Selah road projects to be discussed in open house

by Jean Guerrero
Yakima Herald-Republic

Links
Email_black_18  E-mail           Print_black_18  Print            Talk_black_18  Comments
Advertisement

More 'Local'

  1. The paraeducator dilemma
  2. How well did you read last week's YH-R?
  3. Sunnyside jail escapee caught after three years
  4. Wilson Building has an old look, but a new life
  5. City spends $16,000 defending Ensey
  6. Keeping weight off the bigger challenge
  7. Chinook Pass closed due to heavy snow, avalanche danger
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week

SELAH -- Residents will have a chance to discuss two major road projects during an open house today.

The event is at the Selah Civic Center from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and is open to the public.

The two projects -- both aimed at relieving traffic congestion in downtown Selah -- are the work of the state Department of Transportation and the city of Selah.

The Transportation Department will detail its plans to re-route State Route 823, and the city will detail its plans to improve East Fremont Avenue. Engineers and other experts will be present to answer questions about the projects, which are separate except that they intersect. Both projects will result in new traffic lights, sidewalks and wider traffic lanes.

Combined, they are expected to reduce downtown traffic by 535 vehicles during evening commute hours, according to Meagan McFadden, communications manager for Transportation Department.

The state will build a new road between First Street and North Wenas Road to re-route SR 823.

The 2005 Transportation Partnership Account, which was approved by the governor and Legislature as part of a 9.5 cent gas tax increase, will fund the $8.6 million project for SR 823, McFadden said. The re-alignment is expected to improve business in downtown Selah by increasing freight mobility and efficiency.

The $410,000 East Fremont Avenue improvements will be funded mostly by the city's Transportation Improving Board, as well as some contributions from the Selah School District and Graf Investments, a commercial and residential rental company.

Construction is expected to start next year.

Construction for the re-routing won't start until 2010. Andrew Byrd, the assistant project engineer, said they're just finishing up determining the impact of their designs and the value of property they need to purchase.

"It's usually a pretty involved process - it takes a lot of time to make sure people get compensated," he said.

 



Commentsicon2
Log in or Register to leave a comment.

Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g., you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason. Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the "report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.

Registered User?