Overview
This project, located in eastern Chelan County between Wenatchee and Lake Chelan, constructed new north and southbound left turn lanes on US 97A at Mile Post 214.79, the Shearson Street entrance to Entiat's Silicosaska Park.
Public safety was the driving force behind the project, as there had been 5 intersection related accidents within a three year time period. This part of US97A was the subject of a Washington Traffic Safety Commission Safety Corridor Project from 1999 through 2001, due to the high fatal and disabling accident experience on the route. This intersection was identified as a priority on the Regional Traffic Engineer's Channelization List due to conflicts between through traffic and turning vehicles.
There have been NO accidents recorded at this intersection since it was completed in May of 2004, through June of 2006.
The left turn lanes were incorporated into the $1.7 million Wenatchee North paving project that resurfaced 13 miles of highway to Entiat, installed new approach slabs to the Entiat River Bridge and built the new "Nickel Project" turn lanes into the park.
 | Improves Safety
The new left turn lanes provide a storage area for traffic waiting to turn into Entiat Park or onto Shearson St. An illumination system improves night time visibility.
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 | Relieves Congestion
The new left turn lanes also decrease congestion by channeling vehicles waiting to turn, out of the through lanes. The new configuration creates better connections to existing local streets.
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Partnerships & Cooperation
Chelan County Public Utility District originally built the Silicosaska Park on the Columbia River at Entiat as part of its recreation plan for the reservoir behind Rocky Reach Dam. The park is within the city limits of Entiat and local roads connect the park to the town. WSDOT worked closely with both agencies producing a modified final design that reduced impacts to the PUD's electrical system while still meeting Entiat's connectivity desires and our safety goals. Combining the turn lane project with the scheduled paver pleased Entiat officials as it reduced the traffic impacts that two separate projects would have created and it got the turn lanes installed a year earlier than expected.
Funding
The entire three part project was put out for bid in November of 2003. Bids were opened on December 11th and Basin Paving Company was awarded the contract on December 15th, 2003 for $1,715,256.19.
The final construction cost for the Left Turn Lanes part of the project was $124,000, approximately $120,000 under the original "Nickel Project" budget.This project was funded through the following source:
Contact Us
Project Engineer, Terry Mattson
WSDOT North Central Region
P.O. Box 98
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Phone: (509) 667-2860 or toll free (888) 461-8816
E-mail: MattsoT@wsdot.wa.gov
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