July 2008
- The design of this project has been revised (pdf, 1.0 mb).
- An open house occurred April 22 at the Camas Police Department Community Room. About 100 people showed up to learn about and provide feedback on the revised design.The 2005 Transportation Partnership Funding Package provided $40 million in gas tax money for completion of this project. The 2007 Legislature added $17 million due to cost escalation and inflation.
Overview
WSDOT is working with the cities of Camas and Washougal, the Port of Camas-Washougal, Clark County and the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council to make transportation improvements to State Route 14 between the NW 6th Avenue interchange in Camas and 6th Street in Washougal.
This project will widen SR 14 from two lanes to four lanes from 6th Avenue to Union Street (SR 500). Included in the project will be the widening and retrofit of the existing West Camas Slough Bridge, construction of a new bridge on the East end of Lady Island, and construct a new half interchange at Union Street. This project will improve safety in the corridor, increase capacity and reduce travel time on SR 14 to accommodate residential, commercial and industrial growth.
Why is WSDOT
building this project?
SR 14 functions as an urban freeway that provides access between Camas, Washougal and Vancouver, and also serves as a state route connecting southwest Washington to south-central and southeast Washington. SR 14 in the Camas-Washougal area is a two-lane high-speed state highway with multiple signalized and unsignalized intersections.
This section of SR 14 has a continuous occurrence of severe accidents, occurring primarily at the intersections. As traffic volumes continue to increase on this corridor, higher demand will be placed on SR 14. This project will improve safety in the corridor, increase capacity and reduce travel time on SR 14 to accommodate residential, commercial and industrial growth.
What has changed in the design of this project?
After meeting with the Port of Camas/Washougal, cities of Camas and Washougal and Clark County, WSDOT has revised the design of this project to further increase safety and capacity along the corridor, and facilitate development within the community.
WSDOT has decided to build a half interchange at Union Street (SR 500). In addition, WSDOT will build two roundabouts in the vicinity of Union Street (SR 500). One will be located at 8th and Union Street (SR 500), north of SR 14 and the other roundabout will be located at the new frontage road, south of SR 14. This will allow eastbound traffic on SR 14 to access Union Street (SR 500), and access from Union Street (SR 500) to SR 14 westbound.
Median barrier will be installed on SR 14 between 6th Avenue in Camas and east of 6th Street in Washougal. This will help reduce the severity of collisions along the corridor.
A new frontage road, just south of SR 14 will connect Union Street (SR 500) to 6th Street in Washougal.
Additionally, this project will allow right-in and right-out access to 2nd Street from SR 14, in comparison to the previous design which did not allow access to 2nd Street from SR 14. This project will also allow right-in and right-out access at 6th Street. WSDOT will remove signals at Union Street (SR 500) and 2nd Street to accommodate this change.
Our Partners
The Port of Camas/Washougal, the cities of Camas and Washougal, and Clark County have all played significant roles in obtaining funding for this project and they will continue to provide input throughout its development.
The End Result
This project will widen SR 14 from two lanes to four lanes from 6th Avenue to Union Street (SR 500). The addition of median barrier will safely divide east bound traffic to west bound traffic between NW 6th Avenue in Clark County and 6th Street in Washougal. Also included in the project will be the construction of a new bridge over the East end of Lady Island, widen the existing West Camas Slough Bridge and retrofit the bridge piers and deck for current seismic and structural standards, as well as a new interchange at Union Street. This project will improve safety in the corridor, increase capacity and reduce travel time on SR 14 to accommodate residential, commercial and industrial growth.
When complete, this section of highway will better serve current and future commuter traffic demands and better accommodate the movement of goods and services.
Project Benefits
- Safety: This project will provide safer access to SR 14, eliminate crossover accidents and reduce rear end accidents by consolidating access points on SR 14, installing median barrier, and by building a half interchange in the vicinity of SR 14/SR 500 (Union Street).
- Congestion relief: The added capacity created as a result of this project will reduce delays to the traveling public.
- Economic: This project will accommodate future residential, commercial and industrial growth in the corridor area.
What is the project timeline?
- 2006: Preliminary Design began
- 2007: Preferred Alternative selected
- 2010: Construction scheduled to begin.
- 2012: Construction scheduled to be complete.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. An open house was held April 22, 2008, to from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Camas Police Department Community Room in Camas, WA to discuss changes in the design of this project with the public. A newsletter outlining these changes was sent out the community in early April 2008.
Open houses were also held Nov. 16, 2006 and May 24, 2006 at the City of Camas Community Center. These open houses provided the public with an opportunity to learn more about the project.
An open house was also held September 22, 2004, at the Camas Community Center. The public was able to view and comment on possible long-term plans for the SR 14 corridor between the NW 6th Avenue interchange in Camas and 45th Street in Washougal.
Multiple stakeholder meetings have occurred between WSDOT and the local jurisdictions in 2004 and 2005 with the goal of developing a long-term plan for the SR 14 corridor. This project is part of the long-term plan.
WSDOT and the local jurisdictions plan to keep the community informed throughout the different stages of this project. Updates will be provided through public meetings and open houses, mailings, the local media and this Web page.
For the latest public involvement meetings in southwest Washington, visit the Southwest Region's Public Involvement Web page.
Environmental Protection
WSDOT makes every effort to assess and minimize environmental impacts from our projects. A detailed analysis of the project’s environmental impacts will be completed, and, if necessary, an appropriate plan for mitigation of impacts will be developed and documented as part of the environmental documentation and environmental permitting processes. This project may provide an opportunity to improve wetland habitat and storm water runoff in the project area. During project design, WSDOT will work to minimize the impact to wetlands in the project area.
For environmental information specific to this project, please contact Erin Gardner at (360) 905-2185, or e-mail GARDNEE@wsdot.wa.gov.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
This project will help keep traffic moving more safely on SR 14 through the Camas-Washougal area. Constructing a four-lane divided highway and a new interchange in this section of the corridor will eliminate cross-over accidents, and reduce the number of rear-end accidents. Improved mobility and decreased congestion also contributes to safer roads and reduced accident rates.
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.
It has not been determined if this project will impact tribal lands. WSDOT will initiate consultation with the tribes as necessary during the design phase.
For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.
Financial Information
The estimated budget for this project is $57 million.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Area Engineer Chris Tams
WSDOT Columbia Gorge Project Office
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98682-6686
Phone: 360-759-1310
E-mail: swGorge@wsdot.wa.gov
or
Communications Manager Sylvia Ross
WSDOT Southwest Region
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-2058
E-mail: RossSy@wsdot.wa.gov
or access our project feedback form.
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