Overview
This project is the third of four projects that will widen US 12 from two to four lanes from SR 124 to Wallula. This particular project widened and added lanes from Dodd Road to the vicinity of Boise Cascade's paper mill. WSDOT also improved safety by consolidating access within the project limits to two channelized intersections. Construction of the four-lane divided highway will reduce congestion and intersection related accidents. The average daily traffic on this route ranges from 7,000 to 13,000 vehicles. As many as 33% of the vehicles are heavy trucks. Over ten million tons of cargo travel this section of US 12 each year. Slow moving trucks and recreational vehicles impede the flow of traffic on this two-lane facility.
 | Improves Safety
Providing a four-lane divided highway greatly enhanced safety for this corridor. Opposite direction traffic is now separated by a median or concrete barrier. Access to US 12 is limited to channelized intersections.
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 | Relieves Congestion
Widening this section of US 12 has reduces congestion. To learn more about WSDOT's congestion relief efforts visit the WSDOT Congestion Relief site.
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 | Protects Environment
WSDOT completed an environmental assessment for the SR 124 to Wallula corridor to identify the potential impacts to the natural and human communities. Several strong partnerships were developed with state and federal agencies in order to address the substantial environmental challenges of this corridor improvement project.
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Partnerships & Cooperation
For this twelve mile US 12 corridor, WSDOT consulted with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, the Yakama Nation, the Wanapum Tribe, and the Nez Perce Tribe, through the formal consultation process of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For more information visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison Web site.
Funding
This project was funded through the following sources:
- 2003 Nickel Funding Package - $16.2 million
- Existing Funds - $0.8 million
- Total Funding Available from all sources - $17.0 million
Contact Us
Project Engineer, Will Smith
WSDOT South Central Project Office
PO Box 12560
Yakima, WA 98909
Phone: 509.577.1844
E-mail:SmithW@wsdot.wa.gov
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