Date:
Monday, March 28, 2011
Contact:
Jeff Adamson, North Central Region Communications Manager, 509-667-2815
E-mail:
mailto:adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov
Bob Romine, North Central Region Project Engineer, 509-667-2880, or toll-free 1-888-461-8816
E-mail: RomineR@wsdot.wa.gov
WENATCHEE – A new intersection allowing commuters direct access to residential East Wenatchee at the end of the Odabashian Bridge north of town will be completed over the next two months. Crews will add a fourth leg to the intersection of SR 28 and US 2/97 for the Eastmont Ave. extension that is under construction.
Work began Monday night, March 28 with widening and drainage work at either side of the existing intersection . On April 22, traffic will be rerouted to a temporary roundabout at Cascade Ave., just west of the US 2/97/SR 28 intersection, which will be closed for up to 40 days while it's being reconstructed.
Engineers chose a temporary roundabout for the detour configuration because it can move more vehicles more quickly and at a lower cost than an intersection controlled by temporary traffic signals. The average daily traffic count through the current intersection is 23,000 vehicles. WSDOT is encouraging drivers to consider changing their travel timing or their route during the closure.
Adding a fourth leg to the intersection will help relieve traffic congestion on Sunset Highway south to 9th St. in East Wenatchee. The existing intersection has also required expensive annual maintenance to repair rutting due to high summer temperatures and the high volume of heavy truck traffic. Crews will replace the asphalt pavement with concrete, which doesn't soften in high heat, supports heavier loads and won't need to be replaced for 50 years.
During this first week of construction, crews from Selland Construction of Wenatchee will work at night widening the turns onto 35th and 38th Streets to accommodate large trucks that will need to turn down to the Cascade Ave. detour around the $3.8 million project when the intersection closes in four weeks.
Drivers can learn more about roundabouts on WSDOT's website:
More information, maps and photos are available on the project's Web page:www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR28/US297intersection.
This project is part of the state funded $53 million Eastside Corridor Stage 1 project being built under the direction of Douglas County, which extends Eastmont Ave. to the Odabashian Bridge.
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