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Project Title & Location
I-82 - Valley Mall Boulevard Interchange - Rebuild Interchange
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Project Description
This project improves connections to the interstate and encourages economic growth and development for both Union Gap and Yakima. The interchange reconfiguration will provide increased motorist safety, additional capacity, and help free up movement on and off the interstate to connect smoothly with the expanding local road system.
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Contractor/Consultant
Project not yet advertised or awarded.
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Recent Progress
The Reid Middleton consulting firm was retained to determine if roundabouts would be an effective solution to the I-82 - Valley Mall Boulevard Interchange. Their final feasibility report indicates that roundabouts are a viable alternative.
A meeting with a TRANS-Action subgroup consisting of adjacent businesses affected by the project, local city officials, Yakima County Conference of Governments and The Greenway Foundation was held in April 2007. This meeting laid out the Cost Risk Assessment (CRA), feasibility report, preliminary access and right of way needs, environmental issues and project schedule for both the fly-over and roundabout alternatives. A majority of the group was in favor of the roundabout alternative. The same information was presented at a May 2007 TRANS-Action bi-monthly meeting with similar results. TRANS-Action has endorsed the roundabout alternative with a westbound loop on-ramp.
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Design Construction Impacts
Early comments from resource agencies center on impacting the floodplain and fully allowing possible future flood waters to flow through the new interchange. This risk cannot be quantified until the discipline reports and consultations with resource agencies are complete.
To improve the Level of Service (LOS) at the intersection of the westbound ramps a loop ramp for the westbound on-ramp was added to the roundabout alternative. This addition required the design team to evaluate the replacement of the I-82 mainline bridges for vertical clearance. Preliminary results of this evaluation show the need to adjust the I-82 profile. Although these additions will increase the cost of the roundabout alternative the total project cost is within budget at this time.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
The environmental process is just beginning. Wetland impacts are possible.
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Impacts to Traffic
Occasional one lane closures and minor detours are anticipated.
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