Date:  Friday, October 21, 2011

Contact:

Josh Patrick Project Engineer 509-667-2870 (Wenatchee)

WENATCHEE – Every day 50,000 vehicles use the SR 285 Senator George Sellar Bridge connecting Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. The design for the last of three projects to address congestion in the corridor is complete.

An open house next week will provide an opportunity to assess the impacts to one's trip across the bridge both during construction and when the improvements to the West end approaches are complete in 2013.

The first of the three projects was completed this summer. It added another eastbound lane and constructed a new bicycle and pedestrian cantilever path on the south side of the bridge. The second project, now underway on the east end of the bridge, includes a Grant Road bypass.

The final project begins construction next summer on the Wenatchee end of the bridge with a new, wider bridge over Wenatchee Avenue. It will include a new off ramp at Crescent Street to Ferry Street and new lanes and traffic improvements for Mission, Marr, Ferry and Stevens streets. The best news for many commuters will likely be the end of a troublesome weave eastbound from Mission Street.

What: Final Design Open House-SR 285 West End George Sellar Bridge – Intersection Improvement

When: 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25

Where: Wenatchee Community Center

504 S. Chelan St. Wenatchee

At the open house WSDOT engineers will share:

• the final design configuration
• how the construction will be staged
• how WSDOT will manage detours and closures
• what kind of traffic control will be necessary
• ADA wheelchair accessibility to the new bridge crossing (bikes, too.)

The three projects together total $65 million. Work began in 2009 and will be complete in 2013. The west end improvement project is funded with $22 million from the 2005 9.5 cent gas tax.

Visit the project web page for more information: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR285/WestSellarBridgeIntersection/

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