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Project Title & Location
US 12 - Naches River North of Yakima - Stabilize Slopes
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Project Description
The area of US 12 along the Lower Naches River, near the 16th Avenue interchange, suffers from repetitive bank erosion and slope failures. Emergency work has been performed in this area four times since 1999. This project will correct this chronic environmental deficiency by moving the Naches River channel away from US 12, and construct a bio-engineered structure in the river to reduce future problems and protect the roadway and environment.
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Contractor/Consultant
Project has not been advertised or awarded
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Recent Progress
On August 27, 2007 a 90% complete Plans, Specials Provisions and Estimate (PS&E) package was submitted for region review. The Hydraulics Project Approval (HPA) was issued to WSDOT on July 24, 2007. Right of way appraisals are complete and negotiations are progressing.
As part of the Lower Naches River Partnership Group between the City of Yakima, Yakima County and WSDOT, an agreement has been signed to remove flood plain fill and the city's obsolete irrigation pumping station in order to widen the floodplain. The excavated material will be utilized in the project as backfill.
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Design Construction Impacts
Due to the constantly changing landscape of the river, quantities for excavation and final location of the riprap is unknown so a majority of the construction work will be completed by force account. Although this allows the flexibility needed, it does carry the risk of costing more to complete.
With the anticipated early October completion of the irrigation and planting plans, impacts to the October 22, 2007 ad date will depend on receiving needed environmental permits.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
Because of an unexpected exemption decision for this project, an Individual 404 Permit from the US Army Corp of Engineers is required. Recent discussion with Corp staff indicated that permit processing will soon begin. Ecology has recently stated that they are on schedule to deliver soon.
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Impacts to Traffic
Traffic impacts are being analyzed to determine if closing the on-ramp will cause significant delay.
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