July 2009
• In order to balance the 2008 Supplemental Transportation Budget, the Washington State Legislature deferred further spending on this project out of the 16-year highway construction program.
Construction of a new interchange will remove the existing traffic signal, eliminate unexpected traffic stoppage, and reduce slowdowns on this 60 mph route. Intersection conflicts will be eliminated. Local cross traffic will have a safe route across the four-lane highway.
Why is WSDOT
building a new interchange?
US 12 is a major east-west transportation corridor, serving both regional and local traffic. Population growth and economic development in the Yakima area have caused increased traffic, collisions, and congestion at two existing intersections on US 12 west of Yakima. This project will reduce collisions and relieve congestion at the Old Naches Highway and Mitchel Road intersections with US 12.
The End Result
The new interchange will provide safer traffic flow and eliminate conflicts between high speed traffic on US 12 and local cross traffic on Old Naches Highway.
Project Benefits
- Safety - A daily average of 6,000 vehicles access US 12 at the Old Naches Highway; we estimate as many as 10,000 vehicles a day will be accessing US 12 at this intersection by the year 2024. By constructing an interchange to replace the signalized at-grade intersection, we expect to greatly reduce rear-end collisions and other intersection-related crashes.
- Congestion Relief - Currently, as many as 18,000 vehicles travel this section of US 12 each day. This number is estimated to rise to 27,000 vehicles a day by 2024.
What is the project timeline?
WSDOT will continue preliminary design and environmental work through June 2009. Funding for further work has been deferred beyond 2023.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources*:
- 2003 Nickel Funding Package - $37.2 million
- Existing Funds - $1.3 million
- Total Funding Available from all sources - $38.5 million
*As approved in the 2009 Transportation Budget.
For project schedules and updates, please see the Quarterly Project Report.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Development Branch Project Engineer, Jeff Minnick
WSDOT South Central Project Office
PO Box 12560
Yakima, WA 98909
Phone: 509.577.1704
E-mail:minnicj@wsdot.wa.gov
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