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Project Title & Location
SR 543 - I-5 to Canadian Border - Additional Lanes for Freight
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Project Description
Constructs new lanes between Boblett Street and the Canadian border for a separate truck route to address congestion and safety issues on SR 543. Constructs a new interchange at "D" Street. There are currently two lanes. There will be four lanes when this project is completed.
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Recent Progress
R/W acquisition is nearly complete, with only one remaining acquisition.
A Value Engineering (VE) study was conducted in early June to look at ways to reduce project costs and reduce the chance of problems during construction. The study recommended several areas where cost savings may be achieved. The feasibility of these recommendations are being analyzed by the design team.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
An initial Environmental Assessment was completed with a finding of "no significant impact" issued in Sept. 2001. An update of the Environmental Assessment was completed in April. The update concluded that changes that ocured since the original EA do not constitute a significant impact.
Environmental permit applications were submitted in Decemeber 2004, with permit issuance anticipated in August 2005
Stormwater systems will be upgraded to modern standards. Wetland impacts will be mitigated with a replacement area within the same drainage basin.
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Impacts to Traffic
Construction is currently planned to start spring 2006 and take two years to complete. One lane in each direction on SR 543 will be kept open through most of the construction. Detours will be provided when short duration closures of SR 543 are required to facilitate intersection construction. Access to the border will be provided at all times.
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