Public Involvement
This project was featured at Open Houses in 2001, March 2004, May 2005, and June 2006. The most recent open house was held in January 2008 at the Touchet School. Approximately 125 people attended the to find out more information about this and other area projects.
Environmental Protection
In cooperation with Federal Highway Administration, WSDOT completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for this project. Three environmental impacts were identified within the project limits: a spring in the vicinity of Pine Street Intersection, a gravesite and battle location at the Frenchtown Monument, and socio-economic impacts to wineries. Each issue was mitigated.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
The new four-lane divided highway limits cross traffic by reducing the number of intersections and eliminates private access points. Currently, this section of highway experiences approximately 35 collisions annually. The number of collisions is expected to decrease as a result 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 only identified impact to tribal resources is at the Frenchtown Monument. This monument contains both native and euro-american gravesites. WSDOT conducted studies and adjusted the project to avoid the monument and the cemetery.
WSDOT has consulted with the Yakama Nation, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) during the project design.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.