under construction. Once the extended ramp is complete, motorists will enter onto northbound I-205 just south of 9th Street. Crews are making steady progress on the new bridge and anticipate opening on schedule in fall 2009.

At the completion of this project, WSDOT will provide motorists with a direct connection to NE 112th Avenue from the northbound I-205 off-ramp to westbound Mill Plain Boulevard. The new ramp will ease congestion and increase safety in this heavily traveled area. WSDOT is partnering with the City of Vancouver to deliver this $16 million project, funded through the 2003 Legislative Nickel Funding Package.

Alternate routes are available during construction by following the detour signs and using Chkalov Drive, heading north on NE 112th Avenue to SR 500 west, and then onto I-205 northbound.

For more information about the 1-205, Mill Plain – NE 112th Connector Project, please contact WSDOT’s Vancouver Area Engineering Office by phone (800-725-9669), by e-mail (swVancouver@wsdot.wa.gov) or visit the project page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i205/millplainne112/ 

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