Date:  Thursday, January 07, 2010

Contact: Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications, (509) 577-1618
Tim Coats, WSDOT Utilities, (509) 577-1748

UNION GAP – Preliminary utility work to set the stage for the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard rebuild interchange project started this week. Utility contractor crews are in the process of moving gas, telephone, and power lines to make room for the construction to come. Work on the interchange improvements project is expected to begin as early as March.

The $39.3 million Transportation Partnership Account (TPA) project had been delayed six years. However, the Governor and Legislature last spring selected the project to receive an additional $30.8 million in federal recovery act funding, providing the necessary dollars to deliver this important safety and congestion relief project as originally scheduled.

“The Valley Mall Boulevard interchange serves a growing retail and commercial area in Union Gap and southwest Yakima,” said Don Whitehouse, WSDOT Regional Administrator. “This project will reduce congestion and improve access to and from I-82 and Rudkin Road.”

Drivers will experience delays associated with utility work on Valley Mall Boulevard, North Rudkin Road, and South Rudkin Road for the next several weeks. Traffic delays along this route will not stop once utility relocation is finished. WSDOT will open contractor bids for this interchange improvement project in mid-January, and the contractor is expected to begin work as early as March. This means delays associated with construction are right around the corner. To stay informed about potential delays visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthCentral/Construction/ for the most up-to-date information.

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