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Project Facts
- Traffic volumes on SR 240 are projected to grow over 3% per year.
- WSDOT is constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Steptoe Street and the Richland Y eastbound off-ramp.
- This project will include enhancements to the bike and pedestrian system.
This project is complete and open to traffic.
This project constructs additional lanes on SR 240 between Richland and Kennewick, linking Interstate 182 with the US Department of Energy's Hanford site, the Columbia Center commercial areas, and east Kennewick's industrial zones. The project will save travel time for auto and vanpool commuters and expand the bicycle corridor. There are currently four general purpose lanes; there will be six lanes when the project is completed.
Why is WSDOT
adding lanes to SR 240?
SR 240 is a vital commuting route for the Tri-Cities area, which is experiencing increasingly heavy traffic volumes. The roadway currently carries 54,000 commuters every day and is projected to reach about 110,000 by 2025. Developments such as the construction of the Vitrification Plant are adding over 6,000 more daily commuters.
The End Result
The SR 240 – Tri-Cities Additional Lanes project will increase capacity and decrease congestion, create better connections to existing roads, and encourage the use of alternate modes of transportation by improving pedestrian/bicycle connections.
When the corridor is completed, there will be three lanes in each direction on SR 240 from Stevens Drive to Columbia Center Boulevard. A new auxiliary lane will be constructed in each direction from I-182, across the new Yakima River Bridges, to the Richland "Y." Improvements at the I-182/SR 240 interchange and the Richland "Y" interchange include ramp widening and construction of a roundabout.
The pedestrian/bicycle corridor will also be lengthened, completing another link in the Columbia River Loop Trail system.
Project Benefits
- Safety. The additional lanes and revised connections will provide improved mobility and maneuverability. Interchange improvements will allow safer connections to I-182 and local roads.
- Congestion Relief. Using computer modeling, WSDOT estimates that with existing conditions, traffic congestion will average 3 hours a day by 2010 and 5 hours a day by 2020 with average afternoon travel speeds of 31-35 mph. By comparison, after this project is built, congestion will be no more than one hour a day in 2020 and commuters will be able to travel at 55 mph.
- Environment. The environmental benefits of this project will be a compensatory mitigation plan to restore and enhance wetlands and provide flood plain and animal connectivity through this section of the Yakima River Delta.
What is the project timeline?
Additional lanes have been constructed on SR 240 from Stevens Drive to I-182. In early summer of 2003, the construction started on two new bridges for SR 240 to replace the existing four lane bridge over the Yakima River. These bridges were complete in November 2005. See weekly update for construction information and traffic impacts. The 2003 "nickel funding package" provides funding for WSDOT to complete the I-182 to Columbia Center Boulevard six-laning in the fall of 2007.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Contact the project design office for more details on this project.
Environmental Protection
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was determined to be the appropriate level of documentation, since all potential environmental effects have been either avoided, minimized or mitigated. Because the project will result in unavoidable impacts to resources, we have invested tremendous effort to develop mitigation that compensates for impacts to wetlands, wildlife, salmonid habitat and items of cultural importance. The plan includes an overflow bridge in the Yakima River Delta, an 11 acre wetland creation site to the east of SR 240 and approximately 5 acres of wetland enhancement.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
WSDOT is committed to increasing safety for the traveling public. Providing an additional general purpose lane in each direction and improving the configuration of the interchanges will increase manueverability and safety.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
WSDOT works with area tribal officials to identify and minimize adverse impacts to areas of cultural, archeological or anthropological significance. When applicable, we 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. For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.
For this project, WSDOT strategy has included extensive face-to-face communication with tribal groups including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Yakama Nation, and the Wanapum Tribe. This communication strategy will continue through construction and will include cultural monitoring of the project site during ground disturbing activities.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- 2003 Nickel Funding Package - $53.6 million
- Existing Funds - $4.6 million
- Total Funding Available from all sources - $58.2 million
For project schedule and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Project Engineer, Moe Davari
WSDOT South Central Project Office
1655 Fowler Street
Richland, WA 99352
Phone: 509.222.2402
E-mail:DavariM@wsdot.wa.gov
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