WSDOT Projects

Overview
This project will improve safety and mobility in the east Clark County area by constructing a new I-205 northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp at NE 18th Street.

Stage 1 will construct a segment of a new off-ramp from I-205 to NE 18th St., and will be included with the construction of the I-205/Mill Plain (NE 112th Avenue Connector) project, also scheduled to begin construction in 2008.

Stage 2 will construct a partial interchange at I-205/NE 18th St., and will include a system of grade- separated on and off-ramps between Mill Plain Blvd and NE 18th St.

Why is WSDOT building this project?
Existing travel demand, for both regional bi-state travel and local access, currently approaches or exceeds the capacity of the interchanges along I-205. The volume of traffic along I-205 mainline, coupled with vehicles entering and exiting I-205 results in traffic backing up onto I-205 from the existing access locations, which account for many of the accidents.

This project will improve safety by reducing weaving between the exits, help ease congestion by alleviating the traffic back ups now experienced on the existing I-205 on and off ramps, and increase or maintain the level of service along I-205 between Mill Plain Boulevard and SR 500.

Our Partners
The city of Vancouver has been collaborating with WSDOT in its development, design and construction.

The End Result
This project will construct a new partial interchange on I-205 at NE 18th Street and a system of grade-separated on-and-off ramps between Mill Plain and NE 18th Street.

Project Benefits

• Congestion Relief: When completed, the new access to NE 18th Street will reduce delays around the intersection of Mill Plain Boulevard and Chaklov Drive and at the I-205 northbound off-ramp to Mill Plain Boulevard. This project will also alleviate some of the weaving problems between SR 14 and Mill Plain by providing another on/off option to the existing Mill Plain Boulevard ramps.
• Safety: This project will help reduce rear-end-type accidents on the I-205 northbound off-ramp to Mill Plain Boulevard, which has been identified as a High Accident Location. 

What is the project timeline?

• 2006: Preliminary engineering, public outreach, design and environmental work began.
• 2008: Construction on the first stage of this project, in addition to construction of the I-205/Mill Plain (112th Connector) project, begins.
• 2009: Construction on the first stage of this project - I-205/Mill Plain Interchange to NE 18th Street is scheduled to begin.
• 2014: Construction on the second stage of I-205/Mill Plain Interchange to NE 18th Street - Build Interchange is scheduled to begin.
  
  
  
  

Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Public involvement efforts related to this project have been part of WSDOT's I-205 corridor planning and Access Point Decision Report processes for several years.

An Open House occurred on February 16, 2006, at the WSDOT Southwest Regional Headquarters building. This event provided an opportunity for WSDOT and the City of Vancouver to introduce the projects to the public, provide information and get the public's feedback on issues to be addressed. 

Additional outreach efforts will be scheduled throughout the design and environmental analysis phases so that residents and property owners can review and contribute to the project's plans prior to construction. WSDOT and the city of Vancouver will provide updates on the project’s progress using public meetings or open houses, project mailings, this Web page and the local media.

For the latest public involvement meetings in Southwest Washington, visit the Southwest Region's Public Involvement page.

Environmental Protection
The necessary environmental analysis for this project is currently underway. This analysis will detail the project's environmental impacts (natural, ecological, societal and economic) in order to guide final design and construction. More information about the environmental analysis will be posted on this Web page once work begins. 

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
These improvements will help alleviate the occurrence of rear-end-type accidents on the I-205 northbound off ramp to Mill Plain Boulevard, which has been identified as a High Accident Location. High Accident Locations are those places on the highway system that experience a higher than average number of accidents compared to other locations with similar characteristics.

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.

This project lies within the usual and accustomed areas of the Cowlitz Tribe. Since this project has only recently entered the very early stages of design, the tribal consultative process has not yet begun. WSDOT will initiate consultation with the Cowlitz Tribe as appropriate.

For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison website.

Financial Information

The current plan separates the corridor project into two stages to efficiently deliver each in conjunction with the I-205 Mill Plain corridor project.

2005 Legislative Transportation Partnership Funding Package: $11.1 million (The first stage of this project - I-205, Mill Plain Interchange to NE 18th Street)

2005 Legislative Transportation Partnership Funding Package: $86 million (The second stage of this project - I-205, Mill Plain Interchange to NE 18th Street - Build Interchange)

Total Estimated Project Cost: $97.1 million

How can I get more information?
Contact:

Area Engineer Kevin Miller
WSDOT Clark County Area Office
PO Box 1709
11018 NE 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-1565
Email: swClark@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 you can use our information request form.

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