February 2010
- WSDOT has started design work on this project, which is funded by a federal earmark. Environmental impacts of the project are being evaluated.
- WSDOT started preparing the Interchange Justification Report (IJR) and met with the Federal Highway Administration to discuss the feasibility of the interchange improvements.
- TRANS-Action, a coalition of elected officials, and business and community leaders, endorsed this project as essential for economic growth and vitality in the Yakima Valley.
Why is WSDOT
improving this interchange?
The South Union Gap interchange, along with the Valley Mall Blvd. interchange, serves a growing retail and commercial area in Union Gap and southwest Yakima. The area is experiencing increasingly heavy traffic congestion. The South Union Gap Interchange is incomplete. The lack of connections to existing I-82 and SR 97 is forcing additional traffic to use the already congested Valley Mall Boulevard interchange.
Reconstructing this essential service interchange to connect to I-82 and SR 97 will provide a direct route to the Yakima Regional Airport. This project was endorsed by a coalition of Yakima area elected officials, business and community leaders, and WSDOT as one of three top regional transportation projects in the Yakima area.
The improvements planned for the South Union Gap interchange link directly to the proposed Beltway Connector, which will provide direct access to I-82 from southwestern Yakima.
Our Partners
This project is in the early stages of planning and development. Local city, county, and WSDOT officials are planning collaboratively with area business owners to bring about this much needed improvement. A public meeting was held in March 2003 to request public opinion regarding several conceptual design options.
The End Result
Two additional ramps will be constructed at the South Union Gap interchange to provide the missing northbound on I-82 and southbound off SR 97 connections. The reconstructed interchange will connect directly to the proposed east-west Beltway Connector, and reduce the number of vehicles using the Valley Mall Boulevard interchange. Improved connections to I-82 will promote economic growth and development for the cities of Union Gap and Yakima.
Project Benefits
- Economic Vitality. Local community and business leaders targeted improving this interchange and the Valley Mall Blvd interchange as a top priority for economic growth and vitality. Congestion and lack of easy access will limit the development of additional retail and commercial business. Improved freeway access will open up new areas for development and ease congestion for the existing areas.
- Safety. Improving capacity for the interchanges and providing more efficient connections to the local road system will improve traffic flow, lessen conflicts, and improve safety for this busy area.
What is the project timeline?
Only a portion of the design work is funded through a 2004 Federal Earmark. If all needed funding was made available now, construction could start in 2013 with the improvements open to traffic in 2015.
Financial Information
The current estimated overall project cost to improve this interchange is $80-$100 million. Further refinement of the estimated cost is necessary.
Limited funds from a 2004 federal earmark and additional funds from the latest reathorization of the Federal Transportation bill, (SAFETEA-LU) will fund a portion of the design work.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Jeff Minnick, Development Branch Project Engineer
WSDOT South Central Project Office
PO Box 12560
Yakima, WA 98909
Phone: 509.577.1704
mailto:minnicj@wsdot.wa.gov
Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications
P.O. Box 12560
Yakima, WA 98908
Phone: (509) 577-1618
Email: McfaddM@wsdot.wa.gov
back to top