February 2010
- WSDOT is starting to design Phase 7A of the project to four lane US 12 from the Tri-Cities to Walla Walla.
- On March 11, 2009 President Obama signed the Omnibus bill which included a $2.85 million federal appropriation for Phase 7A of the four-laning US 12 corridor (pdf 2.5 MB) project. WSDOT plans to use these funds to complete design work and begin to acquire right-of-way for the section of US 12 from Nine Mile Hill to Woodward Canyon vicinity (Phase 7A).
- WSDOT consultant David Evans and Associates (DEA) is preparing the Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA will be complete in spring 2010.
This corridor study documents the existing environmental conditions and the potential impacts of a new alignment for US 12 from the Wallula community to the vicinity of the Frenchtown Monument. This documentation is the next step in designing the new 4-lane highway.
Why is WSDOT
planning to build four-lanes from Wallula to Walla Walla?
US 12 links the cities of Walla Walla and College Place, and the Port of Walla Walla with the Tri-Cities area and the rest of Washington. Area economic development is hindered by lack of access to a high-quality four-lane highway. In addition, future traffic volumes warrant addressing congestion and safety concerns. The 2003 Transportation Budget funded improvements for US 12 from the Snake River Bridge, near Burbank, to Wallula and from the Frenchtown Monument to Walla Walla. This study is the next step in continuing the four-lane improvement to Walla Walla.
The End Result
This corridor study will complete the NEPA and SEPA documentation for the baseline (existing highway) and for an ideal route for the proposed four lanes. WSDOT will incorporate input from our partnership agencies and the public in the decisions made.
Project Benefits
- Safety. Providing a four-lane divided highway improves the safety of this corridor. Opposing traffic will be separated by a median or concrete barrier. Access to and from US 12 will be limited to interchanges or channelized intersections.
- Environment. Completing the NEPA and SEPA documentation are major components of this study.
What is the project timeline?
A final route will be identified and the environmental documentation will be complete in Spring 2010. An open house is planned for March 10, 2010 to present the environmental assessment to the public.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources*:
- 2003 Nickel Funding Package - $2.7 million
- Existing Funds - $2.8 million
- Total Funding Available from all sources - $5.5 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Kerry Grant, Project Engineer
WSDOT South Central Project Office
P.O. Box 12560
Yakima WA 98909-2560
(509) 577-1760
E-mail: mailto:grantk@wsdot.wa.gov
Meagan McFadden, WSDOT Communications
P.O. Box 12560
Yakima, WA 98908
Phone: (509) 577-1618
E-mail: McfaddM@wsdot.wa.gov
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