Project Facts
- The Port of Walla Walla and the US Highway 12 Coalition , an alliance of public and private organizations, have lobbied strongly for four laning US 12 from SR 124 to Walla Walla.
- The Wallula to Frenchtown corridor is 22 miles long.
- The northern alignment bypasses the communities of Wallula, Touchet, and Lowden.
June 2008
• WSDOT consultant David Evans & Associates is in the last season of data collection and verification required for completing the environmental discipline reports.
• WSDOT has identified a northerly alignment as the preferred corridor for
Phase 7 & 8 from Wallula to Frenchtown.
This corridor study will explore and document existing social, economic and environmental conditions, and recommend the most suitable alignment of US 12 from the Wallula community to the vicinity of the Frenchtown monument.
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 define the ideal route for the proposed four lanes and provide required environmental and design documentation. 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 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 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 by June 2009.
Public Involvement
This project was featured at Open Houses in 2001, March 2004, May 2005, June 2006, and January 2008.
Environmental Protection
This study will define the final alignment and identify impacts to both natural and human environments, which could include endangered/threatened species, wetlands, geologic hazards, aquifers, air/noise issues, cultural/historic impacts, and the McNary Wildlife Refuge.
This study will include an environmental inventory, document existing environmental conditions, and complete the environmental documentation.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
Providing an additional travel lane in each direction and separating opposing traffic with a wide median will greatly enhance safety for this corridor.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
WSDOT seeks 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.
WSDOT has involved area tribal representatives to avoid culturally sensitive areas within the corridor. The following tribes were contacted as an important part of the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Nez Perce Nation, and the Wanapum Tribe. The Umatilla Nation and the Yakama Nation have been actively involved in the Interagency Project Team (IPT) efforts to avoid impacts to culturally sensitive areas and to the habitat of endangered species.
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
*As approved in the 2008 Supplemental Transportation Budget.
For project schedules and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Project Engineer, Kerry Grant
WSDOT South Central Project Office
P.O. Box 12560
Yakima WA 98909-2560
(509) 577-1760
E-mail: mailto:grantk@wsdot.wa.gov
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