Roundabouts right on target

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Twenty-six days. That's how long the Washington State Department of Transportation has to complete two roundabouts off Valley Mall Boulevard in Union Gap.

Not only are transportation officials certain of meeting the deadline, they think they'll beat it.

"Our contractor, Apollo, is pretty confident they will have the two roundabouts and the new eastbound on- and off-ramps done by Nov. 17," said Meagan McFadden, spokesperson for the department. "We've been working closely with Apollo. They've been on schedule and have been making great progress."

The news is welcomed by local retailers, who said construction initially caused their revenue to drop by as much as 25 percent. Although business has since picked up, they're more than ready for the roundabouts to open in time for the busy holiday season.

"We're really looking forward to getting it done," said Tim Stetner, general manager for IHOP Restaurant on East Valley Mall Boulevard. "We're trying to be a good, corporate citizen. We're not going to complain about it."

Through the federally funded $34.3 million project, the Valley Mall Boulevard interchange is being reconfigured to include three roundabouts. Work began this spring and is scheduled for completion next fall.

State transportation officials say the roundabouts will provide better and more direct access to and from Interstate 82 and North Rudkin Road -- in addition to improving area connections to the interstate for retail and commercial development.

Before the project began, 22,000 drivers used the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard interchange every day, according to state data. That number is expected to increase to 31,000 in 10 years and 36,000 in 20 years. Traffic counts have dropped off during construction, according to DOT, but there are no specific numbers available.

In the past several months, work crews have installed a temporary westbound bridge over the interstate. They've closed the westbound off-ramp to Valley Mall Boulevard and they've completed most of the construction on the two roundabouts.
Managers of area businesses say the closure of the off-ramp to Valley Mall Boulevard has hurt them the most, and that problem will continue until fall 2011.

"Once people go by that exit, they won't come back. ... That will still hurt," said Rigo Dominguez, general manager of Denny's Restaurant on Rudkin Road. "It's a challenge, but we're hanging in there."

Dominguez said he's had to reduce his staff's hours because of the construction. But a bevy of billboards, signs and banners -- not to mention coupon deals -- have helped draw customers inside. For the holidays, he expects to hire a couple more people.

"It's been frustrating," Dominguez said. "What happens outside affects business inside."

Chuck Hinckley agrees. As manager of the Gearjammer truck stop on Rudkin Road, he said traffic has been a mess, with cars forced to wait 10 to 15 minutes before they're able to maneuver through the construction zone. But he knows crews are working hard, and he believes the roundabouts will be an asset to the community.

"We're just hanging on and waiting for them to get done," he said.

In the next few weeks, McFadden said workers will put the finishing touches on the two roundabouts. Roundabouts in the Yakima area are very few. Before they're fully used, McFadden said signs will be posted and drivers will have to educate themselves on how they work.

"People will have to get used to going through those," she said. "It's important to remember to yield to traffic in the roundabout. Drivers need to make sure they know where they are going."

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 509-577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.

Interchange construction timeline

* The Interstate 82 Valley Mall Boulevard Improvement Project received $34.3 million in federal funding on Feb. 17, 2009.

* Construction of the new Valley Mall Boulevard interchange began April 20 of this year.

* Two of the three roundabouts will be completed as early as Nov. 17 but no later than Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving and one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

* The third roundabout will be completed by fall 2011.

* For up-to-date information on the I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard project, call the hot line at 509-577-1695, or view travel alerts at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/trafficalerts.w