View entire map This project constructs a bypass for southbound SR 28 traffic to the west of the Grant Road intersection. It also widens eastbound Grant Road to allow a triple left turn from southbound SR 28.
View entire photo
This is the current view of the east end of the Senator George Sellar bridge interchange.
View entire photo
This is the proposed new configuration for the interchange at the east end of the Senator George Sellar Bridge.
More photos
Project Facts
- The average daily traffic count at the Grant Road intersection is over 34,000 vehicles.
- 94 accidents were recorded over four years inside the project boundaries.
- While the speed limit is 40 mph, the average speed today is only 20 mph, due to congestion during the peak hours.
Spring 2008
A public meeting to update everyone on the most recent designs of all three George Sellar Bridge Projects is set for Wednesday, May 28th from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Wenatchee Community Center on South Chelan Street.
In the 2008 supplemental transportation budget, The Governor requested an additional $7 million dollars for more right of way property acquisition, tunnels included in the most recent designs to accommodate connections to the Apple Capital Loop Trail and to East Wenatchee pedestrian facilities as well cost increases due to rising prices of oil, fuel, concrete and steel.
Senator Linda Evans Parlette was successful restoring that funding after it had been removed in the house. Read the
News Release (60K .doc)
This Mobility Improvement project is located on SR 28 in Douglas County.
Why is WSDOT
constructing this interchange?
In 1997, the comprehensive Wenatchee Area Transportation Study (WATS) identified the need for more study of the congested SR 28/285 interchange area. Increased traffic volumes and delays were, even then, causing the Grant Road intersection to exceed its capacity. The Washington State Department of Transportation, Douglas County and the City of East Wenatchee sponsored the SR 28/285 Interchange Area Improvement Study to evaluate the community’s transportation needs and develop a specific plan.
This study was completed in December of 2002. The recommended design was a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) at the intersection of SR 28/285 and Grant Road. This underpass-type interchange would bring all ramps to a single signalized intersection above Sunset Highway.
In October of 2003, a value engineering team, comprised of members from WSDOT, Douglas County, the City of East Wenatchee, and the Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council reviewed the proposed design and looked for ways to refine it and reduce impacts to the local businesses and the traveling public. The team recommended a plan that constructs a SR 28 bypass for southbound traffic immediately and in the future would construct a single point urban interchange at Grant Road.
The End Result
This project will construct a two-lane, one-way bypass for southbound SR 28 traffic, that will start at the eastbound off-ramp from SR 285 at the Senator George Sellar Bridge and connect to SR 28 south of 3rd Street SE. The current ramp for southbound SR 28 traffic to Grant Road will be removed and this traffic will get to Grant Road from the bypass by turning left between Fred Meyer and Top Food. A third left turn lane from SR 28 onto Grant Road and an added lane up Grant Road will also be built. This project will improve the capacity of the Grant Road intersection until at least 2014.
Another project (phase 2) to construct the recommended single point urban interchange will be needed sometime after 2014.
Project Benefits
- Safety: Safety will be improved by reducing the amount of congestion and removing weaving movements from the intersection of SR 28 and Grant Road.
- Congestion: Congestion will be relieved by removing southbound SR 28 traffic from the Grant Road intersection and placing it onto the bypass. Also, by adding the third left turn lane onto Grant Road, the signal can be optimized to benefit the heavier traffic movements.
- Environment: The alignment of this project has been developed to stay as far away from the Columbia River shoreline as feasible. Walls will be used to minimize impacts to native vegetation and sensitive areas. Permanent storm water detention and treatment facilities will be constructed to blend with the natural topography as much as possible.
What is the project timeline?
Design of this project is now underway. Advertisement for private contractor bids is set for the fall of 2009. Construction is expected to start in spring of 2010.
Public Involvement
A series of Open Houses are being held to keep you informed and encourage your participation. The first one was held on Thursday, June 10, 2004 at the East Wenatchee City Hall. A formal Design open house & Limited Access Hearing was held on May 10th, 2005.
The three Senator George Sellar Bridge Projects were featured at an open house on September 12th, 2007 in Wenatchee. It was well attended and provided an opportunity to learn about the plans for the west approach, the new lane on the bridge and the east end improvements that will be constructed over the next several years.
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. If you have any comments or concerns please contact the project manager listed at the end of this website.
Environmental Protection
A noise analysis was completed and concluded that the proposed design will have no adverse noise impacts.
There are culturally sensitive locations within the project boundaries. As proposed, the project will have relatively minor adverse impacts to these areas. The project team is currently working on a mitigation plan to minimize those impacts.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
This mile-and-a-half section between 9th Street and 3rd Street on SR 28 experienced a total of 94 accidents over the four years of 1999 –2002. There was one fatal accident during that period involving a single vehicle. The societal costs of those accidents are estimated at nearly a million dollars each year.
This project will increase capacity by separating southbound through-traffic, and reduce the lane changing that has contributed to many of those accidents.
Besides the safety benefits of the project itself, safety for the public and the construction workers is paramount while the work is underway. A comprehensive traffic control plan and a work zone safety plan will be prepared to protect travelers and workers.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
WSDOT is working with tribal officials to identify and minimize adverse impacts to areas of cultural, archeological or anthropological significance. WSDOT is consulting with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Yakama Nation.
WSDOT seeks to address the concerns of 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.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following fund source:
- Pre-existing Funds - $22.9 Million
For project schedule and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
Design, right of way acquisition and construction of stage 2, the single point urban interchange project at Grant Road, are currently not funded.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Kevin Waligorski Project Engineer
WSDOT North Central Region
2830 Euclid Ave
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Phone: (509) 667-2860 or toll free (888) 461-8816
E-mail: waligok@wsdot.wa.gov
back to top