Project Facts
- Construction includes additional lanes, a new bridge over the Yakima River, and a new, wider bridge over I-82.
- More than 19,000 vehicles use this route daily. We estimate by 2020, over 36,000 vehicles a day will travel on SR 24 near I-82
- Max J. Kuney Company of Spokane is the prime contractor for this project. Construction began on May 23, 2005. WSDOT anticipates opening the new lanes to traffic in the fall of 2006.
Summer 2008
• This project is complete. The contractor will continue to care for all planting areas within the project until spring 2009 to ensure healthy plant establishment.
• WSDOT hosted a
ceremony in June 2007 opening all new lanes to traffic.
This project widened SR 24 by adding one lane in each direction from I-82 to Riverside Road, improved the interchange, and constructed a new bridge over the Yakima River. These changes will relieve congestion, improve safety, and address erosion at the Yakima River Bridge piers.
Why is WSDOT
improving SR 24?
The SR 24/Nob Hill Boulevard interchange over I-82 is a serious bottleneck for commuters. Traffic clogs the interchange ramps and backs up onto Interstate 82. This congestion is a major factor in the high accident rate on SR 24 and it hinders economic growth in the area. Additionally, the SR 24 bridge over the Yakima River has a history of erosion problems and needs to be replaced to prevent catastrophic failure.
The End Result
When finished, SR 24 will be a four-lane highway from I-82 to Riverside Road. The interchange will be reconstructed and wider bridges will be built over I-82 and the Yakima River. Intersections at the two-ramp terminals, South 22nd Street, and South 33rd Street (Riverside Road) will be improved. The Nob Hill lane and Keys Road intersections will be closed. A pedestrian/bicycle path that will cross I-82 and the new Yakima River Bridge will also provide a connection to the Greenway and continue as a 12-foot wide pathway to Riverside Road. These improvements will increase capacity at the Nob Hill interchange, accommodate future traffic growth, and remedy existing safety hazards.
Project Benefits
- Safety. According to statewide standards, SR 24 has been identified as a High Accident Location (HAL). Additional lanes will provide more capacity and will reduce the number of accidents experienced in this area.
- Congestion Relief. WSDOT estimates that if this project is not built, traffic congestion will average one hour a day by 2010 and five hours a day by 2020. By comparison, after project completion, we should see no congestion through the year 2020.
- Environment. A new Yakima River Bridge will better protect and preserve the habitat along the river. Issues include accommodating the Yakima County Flood Control Zone District by allowing for a natural flood plain.
What is the project timeline?
This project was advertised for bids in February 2008 and was awarded to Max J. Kuney Company in April 2005. The improvements were opened to traffic in June 2007.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts are important to us. For more information on the project or to schedule a presentation of the project for your civic group or meeting please contact the project engineer.
Kudos during construction:
Dear Max Kuney Company,
"My husband and I live off of SR24 in Moxee, WA (outside Yakima) and have to travel this road every day during this LONG construction project. We travel this road at various times of the day. You can imagine our dread when we heard the length and the complexity of this project. The fact is this is our road to civilization. We are so incredibly impressed with the ease of traffic and the flow of traffic with such a major road construction project in progress. Rarely have we had to wait in lines. There was always a warning if there was going to be paving. Paving is usually done in off hours and done quickly. If there is any reason to hold cars at any time or the need for one lane, the line of cars always moves quickly. We are very impressed with how your company is accomplishing such an enormous task with little hassle to the residents and cars. It is almost unbelievable, and we still shake our heads in amazement. WIth a little over a year left to go on the project, we believe this huge construction project has not inconvenienced any of our lives at all. Again, We are very impressed and thank you greatly."
-Bev and Ciro DeMarco
Environmental Protection
WSDOT is committed to preserving the environment and makes every effort to assess and minimize environmental impact from our projects. This project was selected as a pilot to develop environmental permit streamlining efficiencies (TPEAC Pilot Project).
WSDOT has agreed to a ten-year monitoring plan. We will watch for impacts on the City's waste water treatment outfall, caused by the new bridge to be constructed over the Yakima River. If adverse effects do occur, WSDOT, the City, and other responsible agencies will pay a "fair share" of the cost to fix the problem.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
In addition to decreasing accidents by widening SR 24, WSDOT will implement all necessary traffic management and safety measures during the construction phase of this project.
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.
The Yakama Nation is a significant stakeholder and is especially concerned with the Yakima River crossing portion of the project. They were involved with early scoping details and are currently one of the valued members of the interdisciplinary team. WSDOT also consulted with the Wanapum Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Nez Perce Nation, and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Nation through the formal consultation process of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison Web site.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- 2003 Nickel Funding Package - $39.1 million
- Existing Funds - $10.2 million
- Other Agency Funds - $5.2 million
- City of Yakima - $1.5 million
- Yakima County - $1.4 million
- Terrace Heights Sewer District - $2.1 million
- At&T Communications - $0.2 million
Total Funding Available from all sources - $54.5 million
For project schedule and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Project Engineer, Paul Gonseth
WSDOT South Central Project Office
PO Box 12560
Yakima, WA 98909
Phone: 509.577.1810
E-mail:GonsetP@wsdot.wa.gov
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