Project Facts
- This is one of three projects that will improve I-5 between Mellen and Grand Mound.
- This project will help improve safety and traffic flow at the I-5, Mellen Street Interchange.
- Construction is scheduled to begin in 2009.
May 2008
- WSDOT is currently working on design and environmental documentation for this project.
Overview
Improvements at the existing Mellen Street interchange will provide the following benefits:
- Provide improved emergency access to the hospital;
- Add left turn lanes on Mellen Street to the existing I-5 interchange on-ramps;
- Reduce traffic backups at the I-5 off-ramps to the Mellen Street interchange;
- Enhance the City of Chehalis proposed connection of Louisiana Way to Airport Road over the Airport Road dike, reducing congestion at Chamber Way; and
- Avoid negative impacts to Mellen Street businesses.
Why is WSDOT
building this project?
This project is being built to address congestion on SR 507 Mellen Street. This street is important because it is the only freeway access to the hospital and Centralia College. It will also provide relief for the Chamber Way Interchange when Louisiana Avenue is connected to Airport Way.
The End Result
When finished, improvements to the existing Mellen Street Interchange will help reduce traffic backups onto I-5, improve traffic flow on Mellen Street, and will improve emergency access to the hospital.
Project Benefits
- Safety: As traffic levels increase on this section of I-5, safety problems are expected to grow. This project will help reduce traffic backups onto I-5, and improve emergency access to the hospital, and access to Centralia College.
- Mobility: This project will improve local roadway capacity at the existing Mellen Street Interchange.
- Economic: This project will help increase economic development in this area by improving freight mobility through Lewis and south Thurston counties.
What is the project timeline?
- 2007: Design begins
- 2009: Right-of-Way Completion
- 2009: Construction is scheduled to start.
- 2010: Construction is scheduled to be completed.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Three open houses were held in 2006 to solicit feedback from the public. On March 7, WSDOT introduced the project to the public and asked for ideas and suggestions. The May 9 open house focused on issues and options at the Mellen Street interchange. A third open house was held Tuesday, December 5, where the project team gathered feedback on improvements to Mellen Street.
If you would like to view the display boards from the December 2006 Open House, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/MellentoGrandMound/
and click on the project display located under the left sidebar "Documents" header.
In June 2006, WSDOT convened a Sounding Board of representatives of local jurisdictions, major institutions and other stakeholders to provide input and community perspectives throughout the design phase.
Public involvement efforts related to this project first began in 1992, when WSDOT started work on the I-5, Toutle Park Road to Maytown Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Multiple open houses and public meetings were held in August 1992, April 1994 and January 1997 as part of the development of the EIS. The project did not move forward at the time due to a lack of funding at the state level.
Additional public involvement opportunities will be available during the environmental and design phases of this particular project, so that residents and property owners can review and contribute to the project's plans prior to construction. WSDOT will keep the public informed about the progress of this project and any public involvement opportunities through mailings, this Web page and the local media.
For the latest public involvement meetings in southwest Washington, visit the Southwest Region's Public Involvement page.
Environmental Protection
WSDOT makes every effort to assess and minimize environmental impacts from our projects. WSDOT completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the I-5 between Toutle Park Road in Cowlitz County and Maytown in Thurston County in 2003. This EIS evaluated alternatives for widening this section of I-5 to a six-lane divided highway; improving, widening or replacing various interchanges, bridges and overcrossings in the area; relocating frontage roads; and other improvements.
In addition, specific environmental impacts related to construction will be analyzed and, if necessary, WSDOT will develop an appropriate plan for mitigation of impacts as part of its usual environmental documentation and permitting processes.
For environmental information specific to this project, please contact Erin Gardner at (360) 905-2185, or e-mail GARDNEE@wsdot.wa.gov.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
As traffic levels increase on this section of I-5, safety problems are expected to grow. Widening the interstate and improvements to Mellen Street will help address this potential problem.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
WSDOT has initiated consultation with appropriate tribal governments and will continue to consult with the tribes throughout the process.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.
Financial Information
The estimated cost for this project is $10 million.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Area Engineer Colin Newell
WSDOT Chehalis Project Office
1411 Rush Road
Chehalis, WA 98532
Phone: 360-740-8600, or toll-free 1-866-713-2412
E-mail: swChehalis@wsdot.wa.gov or
Communications Manager Sylvia Ross
WSDOT Southwest Region
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-2058
E-mail: RossSy@wsdot.wa.gov
Or access our project feedback form.
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