Date:  Monday, January 31, 2011

Contact: Summer Derrey, WSDOT Communications, 509-577-1943
Bill Preston, WSDOT Project Engineer, 509-577-1810

SELAH – Work begins Monday, Feb. 7, on a $9.3 million project that will reduce congestion and increase safety in downtown Selah by rerouting the highway. The project will give drivers the option to bypass congested intersections on S. First Street and E. Naches Avenue.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), along with Hurst Construction of Wenatchee, will widen S. Wenas Road (SR 823) to three lanes and extend it south to connect into the signalized intersection at S. First Street and E. Fifth Avenue. Most importantly, this will reroute truck traffic away from congested downtown streets.

The two-season project will be completed in fall 2012 when a section of Railroad Avenue north of E. Naches Avenue is widened and reconstructed with concrete pavement to better withstand frequent truck traffic.

The work includes new turning lanes at several intersections, sidewalks, street lighting and storm-drainage systems. Traffic signals will be installed where Wenas Road intersects with both Naches and Fremont avenues.

Work is funded by the 2005 gas tax approved by voters.

“This project will be great for the City of Selah because it’s designed to relieve the morning and afternoon traffic back-ups and help get trucks to and from Selah’s major food-processing facilities, ” said Selah Mayor Bob Jones.

WSDOT offers several ways for drivers to get up-to-date information about the project:
• Get weekly construction updates: 
  www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/SouthCentral/Construction/
• Visit the project website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr823/selahvicinity/
• Dial 5-1-1

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